> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.descript.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Shorten Word Gaps

> Descript's Shorten word gaps feature helps to automatically tighten long pauses in your media.

Shorten word gaps removes the dead space between words automatically, so you don't have to trim each pause by hand on the timeline.

This article covers how to run the tool, adjust timing settings, review results, and explore advanced options.

<Note>
  **Usage note**

  On current plans, this feature uses **AI Credits**. Learn more about [tracking your Media Minutes and AI Credits](/billing-payments-plans/track-and-understand-your-media-minutes-and-ai-credits).

  Legacy and Sunset plans track usage differently. See our [Understanding your Legacy and Sunset plan](/billing-payments-plans/legacy-sunset) guide for details.
</Note>

## Shorten word gaps

1. Open the [AI Tools panel](/descript-tour/ai-tools-overview) on the right-hand side of your screen and select **Shorten word gaps**.

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/descript-5bf56f3f/x_o3AVZ-HKjw1TIM/images/external/descript-36979486153229-7d571bddad.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=x_o3AVZ-HKjw1TIM&q=85&s=32edb386904fdddec4f5fc6ac763a75a" alt="AI Actions panel in Descript showing the 'Shorten word gaps' option. Press Esc to close." width="1902" height="1036" data-path="images/external/descript-36979486153229-7d571bddad.png" />
2. Once the action starts, the filler words search menu will appear at the top of the script editor.
   * Use the dropdown to select **more than** or **between**, and use the duration fields to define what qualifies as a gap.
   * Use the second field to set a new target length (e.g. 200ms).

     <img src="https://mintcdn.com/descript-5bf56f3f/x_o3AVZ-HKjw1TIM/images/external/descript-36979471276813-cf94cddf70.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=x_o3AVZ-HKjw1TIM&q=85&s=d721cf1b7ace5fe9dd29d583372d1912" alt="Search panel in Descript with word gap settings dropdowns. Press Esc to close." width="3024" height="1646" data-path="images/external/descript-36979471276813-cf94cddf70.png" />
3. Navigate through results using the search panel arrows, or click results in the [Properties panel](/descript-tour/properties-panel).

   * **Click Shorten** to apply changes to the selected gap.
   * **Click Shorten all** to apply changes to all gaps.

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/descript-5bf56f3f/x_o3AVZ-HKjw1TIM/images/external/descript-36979486164365-415fefb855.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=x_o3AVZ-HKjw1TIM&q=85&s=1742cdc215ba10776774fc35a33659a3" alt="Search panel with word gap shorten and shorten all buttons. Press Esc to close." width="3024" height="1338" data-path="images/external/descript-36979486164365-415fefb855.png" />

<Note>
  Want to adjust word gaps manually while editing? You can also [shorten them directly in the script editor](/script-editing/word-gaps) or use the [wordbar](/script-editing/the-wordbar).
</Note>

## Advanced settings

You can customize the Shorten word gaps experience by clicking the <img src="https://mintcdn.com/descript-5bf56f3f/cSbTRRN32pg3UC1d/images/external/descript-20723514854541-1acfe75dfb.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=cSbTRRN32pg3UC1d&q=85&s=9cadace8c042d6aaa37d2518828ce680" alt="Settings icon for advanced preferences in Descript. Press Esc to close." width="20" height="20" style={{ display: "inline-block", verticalAlign: "middle", margin: "0 0.125rem" }} data-path="images/external/descript-20723514854541-1acfe75dfb.png" /> **Settings** icon and adjusting the following preferences:

* **Auto-advance** – Automatically move to the next result after shortening a gap.
* **Preview results** – Automatically play back the surrounding audio when a result is selected.