iPhone - Typing

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Typing

The onscreen keyboard appears anytime you need to type.

Entering text

Use the keyboard to enter text. The keyboard corrects misspellings, predicts what you’re typing,
and learns as you use it. Depending on the app you’re using, the intelligent keyboard may suggest
corrections as you type, to help prevent mistyped words.
Type text: Tap a text field to bring up the keyboard, then tap on the keyboard.

As you type, each letter appears above your thumb or finger. If you touch the wrong key, you
can slide your finger to the correct key. The letter isn’t entered until you release your finger
from the key.

Delete the previous character

Tap

.

Type uppercase

Tap the Shift key before tapping a letter. Or touch and hold the Shift key,
then slide to a letter.

Quickly type a period and space

Double-tap the space bar. To turn this feature on or off, go to Settings >
General > Keyboard.

Use autocorrection to enter “’ll”

Type “lll.” For example, type “youlll” to get “you’ll.”

Turn caps lock on

Double-tap the Shift key . Tap the Shift key again to turn caps lock off.
You can turn this feature on or off in Settings > General > Keyboard.

Enter numbers, punctuation,
or symbols

Tap the Number key

. Tap the Symbol key

to see additional

punctuation and symbols.

Set options for typing

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.

To type an alternate character,

touch and hold a key, then slide

to choose one of the options.

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Chapter 3

Basics

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Auto-correction and spell checking

For many languages, iPhone automatically corrects misspellings or makes suggestions as you type.
When iPhone suggests a word, you can accept the suggestion without interrupting your typing.

Note: For a list of supported languages, see www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html.

Suggested

word

Accept the suggestion: Type a space, punctuation mark, or return character.
Reject a suggestion: Tap the “x”.
Each time you reject a suggestion for the same word, iPhone becomes more likely to accept
the word.

iPhone may also underline words you’ve already typed that might be misspelled.

Replace a misspelled word

Tap the word, then tap one of the alternate spellings.
If the word you want doesn’t appear, just retype it.

Turn auto-correction or spell
checking on or off

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.

Shortcuts and your personal dictionary

Shortcuts lets you type just a few characters instead of a longer word or phrase. The expanded text
appears whenever you type the shortcut. For example, the shortcut “omw” expands to “On my way!”
Create a shortcut: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard, then tap Add New Shortcut.
Add a word or phrase to your personal dictionary so that iPhone doesn’t try to correct or
replace it:
Create the shortcut, but leave the Shortcut field blank.

Edit a shortcut

Go to Settings > Keyboard and tap the shortcut.

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Chapter 3

Basics

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Editing text

The touchscreen makes it easy to change text you’ve entered. An onscreen magnifying glass helps
you position the insertion point right where you need it. Grab points let you quickly select more
or less text. You can also cut, copy, and paste text and photos within apps, or across apps.
Position the insertion point: Touch and hold to bring up the magnifying glass, then drag to
position the insertion point.

Select text: Tap the insertion point to display the selection buttons.

You can also double-tap to select a word. In read-only documents, such as webpages, or email
messages you’ve received, touch and hold to select a word. Drag the grab points to select more
or less text.

Cut or copy text

Select text, then tap Cut or Copy.

Paste text

Tap the insertion point and tap Paste. The last text that you cut or copied is
inserted. Or select text and tap Paste to replace the text.

Undo the last edit

Shake iPhone and tap Undo.

Make text bold, italic, or underlined When available, tap , then tap B/I/U.

Get the definition of a word

When available, tap , then tap Define.

Get alternative words

When available, tap Suggest, then tap one of the words.

Keyboard layouts

You can use Settings to set the keyboard layouts for software and hardware keyboards. The
available layouts depend on the keyboard language.
Select a keyboard layout: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > International Keyboards, then
select a keyboard.

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Chapter 3

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For each language, you can make separate selections for both the onscreen software and
any external hardware keyboards. The software keyboard layout determines the layout of the
keyboard on the iPhone screen. The hardware keyboard layout determines the layout of an
Apple Wireless Keyboard connected to iPhone.

Using an Apple Wireless Keyboard

You can use an Apple Wireless Keyboard (available separately) for typing on iPhone. The Apple
Wireless Keyboard connects via Bluetooth. See “Pairing a Bluetooth device with iPhone” on
page 34.

Once the keyboard is paired with iPhone, it connects whenever the keyboard is within range (up
to 30 feet). You can tell that the keyboard is connected if the onscreen keyboard doesn’t appear
when you tap in a text field. To save the battery, turn off or unpair the keyboard when not in use.