In everyday writing and especially chatting, abbreviations are very common, since they reduce the time needed for typing. However, in official papers they are not permitted and writers are required to type every word.
This is why software developers have created applications that enable users to stop typing repetitive phrases (like email signatures, addresses or official salutations) by simply entering some predefined keys that will insert the required phrase.
Additionally, one can also use abbreviations for long complicated words or expressions, that require a lot of attention to be typed correctly.
Furthermore, these applications might also integrate spell checking with comprehensive dictionaries or program launchers.