How do I rephrase copied text on a Mac?

Copy the text, open ClipHistory with Cmd+Shift+V, run the Rewrite action, and paste the result. It works in any app that supports copy and paste.

Will rephrasing change what my text means?

A good rephrase reshapes wording while keeping the meaning. For anything important, review the result before using it.

Can I make text shorter or longer when rephrasing?

Yes. Ask the Rewrite action for a shorter version to fit a limit, or a longer one to add explanation. You can run it again on the result to refine further.

Is my clipboard sent to the cloud?

No. ClipHistory has no cloud and no account. Only the single clip you rephrase is sent to your chosen AI provider with your own API key.

Which providers can I use?

Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or a custom endpoint. You supply your own API key and pay that provider directly per token.

Rephrase Clipboard Text With AI on Mac

Sometimes a sentence is right in substance but wrong in wording — too long, too stiff, too repetitive, or just not clicking. Rephrasing by hand is fiddly. An AI rephrase action does it in one step, and when it runs on your clipboard, you can reword text in any app without breaking your flow.

This guide shows how to rephrase copied text on a Mac using a clipboard-based AI action.

Rephrase where your text already is

The text you want to reword is already on your clipboard the moment you copy it. So that's where the rephrase action should live — not in a separate chat window you have to open, paste into, and copy back from.

The flow with ClipHistory:

Select the text and press Cmd+C.
Open ClipHistory with Cmd+Shift+V.
Select the clip and run the Rewrite action.
Paste the rephrased version with Cmd+V.

It works in Mail, Slack, Notes, Pages, a web form, your code comments — anywhere copy and paste work.

What rephrasing can do for you

The rewrite action reshapes text without changing its meaning. Common uses:

Reword for clarity

Turn a tangled sentence into a clear one. Good for technical explanations that came out denser than intended.

Change the length

Ask for a shorter version to fit a character limit, or a slightly longer one if something needs more explanation.

Vary the wording

If you've used the same phrase three times in a document, rephrase one instance so it doesn't read as repetitive.

Shift the tone

Make a line warmer, more neutral, or more direct. (For a full professional-tone walkthrough, see our dedicated guide.)

Examples

Before: "Due to the fact that the server was down, we were unable to process the request at that point in time."

After: "We couldn't process the request because the server was down."

Before: "I was wondering if you might possibly be able to send over the file when you get a chance maybe."

After: "Could you send over the file when you have a moment?"

The meaning holds; the wording tightens.

Runs on your own API key

Rephrasing runs on your API key. ClipHistory supports five providers — Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or a custom endpoint — and you pay that provider directly per token. There's no separate AI subscription; the app itself is a one-time $19.99 purchase.

Model choice matters here. A capable model produces rephrasing that sounds natural and keeps your meaning; a small, cheap model is fine for quick, low-stakes rewording. Your key, your call.

Local by design

ClipHistory has no cloud and no account. When you rephrase, only the single clip you selected is sent to your provider. Your clipboard history — the last 150 unpinned clips plus any pinned ones — stays on your Mac and is never uploaded.

Keep the original to compare

After rephrasing, your original text is still in ClipHistory's history. If the reworded version drifted from what you meant, the source is a Cmd+Shift+V away. Pin the original to keep it past the 150-clip rolling limit while you decide which version to use.

Rephrase, then refine

For important text, treat the first rephrase as a draft. You can run the action again on the result to nudge it further — shorter, warmer, simpler — until it's right. Because each version lands back on the clipboard, iterating is just repeating the action.

When to keep your own words

AI rephrasing is a tool, not a replacement for your voice. For personal messages, creative writing, or anything where your exact phrasing is the point, use it sparingly. It shines on routine, functional text where clarity matters more than style.

Get ClipHistory for macOS

Rephrasing text on a Mac is one clipboard action away: copy, rewrite, paste. It runs on your own API key, supports five providers, and keeps everything local with no account.

Get ClipHistory for macOS — $19.99, one-time (12-month license, no auto-renewal). Apple-signed and notarized, universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel, macOS 12+.