# Cut-ups — Get your DADA on

> Creative text generation tool using the cut-up technique. (iPhone/iPad app by Geoffry Gambling.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cut-ups/id1502877754 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Geoffry Gambling](https://appshunter.io/developer/1502877753)
- Category: Productivity
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.67/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 13.2 · 1 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2020-03-20
- Data updated: 2026-06-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cut-ups/id1502877754/reviews.md

## What is Cut?

The Cut-up technique is a creativity process originally popularized by the DADAists. It involves cutting up existing text sources and rearranging them to inspire new ideas. The method was later used by William S. Burroughs, David Bowie, and Radiohead among others. 
    
    Instructions:

    •) Paste in any copied text such as a poem, lyrics, a journal or diary entry-- even *news articles(although these may require more care in formatting into separate lines). Paste in any text you want
    
    •) Any text that is separated by a "return" will be counted as a new line

    •) You can use the "return" on the iOS keyboard to simulate cutting the text anywhere you want. Many source materials may already automatically have lines separated when you paste them in, but it could be fun to cut up lines even further, perhaps in-half. 

    •) Feel free to type in extra lines on the fly or edit existing lines using the keyboard
    
    •) Copying and pasting from different sources is a good way to get interesting blends
        
    •) When you are satisfied with your formatting, clicking on "Automatic" will cut the text into lines and send them to the editing board

    •) You can also use iOS' built-in copy and paste to manually send a single line, words, or word to the editing board.

    •) To begin rearranging the lines, click on the "Edit" button
    
    •) Rearranging can be done manually by clicking on a line and dragging it, or automatically by clicking "shuffle". You can press shuffle as many times as you wish
    
    •) You can go back to the input screen and add more content at any time
    
    •) Export your rearranged lines via the "Share" button.

    •) Press "Clear" to start over completely

    * REMEMBER TO ABIDE BY ANY LICENSING AND ATTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS IF YOU USE THIRD PARTY SOURCES
    """

App Icons were made by https://www.flaticon.com/authors/flat-icons 

Gutenberg.org is used for the "random" feature per their permission to only use human interaction and only for educational use.

## Key features

- Paste and format text
- Automatic line cutting
- Manual line editing
- Automatic shuffling
- Export creations
- Clear and start over

## Recent user reviews (5 of 5)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cut-ups/id1502877754/reviews.md

### 1/5 — text disappears with cut command, please help

*2023-02-07*

after using tgecc cd random button to generate text, i press the cut button, select my cut type, and then the text just disappears.

somebody help please, i’d like to use this app

### 1/5 — Some kind of dadaist joke

*2021-11-10, version 3.6.4*

Don’t expect it to do anything that you would expect it to do

### 1/5 — Won’t edit

*2021-08-20, version 3.6.4*

Downloaded this to give it a spin - tried a few different ways but no matter what text I put in, when I go to edit it shows up with nothing. Then if I go back to the text, it’s empty again.

### 5/5 — A really interesting and unique artistic tool!

*2020-10-04*

Let’s you chop up text and randomize lines of poetry or prose to try out different unexpected arrangements of words! Really cool for “chance” procedures or getting poetic inspiration. The app keeps adding functionality. You can now import lines of text from a photo or even a pure string of “randomly generated” text. The interface is a bit wonky and takes some getting used to- but the app is very unique in what it does!

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work.

*2020-03-28*

No keyboard, no way to paste. Seems dead.

**Developer response:** I apologize for the inconvenience and I definitely would appreciate any feedback about my User Interface not working. 

The interface I tried to design is if you tap into the screen that comes up when you open the app, that it would bring up the iOS keyboard. 

So, there is no keyboard when you initially open the app, but if you tap on the input area, I intended for the keyboard to come up. 

Is that not happening?

## Frequently asked questions about Cut

### What is the cut-up technique used in Cut-ups?

The cut-up technique involves cutting up existing text sources and rearranging them to inspire new ideas. This method was popularized by Dadaists and used by artists like William S. Burroughs.

### Can I use any text with Cut-ups?

Yes, you can paste in any copied text such as poems, lyrics, journal entries, or even news articles. Ensure text is formatted into separate lines for best results.

### How do I rearrange text in Cut-ups?

You can rearrange lines manually by clicking and dragging them, or use the 'shuffle' button for automatic rearrangement. You can press shuffle multiple times.

### Can I add more text after starting?

Yes, you can always go back to the input screen and add more content at any time to further develop your creations.

### How can I share my creations from Cut-ups?

Once you are satisfied with your rearranged lines, you can export them via the 'Share' button to share your unique creations.

### Is Cut-ups available on multiple devices?

Cut-ups is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod, making it accessible for users across various Apple devices.

### How often is Cut-ups updated?

The latest version of Cut-ups is 3.6.4, and it was last updated on November 9, 2020. This indicates a moderate update frequency.

### Does Cut-ups have ads?

No, Cut-ups does not contain advertisements, providing an uninterrupted creative experience for users.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.6.4 — 2020-11-09

Increase passage size retrieved when using the random feature.

### 3.6.3 — 2020-10-25

When using the Random feature, the app now displays the citation of the work it was pulled from if it is available.

### 3.5.1 — 2020-09-11

Updated help and dialog text to include instructions for the addition of the "save" feature.

### 3.5.0 — 2020-08-26

You can now save a cut-up to continue working on later. Anything that is saved by clicking on "save" in the editing board will be ready to continue working on the next time you open the app. Clicking on the trash can will clear any saved data so you can begin from scratch.

### 3.1.0 — 2020-08-14

Now try your hand at folding-in. 

A Fold-in is the technique of taking two sheets of linear text (with the same linespacing), folding each sheet in half vertically and combining with the other, then reading across the resulting page. (via Wikipedia)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-04.*