Story
When 1 part of my text needs work, I want to select it and ask the AI right there, so I can fix only that part and see the change before it goes in.
Daniel, a ward nurse in Glasgow, writing a job application on his laptop after a night shift.
- 01 Setting
Daniel is writing a cover letter for a new nursing job.
- 02 Trigger
1 sentence is long and flat. He selects it.
- 03 Without it
He copies the sentence into a chat and asks for a shorter one. Then he copies the answer back and fixes the spacing.
- 04 With it
A small menu appears by the selection. He taps Shorter and sees the new sentence before it goes in.
- 05 Outcome
He taps Replace. Only that sentence changes, and Undo is there if he wants it back.
Live demo
This demo follows a script, so it plays the same every time - there is no real AI behind it. Change a setting to see the same moment play out differently.
What happens, step by step
| State | The person sees | The AI is | When | Screen reader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | His letter. No AI on screen. | Idle. | 0 s | - |
| 2 | 1 sentence highlighted. | Idle. | - | - |
| 3 | A small menu: "Ask about this text", then Shorter, Friendlier, Fix spelling. | Idle. | on selection, or on a shortcut | “AI actions available” |
| 4 | He taps Shorter, or types his own ask: "Sound more confident". "Rewriting 1 sentence" shows. | Rewrites only the selection. | on tap | - |
| 5 | The new sentence under the actions, with Replace, Insert below, Try again and Discard. His text is unchanged. | Idle - waits for him. | about 1 s | “Suggestion ready” |
| 6 | The new sentence is in, briefly highlighted. "1 sentence replaced · Undo". | Idle. | on tap | “Text replaced” |
On each device
- phone
- The menu opens as a sheet at the bottom, by the thumb. The preview shows in the sheet, so the text stays in view above it.
- tablet
- As on desktop, kept clear of the system's own copy and paste menu.
- desktop
- A small floating menu appears by the selection. The preview opens in the same menu, so the eye never leaves the text.
When to use it
- People work on content already on screen - a document, an email, a sheet, a canvas.
- The job is about 1 part, not the whole: 1 sentence, 1 cell, 1 shape.
- A few common jobs cover most needs, like shorter, friendlier or fix spelling.
- The job is about the whole thing, like summarising a long email. Use Quick actions instead.
- People start from nothing - there is no text to select yet. Use Prompt composer instead.
- People want to change the AI's answer by hand, word by word. Use Edit output and revert to AI instead.
The parts of the pattern
- ASelectionWhat the AI will work on, and nothing else. The rest of the text stays as it is.
- BPreset actions3 or 4 short actions that fit the selection. 1 tap each.
- CAsk about this textA field for anything the presets don't cover. It already works on the selection only.
- DPreviewThe new version, shown beside the old one. Nothing changes until he chooses.
- EResult actionsReplace, Insert below, Try again, Discard. Each says what it does to his text.
Do and Avoid
I have worked on a busy ward for 6 years…
For 6 years I have cared for patients before and after surgery.
Replace · Insert below · Discard
For 6 years I have cared for patients before and after surgery.
Replaced. The old sentence is gone.
Ask about this text
Shorter · Friendlier · Fix spelling
Summarise · Translate · Make table · Brainstorm · Write poem · Continue · Explain · Outline · Action items · Find quotes · Make tweet · …
Writing and accessibility
- Name presets with short words: "Shorter", "Friendlier", "Fix spelling".
- Say what the field acts on: "Ask about this text", not "Ask AI".
- Name result buttons by what they do to the text: "Replace", "Insert below", "Discard".
- After a change, say what changed in 1 line: "1 sentence replaced · Undo".
- The menu opens from the keyboard on a selection too, not only when the mouse button is released.
- When the menu opens, focus moves into it. Escape closes it and puts focus back on the selection.
- Announce "Suggestion ready" when the preview appears, and read the new text before the buttons.
- On touch screens, buttons in the sheet are at least 44 px. The menu never covers the system's copy and paste menu.
Seen in real products
- Microsoft Word (Copilot)Microsoft 365 · Nov 2026Select text, then open Copilot from the mini toolbar. Pick a preset like Auto Rewrite or type your own ask. The result offers Replace, Insert below or Regenerate.Microsoft Support: Rewrite text with Copilot in Word ↗
- Apple Writing ToolsmacOS · Nov 2026Control-click selected text and choose Writing Tools: Proofread, Rewrite (Friendly, Professional, Concise), Summary, Key Points, or "Describe a change" in your own words.Apple Support: Mac User Guide, Writing Tools ↗
- PerplexityWeb · Jun 2026"Check sources" appears when you select text in an answer.AI UX Playground teardown, Jun 2026 ↗
Each example comes from the product’s help pages, release notes or teardowns, with the month it was checked. Products change every month - tell us when 1 is out of date.
Check yourself
Seen this pattern done better, or a product that changed? Press Suggest next to any heading, or tell us about the whole page.