T9 or Predictive Texting: How to Use It

Text messaging is a recently developed form of communication that is increasing in popularity daily. There are numerous benefits of the ability to send and receive text messages, as well as being able to text quickly. Text messaging can be simplified by using T9 or other predictive text messaging systems. While using predictive text might be confusing at first it is really simple to use once it is mastered.

Start by opening a new blank text message. Check and see what the entry mode of the text is set to. This should be found at the bottom of the phones screen and should say, "ABC", "123" or "T9..." If the entry mode is not set to T9 or another predictive text messaging method simply select the menu where the entry mode is displayed and select the predictive method.

At this point entering of the message with predictive text messaging is possible. Start by pressing the button with the first letter of the desired word on it. Do not press this button multiple times, in order to get the desired letter to show up, just press the button with the next letter of the word. Once all the letters have been entered in this way, if the desired word is not displayed press the zero button until the desired word is displayed. An example would be the entry of the word "going" it would be entered by pressing the sequence of buttons; four, six, four, six and four. This same process can be used to write the whole text message.

If the word that is wanted does not appear must phones have the ability to learn additional words. Teaching a phone new words can be accomplished in two ways. The first way that works for almost all phones is to type the wanted word in alphabet entry mode and before pressing the space button switch the entry method back to T9, this should save the word. Try entering the word in T9 and then pressing the next button, possibly multiple times, the word should appear. The other method for teaching a phone a new word is to enter the word in pieces using T9. This may require entering a single letter or a couple letters at a time until the word is completed. The phone should know the word entered after the space key is entered. If these ways of teaching the phone new words do not work additional methods should be listed in the user's manual, also other tips on text messaging are commonly available in a phone's user's manual.