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This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene has been writing and editing tech content at wikiHow since 2019. She previously worked for AppleCare, served as a writing tutor, volunteered in IT at an animal rescue, and taught as an adjunct professor for EN101 and EN102. Darlene has completed Coursera courses on technology, writing, and language. She holds both a BA (2011) and an MA (2012) from Rowan University in Writing, with a focus on workplace communication. With her extensive experience, academic background, and ongoing learning, Darlene has become the go-to grammar expert for her friends and family, as well as a skilled wordsmith for anyone in need.
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Predictive text is your phone's way of suggesting words to complete your sentences and help you type faster. Your phone learns the words you use most frequently together and suggests them to you above your keyboard. This wikiHow will show you how to use predictive text on an iPhone, iPad, and Android.
How to Turn on Predictive Text
On an Android, go to Settings > General > Language and Input > Keyboard Preferences > Text Correction/Word Suggestion. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and enable Predictive. Then, open your messages and start typing the first few letters of a word.
Steps
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Enable predictive text on your keyboard. If you're using an Android, the language varies, but you should find settings for your keyboard in Settings > General > Language and Input > Keyboard Preferences (you might have to pick a keyboard) > Text Correction (might be called Word Suggestion). Tap the switch to toggle it on.- For iPhones and iPads, go to Settings > General > Keyboard. Tap the switch next to Predictive to toggle it on.
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Open an app and tap the typing area. You need to open an app feature that launches your keyboard so you can use predictive text, such as a new text or email message.Advertisement -
Type the first three to four letters of a word. You'll need to keep adding letters to the word until you see the correct one suggested above your keyboard. -
Tap the correct suggested word. There are normally three suggested words that will appear as you type, and these are usually the words you've used most.- For example, if you say "Awesomely" a lot, that word will pop up in your suggested words when you type Awe.
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Tap the next correct word. If you usually say a phrase, such as "Just left the house, on my way", then typing Just will suggest "left" and "my" and "house", and possibly "on my way" as one suggestion.- Predictive text might take a while to remember your most commonly used words and phrases, but when it does, it can be a time-saver.
Expert Q&A
Tips
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If you use Gboard, you can also change whether the keyboard will suggest profane words in Settings > General > Language and Input > Keyboard Preferences > Gboard > Text Correction > Block Offensive Words.[1]Thanks
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About This Article
1. Enable predictive text on your keyboard.
2. Open a text field.
3. Type the first three to four letters of a word.
4. Tap the correct suggested word.
5. Tap the next correct word.
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