Static Snippets Guide
TalkWriter's text snippets are static text expansions -- you define a trigger and an expansion, and TalkWriter swaps them every time. This page covers advanced patterns for getting the most out of static snippets.
How Snippets Work
Every snippet has two parts:
| Part | What It Is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | A short keyword you type or dictate | /sig |
| Expansion | The full text that replaces the trigger | "Best regards, Jane Smith, VP of Marketing" |
When TalkWriter detects the trigger, the expansion is inserted immediately. Snippets are static -- the expansion is always the same text you defined.
Practical Snippet Patterns
Pattern 1: Email Signatures
Create different signatures for different contexts:
| Trigger | Expansion |
|---|---|
/sig | Best regards, Jane Smith |
/sigfull | Best regards, Jane Smith, VP of Marketing, Acme Corp, jane@acme.com, (555) 123-4567 |
/sigcasual | Cheers, Jane |
Pattern 2: Common Replies
| Trigger | Expansion |
|---|---|
/ty | Thank you for your email. I will review and get back to you shortly. |
/ack | Received, thank you. I will follow up by end of day. |
/np | No problem at all. Happy to help. |
Pattern 3: Templates
| Trigger | Expansion |
|---|---|
/meetreq | Hi, I'd like to schedule a 30-minute meeting to discuss [topic]. Would any of the following times work for you? |
/standup | Yesterday: [completed]. Today: [planned]. Blockers: [none/details]. |
Tips for Effective Snippets
- Use a prefix -- Start all triggers with
/or;to avoid accidental matches with normal words. - Keep triggers memorable --
/sigfor signature,/addrfor address,/tyfor thank you. Short and logical. - Use multi-line expansions -- Press Enter in the expansion field to add line breaks. Great for templates with structure.
- Build gradually -- Add a snippet every time you catch yourself typing the same thing for the third time.
Combine snippets with dictation for maximum speed. Dictate a reply naturally, and include your snippet trigger as part of the dictation: "Thanks for the update, the numbers look great. /sig" -- TalkWriter polishes the text and expands the snippet in one pass.
FAQ
Can snippets include dynamic content like today's date? Snippets are currently static text only. Dynamic variables (date, clipboard, cursor position) are not yet available. For now, you can create date-specific snippets manually and update them as needed.
How many snippets can I create? There is no hard limit. Create as many as you need.
Was this helpful? Let us know at support@talkwriter.ai