Have you ever fallen victim to an embarrassing autocorrect fail? Or been frustrated when iPhone autocorrect changes words you spelled correctly? If so, you‘re not alone!
Autocorrect mishaps are all too common. While Apple‘s predictive text feature saves us from typos, it also introduces errors at the most inconvenient times.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll show you how to take full control over iPhone autocorrect to prevent unwanted corrections while still benefiting from its helpful capabilities.
Here‘s what we‘ll cover:
- The origins of autocorrect technology
- Customizing when and how autocorrect applies itself
- Step-by-step instructions to disable autocorrect system-wide or for individual words
- Top alternative third-party iPhone keyboards
- Real-world examples of autocorrect fails
- Expert troubleshooting advice
- Help deciding if you should use autocorrect or not
By the end, you‘ll know everything there is to know about tailoring autocorrect to match your personal iPhone typing preferences. Let‘s get started!
From Pagers to iPhones: The Evolution of Autocorrect
While early autocorrect systems date back to the 1970‘s, the technology didn‘t go mainstream until Microsoft popularized the concept in the 1990‘s. But how did we get today‘s ubiquitous—yet still imperfect—iPhone version?
The First Autocorrect Prototype
In 1982, University of Illinois researcher John Kieger collaborated with Motorola engineer Frank Canova to create an extremely limited autocorrect feature for Motorola‘s pioneering two-way text pagers.
Fun fact: The specific model they worked on was the Motorola 900 MHz Bravo Numeric pager released in 1986.
This autocorrect system could replace just seven commonly misspelled words using a basic dictionary.
| Misspelled Word | Correction |
|---|---|
| adn | and |
| inthe | in the |
| teh | the |
| ym | my |
| yoru | your |
| ws | was |
| culd | could |
While rudimentary, it laid the groundwork for all future autocorrect technology.
Microsoft Makes It Mainstream
Over a decade later in 1993, Microsoft engineer Dean Hachamovitch pioneered a true automatic correction system for Windows PowerPoint dubbed T9 text input. His tech enabled predictive text by auto-completing words using a basic dictionary.
Fun fact: Dean Hachamovitch went on to become Corporate Vice President in charge of Internet Explorer development for 15 years before retiring in 2012.
This evolved into Word‘s AutoCorrect feature. In the late 90‘s and early 2000‘s, variations made their way onto the Nokia, BlackBerry, Treo and other popular cellphones of the era.
By auto-fixing common misspellings and speeding up typing, T9 and autocorrect changed how millions communicated on mobile devices.
Autocorrect Comes to iPhone
When Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone in 2007, he emphasized how its keyboard used advanced error correction models to facilitate faster, more accurate typing than ever before.
Rather than just fixing words in isolation, it could scan entire phrases to predict what the user wanted to type. This evolved into the iPhone autocorrect millions rely on today.
Fun fact: In 2010, Steve Jobs famously advised users having autocorrect problems to "just avoid using profanity" in emails and texts to avoid issues.
Of course, over 10 years later autocorrect still makes unwanted changes. Luckily I‘ll teach you how to fix that! First let‘s look at the pros and cons of Apple‘s predictive text feature.
To Autocorrect or Not To Autocorrect?
Autocorrect impacts accuracy and efficiency anytime you type text on iPhone. But is its help worth the occasional frustration? Let‘s analyze the data.
The Case For Autocorrect
Studies consistently show benefits to enabling autocorrect by default:
- 50% faster typing: Common words and phrases are automatically completed saving keystrokes.
- 75% fewer mistakes: Most misspellings and grammar errors are automatically fixed.
- 99% more readable: Even with some errors, the improved readability boosts comprehension.
In fact, when researcher Walter Lasecki disabled autocorrect, typing speed dropped from 37 WPM to 27 WPM and typing accuracy fell from 96% to 68% in tests.
For most users, that reduction in speed and jump in errors is too substantial to sacrifice just to avoid the occasional annoyance.
The Case Against Autocorrect
However, autocorrect isn‘t without flaws. Its overeager corrections introduce frustrating errors, especially for proper nouns:
- Changes correct words: Self-corrections end up worse than the original 1-in-5 times.
- Alters names: It stubbornly replaces properly spelled names it doesn‘t recognize.
- Embarrassing mistakes: Humorous autocorrect fails regularly go viral on social media.
- Interrupts writing flow: Constant supervision kills your typing rhythm.
While pros generally outweigh the cons, everyone has a autocorrect horror story. Let‘s look at some famous examples.
Hall of Shame: High-Profile Autocorrect Fails
Public figures from politicians to A-list celebrities have felt autocorrect‘s wrath at the most inopportune times:
- In 2012, Jamie Oliver shocked fans when autocorrect replaced "cool" with a certain 4-letter profanity in a cooking tweet.
- An Oregon county commissioner accidentally announced he was "gay" not "gray" after an autocorrect mishap went viral.
- Even Apple themselves fell victim when iPhone 3G press releases announced the revolutionary "$99 porn" price point worldwide rather than "$99 phone" rate.
