How to add an event using natural language in the Mac OS X Calendar app

If you use the Calendar app in Mac OS X, you already know how to add, delete, and manage events manually by now. What most people don't know is that the Calendar app in OS X supports natural language input, which makes adding events much quicker. Here's how to use it:

  1. Launch the Calendar app from the desktop of your Mac.
  2. In the upper left hand corner, click on the + sign to trigger the Quick Event entry box.
  3. Type something like Lunch with Heather at noon or Meeting with Rene tomorrow at 5pm.
  4. Hit the enter/return key on your keyboard.
  5. Your calendar will now auto-create the entry for you. If it's correct, you're done. If you want to add more details, just do so as you normally would.

That's all there is to it. While the OS X Calendar doesn't support natural language as well as other alternatives such as Fantastical for Mac (opens in new tab) does, it's certainly something and does make entering events slightly more convenient.

Allyson Kazmucha

iMore senior editor from 2011 to 2015.

7 Comments
  • I like how you can type "Buy those concert tickets sunday 17 november at 18:00" It's really useful for people like me, who put every little thing in their calendar :3
  • Thats a full calendar! Do you use an app to manage yur bills that adds them to the calendar? Or do you manually enter them into your calendar?
  • I'd like to see this feature on iOS. I'm not always at home when I have a new event. This just makes more sense. Sent from the iMore App
  • Thanks for the tip. Sent from the iMore App
  • I wish things worked that well in iCal. Many times the app placed the full information into the subject line requiring me to then edit the appointment. Defeats the purpose. Sent from the iMore App
  • Wow, didn't know about this feature (sorry, just purchased my first MacBook so I'm still kind a newb), but I really like this. Very convenient! Hopefully we can see similar features in iOS 8? Sent from the iMore App
  • The Mac calendar app screenshot shows the event is named "lunch with Heather at noon". It seems silly to use this feature if you just have to go in and edit it! Sent from the iMore App