TextExpander $29.95 is one of many great applications from SmileOnMyMac.
It sits in your menu bar and is very easy to set up. I addition to the “usual” Update, Register and About tabs there is a Preferences tab where you can select the defaults for Snippet Format and Abbreviation mode. There are also options relating to the icon, width displayed in the menu bar, and a few other fun but non essential options.
The main tab is Snippets where you add your own text and abbreviations e.g. “cm” for me types Chris Marshall automatically. This is very simple to set up and easy to modify.
Personally I don’t have that many Snippets set up as I find I struggle to remember them all (I have the same issue with keyboard short cuts) so what works best for me is to avoid the temptation of adding everything I could every possibly need and to ration myself to those that I know I use a lot. I tend to add a particular snippet or more during a particular review, for example, and then remove it after I have concluded the review.
Without doubt it is a great productivity tool if used in a way that works best for you. It is an excellent application that I am pretty sure you will find a good use for.
Features
Save thousands of keystrokes by using short abbreviations to insert frequently-used phrases and images
Insert standard greetings and signatures — including formatted text and pictures
Insert the current date and time in any format you prefer
Add common typos to your snippet library–TextExpander will automatically correct them for you! (more info)
Type special characters without having to launch a special characters palette
Import snippets from other typing utilities, including Textpander, TypeIt4Me and Typinator
Trigger snippet expansions automatically by typing the abbreviations you specify, or use any one of over 30 delimiter characters as a trigger
Position the cursor wherever you want in your expanded snippet.
Programmers: make editor-independent code templates
For those of you that are already using similar applications, namely TypeIt4Me 3 or Typinator 1.2 they provide a useful comparison table.
PS – you should take a look at these excellent additional snippets
http://www.smileonmymac.com/textexpander/snippets.html