# Suggestion types

BlinkWrite offers four kinds of help. They all draw on the same understanding of
the context around your cursor, and they all use the same simple gestures:
**Tab** to accept, **Esc** (or just keep typing) to dismiss.

Every suggestion appears in a small **floating popup** right next to where
you're writing. It's a preview, not a change. Nothing is written into your text
until you accept it.

**What gets changed.** Completions, corrections, and rephrasing are applied to
the **current paragraph** only — the text block where your cursor is, up to the
nearest hard line break. BlinkWrite still reads the full thread or document
around you for context; it just never rewrites text outside the paragraph you're
editing. See [How it works](/docs/how-it-works) for the full picture.

---

## 1. Proactive drafts

**What it does.** When you open a conversation and the reply box is empty,
BlinkWrite reads the thread and drafts a complete reply for you, before you've
typed a single word. The draft appears in a floating popup by your cursor.

![An empty reply box with a BlinkWrite popup below it, offering two complete drafts to pick between — one accepting, one declining — each with a Tab badge.](/docs/images/proactive-drafts.png)

**How to trigger it.** With automatic proactive enabled, BlinkWrite drafts a reply
when you focus an empty reply box in a conversation.

To request a draft yourself, **double-tap Tab in the empty reply box**.
This shortcut works even when **Proactive drafts** is off globally, for the app,
or for the website. It is available by default in apps and websites outside the
automatic support list. After you dismiss a suggestion, you can request another
without a new message or a waiting period.

Each request uses the current conversation context. If BlinkWrite cannot identify
a reply target, it shows **No reply suggestion**. A pause stops all assistance.

**How to use it.**

- Press **Tab** to accept the draft and drop it into the field.
- Start typing to dismiss it and write your own.
- Press **Esc** to dismiss it.

**When there are two ways to reply.** Sometimes it isn't clear which way you'd
want to go. You could reasonably say yes *or* no. When that happens, BlinkWrite
offers **two opposite drafts** in the popup and lets you choose:

- Press **Tab** to use the **first** option.
- **Double-tap Tab** (press Tab twice quickly) to use the **second** option.

*Example:* a friend messages, "Want to grab lunch at 1?" Either answer makes
sense, so BlinkWrite shows both:

1. **Accept**: *"Sounds great, see you at 1!"* → press **Tab**.
2. **Decline**: *"Can't today, but let's find another time."* → **double-tap
   Tab**.

Pick whichever matches what you want to say, or just start typing to write your
own.

**Good to know.** Proactive drafts are meant for back-and-forth conversations
(chat and email). BlinkWrite holds back when a reply doesn't make sense, for
example when the last message was yours, or the message clearly isn't directed
at you.

---

## 2. Completions

**What it does.** As you type, BlinkWrite finishes your current sentence or
thought, using the surrounding thread, not just your last few words. The
suggested continuation appears in a floating popup next to where you're writing.

![A half-typed sentence with a BlinkWrite popup below it showing the whole sentence, the suggested continuation picked out in green, and a Tab badge to accept it.](/docs/images/completions.png)

**How to trigger it.** Completions are **automatic**. Start writing, and when you
pause for a moment, a completion appears. Every keystroke restarts the short
wait, so the suggestion shows up once your typing settles.

**How to use it.**

- Press **Tab** to accept the completion.
- Keep typing to ignore it. The popup simply gets out of your way.
- Press **Esc** to dismiss it.

---

## 3. Corrections

**What it does.** BlinkWrite reviews the sentence or paragraph you're working on
and fixes spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and word choice. It
uses context to understand what you meant, so the fixes fit your intent rather
than applying rules blindly. The corrected version is shown in a floating popup
next to where you're writing.

![A sentence with four spelling and grammar mistakes underlined in red, and a BlinkWrite popup below it showing the same sentence rewritten with every fix picked out in green.](/docs/images/corrections.png)

**How to trigger it.** Corrections are **automatic**. You don't press anything.
A correction is offered when your cursor is at the end of what you've written and
either of these happens:

- **You end a sentence** with a period (`.`), question mark (`?`), or exclamation
  point (`!`). The check runs as soon as you type that punctuation.
- **You pause for about 1 second** after typing, even without ending
  punctuation.

In both cases the cursor needs to be at the **end** of your text. Corrections
don't interrupt you mid-sentence.

**How to use it.**

- Press **Tab** to accept the correction and apply the fixes.
- Press **Esc** to dismiss it and keep your original text.
- Keep typing to move on.

**Good to know.** If a completion is already on screen, it takes priority. The
completion finishes your thought first, and corrections come after.

---

## 4. Rephrasing

**What it does.** Rephrasing improves your current paragraph, makes it shorter,
changes its tone, or follows your own instructions. Each mode starts from your
original paragraph and keeps the same available conversation or document context.

![The rephrase dialog shows a rewritten comment with a Tab badge. Shorten, Improve, Formal, Friendly, and Custom appear below the result.](/docs/images/rephrasing.png)

**How to open it.** Double-tap **Tab** (press Tab twice quickly) in a paragraph
you want to rewrite. BlinkWrite first offers an **Improve** result.

### Choose a rephrase mode

Click a mode below the result, or use its shortcut.
These shortcuts work while the rephrase dialog is open.

| Mode | Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| **Shorten** | **Shift + 1** | Uses fewer words while keeping the meaning and key details. |
| **Improve** | **Shift + 2** | Improves clarity, grammar, and flow to fit the context. |
| **Formal** | **Shift + 3** | Uses a more professional tone. |
| **Friendly** | **Shift + 4** | Uses a warmer, more casual tone. |
| **Custom** | **Shift + 5** | Follows instructions that you type in the dialog. |

The dialog stays open as you try another mode. A loading indicator replaces
the result text until the new preview arrives.

### Use Custom instructions

1. Click **Custom**, or press **Shift + 5**.
2. Type your instructions in the field below the modes.
3. Press **Enter**, or click the arrow button, to request the rewrite.

Examples: “Use two short sentences,” “Keep the dates but make this shorter,”
or “Translate this into French.” The field accepts up to **1,000 characters**.

The cursor stays in the Custom field after you submit the instructions and
after the result arrives. You can edit the instructions and press **Enter**
again without reopening the dialog. Each request uses your original paragraph
and the same available context.

With Custom still focused, press **Tab** to apply the changed result to your original paragraph.

### Review the result

- Press **Tab** to apply a changed result to the current paragraph.
- Press **Esc**, or click **×**, to close the dialog without applying it.

If the preview matches the text in your app, the phrase stays visible in the
inactive text color. A small checkmark replaces the Tab badge. There is no
change to apply, so Tab does not replace your text. You can still choose
another mode or give Custom instructions.

---

## Quick reference

| Suggestion | What it does | How to trigger | Accept | Dismiss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Proactive draft** | Drafts a full reply in an empty field | Automatic, or **double-tap Tab** in an empty reply box | Tab (or double-tap Tab for the second option when two are shown) | Esc / type |
| **Completion** | Finishes your current sentence | Automatic (pause while typing) | Tab | Esc / type |
| **Correction** | Fixes spelling, grammar, wording | Automatic (after `.` `?` `!`, or a ~1s pause, at the end of your text) | Tab | Esc / type |
| **Rephrasing** | Shortens, improves, changes tone, or follows Custom instructions | **Double-tap Tab**, then click a mode or use Shift + 1–5 | Tab for a changed result | Esc / × |

See [Controls & shortcuts](/docs/controls-and-shortcuts) for the full list of
gestures and how to pause BlinkWrite.