Train iOS Autocorrect to Stop Correcting Specific Words

Nov 30, 2013 - 6 Comments

Train autocorrect words in iOS

The iOS Autocorrect feature is notorious for being very aggressive in correcting certain words, particularly those words with colorful, offensive, or controversial meanings – basically any curse word. If you get fed up with autocorrects persistent mouth (finger?) soap, you can either use shortcuts to automatically replace the words that autocorrect struggles with, try to force learning with word repetition, or, perhaps easiest and new since iOS 7; use the excellent Safari Search trick outlined below to train autocorrect to stop correcting specific words, and to also learn new words:

  1. Open Safari in iOS (yes, the web browser) and open a new window / tab
  2. Tap in the topmost “Search” box and type the word you want autocorrect to stop correcting, then tap on “Go” to search for it
  3. Now go back to any text editor, Messages, etc, to type the originally intended word – no more autocorrecting it!

Teach Autocorrect words with Safari Search

This is extremely effective if you’ve been struggling with the iPhone / iPad autocorrecting certain names, or the many infamous curse word corrections of duckings, tucks, ducks, shots, ships, bass wholes, and all the rest. (excuse the language)

Autocorrect for curse words

If you put a typo into the Safari search box and now autocorrect is making things even worse, you can always start over again by resetting the entire autocorrect dictionary within iOS to the defaults, just keep in mind that everything autocorrect related will be cleared out and all of your typing corrections and learning will start from scratch with that approach.

Overall this is probably a better trick than using the shortcuts method because it won’t clutter up the Keyboard Shortcuts and text expansion, which is better used as intended for quickly typing out things like email addresses, long names, and phrases.

Heads up to Gizmodo for the excellent find!

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in iPad, iPhone, Tips & Tricks

6 Comments

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  1. emma says:

    Not working really great on latest os on iphone. I tried both ways – safari (which I never use as a normal browser) and entering words into notes. At least the word would sometimes show in the options but not if I swyped – had to type it.

    I’m guessing it is datascraping contacts,any websites visited regardless of browser, etc. because I am still inundated with proper nouns surnames etc. I’ve never typed CBS but it comes up I’m guessing because I stream there. Allinall very nonproductive – would send me back to android if they hadn’t followed suit and overdone this “feature”.

  2. Mary says:

    My husband and I keep texting about getting new windows for our house, not “Windows”. One evening I about threw my phone out one of the “Windows”.

  3. Juan says:

    For we’re, I just the shortcut “wr”. Always does the trick for me. Of course, you can make your own shortcuts to differentiate words.

  4. Jason says:

    This did not work for me. “were” still keeps getting changed to “we’re” for me.

  5. JimGramze says:

    With this info maybe I can stop tucking around and get some work done.

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