Apple’s iOS operating system has come a long way since its debut in 2007. With each new version, iOS gets faster, more secure, and packed with new features. iOS 17, the latest version released in 2023, is no exception. One of the most useful features that has been improved in iOS 17 is autocorrect.
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What is Autocorrect?
Autocorrect is a feature that automatically fixes spelling mistakes and typos as you type on your iPhone or iPad. It uses predictive text algorithms to guess which word you meant to type based on the keys you pressed and the context of the sentence. Autocorrect has been around since the early days of iOS, but it has gotten smarter and more accurate over time.
How Autocorrect Works in iOS 17
In iOS 17, autocorrect has been redesigned and re-engineered with inline text recommendations. Here’s an overview of how it works:
- As you type, autocorrect analyzes each word and compares it to words in its dictionary. If it detects a misspelled or mistyped word, it will automatically replace it with the most likely suggestion.
- When autocorrect changes a word, there is now a blue line underneath the corrected word that you can tap. Tapping the blue line shows the original word you typed and other suggestions.
- You can tap one of the suggestions to revert back to it, or keep the autocorrected word by tapping elsewhere on the screen.
- Newly autocorrected words and sentences are temporarily underlined so that you can easily see the corrections. The underlines fade after a few seconds.
- Autocorrect now uses a large language model under the hood to analyze full sentences and phrases, rather than just individual words. This helps it make smarter corrections that better fit the context.
- The dictionaries and algorithms powering autocorrect have been improved to recognize slang, product names, current events, and other proper nouns that used to get corrected incorrectly.
Customizing Autocorrect in iOS 17
If you find autocorrect changing words you don’t want it to, iOS 17 provides several customization options:
Turn Off Autocorrect for Specific Words: You can add words to the iOS dictionary so that autocorrect never changes them. To do this:
- Tap the autocorrected word and then tap the blue line to see suggestions.
- Tap the “X” next to the original word you typed to add it to the dictionary.
Adjust Autocorrect Aggressiveness: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard to find the Auto-Correction slider. Turn this off to disable autocorrect completely or adjust it to be less aggressive.
Use Text Replacement Shortcuts: Create custom autocorrect shortcuts by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Add your own word pairs here.
Reset Dictionary: If autocorrect seems to be consistently wrong, you can reset the dictionary to its default state by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. This will clear any custom words you’ve added.
Autocorrect Tips for iOS 17
Here are some helpful tips for getting the most out of the powerful autocorrect feature in iOS 17:
- Pay attention to underlines on newly typed text so you can catch incorrect autocorrections right away.
- If a corrected word is underlined, try tapping it and selecting the original word you typed rather than just retyping the word from scratch. This will reinforce that word for future autocorrections.
- Use the text replacement shortcuts for longer words or phrases you commonly type to speed up your typing.
- Turn off autocorrect for contact names, URLs, code snippets, or other text where you don’t want changes applied.
- Give autocorrect a chance to learn your unique writing style by leaving it on most of the time. The more you use it, the smarter it will get.
- Double check autocorrect changes in important documents like work emails before sending.
The Future of Autocorrect
Autocorrect has come a long way since its origins of just replacing individual words. With Apple now using neural networks and AI behind the scenes, it can understand full sentences and even the context of paragraphs.
In the future, we may see autocorrect become proactive. Rather than just fixing mistakes, it may suggest completed words and phrases as you type based on your past writing. The line between autocorrect and autocomplete is already blurring.
Apple is also expanding systemwide intelligence features like Siri Shortcuts that could integrate with autocorrect. Imagine autocorrect automatically filling in repetitive information like addresses based on your contacts.
While some “autocorrect fails” will live on for internet humor, the technology is quickly getting smarter. What we see in iOS 17 lays the groundwork for more advanced assistance features that will likely come in the next decade. For now, take advantage of the helpful improvements to autocorrect in iOS 17 on your iPhone!
Frequently Asked Questions About iOS 17 Autocorrect
Here are some common questions about using autocorrect in iOS 17:
How do I turn autocorrect off completely?
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off the Auto-Correction toggle. This disables autocorrect systemwide.
Can I undo an autocorrect change after I already typed another word?
Unfortunately no, there is currently no universal undo option for autocorrect on iOS. You have to manually change the word back.
Why does autocorrect keep changing a word after I re-type it correctly?
Try explicitly adding that word to your dictionary by tapping it when autocorrected and selecting the “X” icon. This trains autocorrect to keep that word form.
Does autocorrect use my contacts, emails, or other personal data to improve suggestions?
No, autocorrect relies solely on your local device dictionary and language models. It does not access personal data.
Can I sync my iOS autocorrect dictionary across my other Apple devices?
There is no automatic syncing of your dictionary, but you can manually back up and restore your dictionary through iCloud or iTunes backups.
What languages does autocorrect support?
iOS supports autocorrect for over 50 languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, and many more.
Why does autocorrect change words to a completely different word I didn’t intend?
This happens when your actual typed word is so misspelled that autocorrect can’t figure out what you meant. Try adding commonly mistaken words to your dictionary.
Conclusion
Autocorrect has evolved by leaps and bounds with each iOS release. iOS 17 brings the biggest improvements yet, with context awareness, temporary underlines, and the ability to quickly undo changes. As this technology improves, it can cut down on typing errors and speed up your writing.
Take full advantage of the autocorrect capabilities in iOS 17. Customize it to best suit your writing style. With a robust dictionary and cutting-edge AI now powering it, autocorrect will only get better in future iOS versions. What annoying typos will it fix for you? The possibilities are endless as Apple continues innovating on this essential feature.
Table: iOS Autocorrect Improvements
| iOS Version | Autocorrect Improvements |
| iOS 11 | Phrase and word prediction |
| iOS 12 | Deeper learning of writing style |
| iOS 13 | Swipe-based word deletion |
| iOS 14 | Support for emoji typing |
| iOS 15 | Ability to tap and undo changes |
| iOS 16 | Contextual word recommendations |
| iOS 17 | Inline autocorrect with blue underlines |