How Do I Edit Autocorrect on the iPhone?

Adding a word to the dictionary by creating a shortcut.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Apple.

The dictionary for the autocorrect feature used by the iPhone in iOS 8 can't be directly edited. You can, however, solve the most common problems with a two-part process. Start by resetting the iPhone's dictionary to erase the results of all those times you accidentally dismissed an autocorrect bubble and taught your iPhone a wrong word. After you do that, you can trick the iPhone into recognizing words it doesn't know using one of two methods.

Resetting the Dictionary

Step 1

The main menu in the Settings app.

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Open the "Settings" app and tap "General."

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Step 2

Part of the General menu in the Settings app.

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Tap "Reset." You may have to scroll down before this option becomes visible.

Step 3

The Reset menu.

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Tap "Reset Keyboard Dictionary." If prompted, enter your passcode.

Step 4

Resetting the dictionary.

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Tap "Reset Dictionary" to confirm. This erases all words the iPhone's dictionary has learned, returning it to factory settings.

Teaching Through Shortcuts

Step 1

Part of the General menu in the Settings app.

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Return to the General menu and tap "Keyboard." You may have to scroll down for this option to become visible.

Step 2

The Keyboard menu.

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Tap "Shortcuts."

Step 3

The Shortcuts menu.

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Tap the "Plus" button to create a new shortcut.

Step 4

Creating the shortcut.

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Type the word you want to add to the dictionary in the Phrase field. Leave the Shortcut field blank and tap "Save." Repeat the process for other words you want to add -- you can only add one word at a time, because if you add multiple words, your iPhone treats them as a complete sentence and offers to fill them all in when you start typing the first word.

Teaching Through Contacts

Step 1

The main screen for the Contacts app.

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Open the Contacts app and tap the "Plus" button to create a new contact.

Step 2

Setting up the contact.

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Type "Zzzz" in the "Last" field so the contact will be sorted at the bottom of the contact list.

Step 3

Adding words to the contact card.

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Type the words you want to add to the dictionary in the "First," "Last" or "Company" fields, separating each word with a space. If you add words that aren't normally capitalized, tap the "Shift" key before typing each of them so they are all lowercase; otherwise, the iPhone automatically capitalizes each word in those fields. After you add all the words you want, tap "Done."