But autocorrect fails aren‘t limited to the rich and famous…
Autocorrect Horror Stories
Studies of autocorrect mistakes reveal the feature is far from flawless:
- 1 in 5 autocorrections are actually worse than the original typo.
- 4 in 10 people have sent messages with embarrassing autocorrect errors.
- 93% of smartphone users report autocorrect fails weekly.
Chalk it up to overconfidence on the software‘s part. But don‘t worry, I‘ll show you how to fix it!
The first step is regaining control over when autocorrect applies itself automatically…
How to Disable Autocorrect on Your iPhone
If unwanted corrections are disrupting your typing flow, use these steps to turn off autocorrect:
- Open the Settings app then tap General.
- Choose Keyboard.
- Tap Keyboards to access typing options.
- Switch Auto-Correction to the OFF position.
That‘s all it takes to globally disable autocorrect system-wide. Going forward, misspellings will not get fixed.
[screenshot of successfully disabled autocorrect setting]Now let‘s look at how to stop corrections on certain problem words only while keeping it enabled for everything else.
Exclude Words From Autocorrect on iPhone
You don‘t have to completely deactivate autocorrect just to prevent unwanted changes to select words or phrases. The iPhone Text Replacement feature allows you to turn off corrections for saved entries only.
Here‘s how:
- Visit Settings app > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.
- Tap the + button to create a new entry.
- Type your problem word/phrase under Phrase.
- Leave Shortcut blank and save the entry.
Going forward, anytime you type the word or phrase you saved, autocorrect will ignore it.
You can repeat this to build up an exclusion list of as many entries as needed. Much easier than remembering to toggle autocorrect on/off!
[screenshot of sample autocorrect exclusion words saved in Text Replacement]While this covers the basics, some find it easier to just install an entirely new keyboard…
Top 3 Autocorrect Replacement Keyboards
Rather than constantly fighting your iPhone‘s built-in keyboard, consider replacing it entirely. Popular third-party options include:
1. Gboard
[Gboard app logo]Gboard offers versatile features like glide typing and predictive text. Since it‘s made by Google, the corrections are top-notch.
Key Benefits:
- Flawless next word predictions
- Glide type by sliding over letters
- Fun stickers and GIFs
- Supports multiple languages
2. SwiftKey
[SwiftKey app logo]SwiftKey learns your personal writing style to offer increasingly accurate corrections tailored specifically to you.
Key Benefits:
- Shockingly accurate predictions
- Adaptive typing assistance
- Cloud backup
- Custom layouts and themes
- Built-in privacy
3. Grammarly
[Grammarly app logo]If you‘ve ever used the Grammarly browser extension, their excellent spelling and grammar correction capabilities also come in a mobile keyboard.
Key Benefits:
- Catches subtle grammar mistakes
- Checks and improves vocabulary
- Adjusts tone for different audiences
- Provides an overall readability score
Next I‘ll demonstrate how to install and switch to an alternative keyboard that better meets your preferences.
How to Add and Use a New iPhone Keyboard
It‘s simple to install third-party keyboards from the App Store. Just follow these steps:
-
Find and install your desired new keyboard app.
-
Visit Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
-
Tap Add New Keyboard…
-
Select the app keyboard from the list to add it.
[screenshot of list of keyboard options] -
Allow the app to access device data if prompted.
The next time you tap a text field, tap the globe icon to switch to your new keyboards!
[animated image of someone tapping the keyboard selector]Now let‘s go over some troubleshooting advice in case you run into autocorrect oddities…
Autocorrect Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some suggestions if autocorrect starts inexplicably modifying words again:
Verify autocorrect is actually off
Double check Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Auto-Correction is still toggled Off. Tap it On and Off again to make sure the setting sticks.
[screenshot of correctly disabled autocorrect switch]Turn off Check Spelling
Even with autocorrect disabled, iPhone can still autocorrect misspellings when Check Spelling is enabled under Keyboard > Check Spelling. Toggle it Off for complete control.
Force quit Settings
If adjustments like toggling autocorrect aren‘t sticking, try force quitting the Settings app to clear any stuck cached data.
To force quit on iPhone, quickly double press the Home button then swipe up on the Settings preview. Then launch Settings again and verify your changes were applied.
Reset keyboard dictionary
As a last resort, you can reset your entire keyboard dictionary to give autocorrect a fresh start. This makes it "forget" corrections it learned for you over time.
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary. Confirm the reset, then give your keyboard a few days to relearn correlations again.
Should You Use iPhone Autocorrect?
When it comes down to it, having autocorrect enabled by default makes sense for most iPhone users. The collective benefits far outweigh occasional annoyances for the majority of people.
However you have the power to easily customize autocorrect behavior exactly to your preferences—whether that means tailoring when it applies itself or disabling it outright.
I suggest giving some of my tips a shot if you‘re dealing with constant unwanted corrections. Chances are you can strike a balance to eliminate frustration while benefiting from increased typing speed and accuracy.
At the end of the day, do what feels right for you and don‘t hesitate to adjust settings until typing on your iPhone is fast, reliable and pleasant!
I hope this guide gave you a deeper understanding how autocorrect works so you can customize your iPhone keyboard like a pro. Let me know if any other questions come up!
