# Expand or shorten text with AI, keeping your message

> Turn a one-line note into a fuller message, or trim a long paragraph down to the point. Pick Expand or Shorten and compare the result with your text.

- Page: https://www.tonemateai.com/en/expand-shorten-with-ai
- Product: ToneMate, macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Last updated: October 5, 2026

## In short

Expand/Shorten is the ToneMate action that changes the length of the text you select on your Mac. Expand turns a brief note into a fuller message; Shorten cuts a long one down. It keeps your core message, shows the result next to the original with a Changes view, and runs with a local model or your own API key.

## Quick facts

- Two modes in one action: Expand and Shorten. Choosing one runs it.
- A Changes view marks what was added or removed.
- Regenerate keeps every version so you can pick the one you like.
- Local models (Ollama, MLX) or your own cloud API key.

## How it works

1. **Select the text.** Highlight the note or the paragraph you want to change.
2. **Press your shortcut.** Use the shortcut you assigned to Expand/Shorten, or open it from the menu bar.
3. **Pick Expand or Shorten.** Choose the mode. The action runs when you pick it, and you can switch and run it again.
4. **Insert the result.** Read it against the original, then Insert or Copy.

## Length is a separate dial from tone

Rewrite changes tone and wording; Expand/Shorten changes length. Keeping them apart means you can shorten a message without changing how it sounds, and then use Rewrite if you also want a different tone. Chain them in a pipeline if you do both often.

## Check what survived

The Changes view marks what was added and what was cut. When you shorten, look at the cut parts to make sure nothing important went with them.

## Good to know

- ToneMate does not target an exact word count. Expand and Shorten adjust length in a direction and the amount depends on the model.
- An expanded text adds wording, not facts. Review it, because a model can add detail you did not mean.
- Quality and speed depend on the model you choose.
- It works where you can select, copy and paste text.

## Where it helps

- **A quick note to a colleague.** Expand a few words into a clear, complete message.
- **A long email.** Shorten it so the request is in the first lines.
- **A description that is too wordy.** Trim it to fit where it has to go.
- **A draft that needs more body.** Expand it, then proofread it.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I set an exact length?

No. Expand and Shorten move the length up or down, and by how much depends on the model. For a hard limit, shorten and then check the count yourself.

### What is the difference between Shorten and Summarize?

Shorten keeps your own text and wording and makes it tighter. Summarize condenses the content into a short new text, aiming for around a third to a half of the original length.

### Does it change my tone?

It is asked to keep your message. If you also want a different tone, run Rewrite afterwards.

### Is my text sent to a server?

ToneMate never sends your text to its own servers. With a local model your text is processed on your Mac; with a cloud model it goes straight to the provider whose API key you added. The app only contacts ToneMate to check your license.

### Can I buy or download ToneMate today?

You can download it, but not buy it yet. ToneMate is in free beta: download the app and request a free license key, which has no fixed end date. The plan for the full version is a one-time purchase that includes 2 licenses; when the first stable version comes out, a 30-day free trial starts.

## Status

ToneMate is in free beta: anyone can download it and request a free license key.
One-time purchase that includes 2 licenses, no subscription.