iOS 18 Writing Tools in System Apps

Apple has integrated system-wide Writing Tools into iOS 18 as part of Apple Intelligence, allowing users to refine, rewrite, proofread, and summarize text across native apps like Mail, Messages, Notes, and Pages, as well as supported third-party apps. Accessible directly from the standard text-selection menu or the keyboard, these tools help users adapt their tone, eliminate grammatical errors, and digest long passages without needing external AI utilities.

Rewrite

The Rewrite feature allows users to transform selected text into different tones depending on the context. The tool provides three primary preset styles:

  • Friendly: Softens the language to sound more casual, warm, and approachable.
  • Professional: Polishes the text for business communication, ensuring an authoritative, formal tone.
  • Concise: Eliminates fluff and tightens sentences to make communication direct and brief.

Users can also describe specific custom changes to adapt the copy according to their exact needs.

Proofread

The Proofread tool inspects selected text for spelling, grammatical, punctuation, and stylistic errors. Rather than simply applying silent auto-corrections, it highlights proposed edits and provides brief explanations for the suggestions. Users can review the suggested changes individually or accept all edits with a single tap.

Summarize and Format

The summarization features allow users to condense lengthy text selections into easily digestible formats:

  • Summary: Generates a brief paragraph capturing the core message of the original text.
  • Key Points: Extracts the most critical takeaways and formats them as a bulleted list.
  • List: Organizes disorganized thoughts or narrative text into structured lists.
  • Table: Extracts relevant data and structures it into an organized, readable table format.

Native App Integrations

While Writing Tools can be invoked in any app utilizing the standard iOS text system, several native apps feature deeper integration:

  • Mail: Users can summarize entire email threads, generate priority summaries in their inbox, and use Smart Reply options that draft contextual responses based on specific questions asked in an email.
  • Notes: Text can be summarized and saved alongside original notes, and audio recordings can be transcribed and summarized directly within the app.
  • Messages: Quick smart replies dynamically analyze message threads to suggest context-aware responses and tonal adjustments directly above the keyboard.