Beyond spelling: How word prediction software enhances the writing process

Several years ago, I was working with an insurance company, and we were trying to obtain the medication my daughter needed. We had many calls and conversations, but the one I remember the most was when he asked me to identify the gum in the straw. The gum in the straw? I repeated. He explained the metaphor, and he meant the holdup in the process. Since then, I have used this concept to identify places in the writing process where a writer could become stuck, and there are many of them. In order to compose, writing involves idea generation, planning, sentence structure and construction, focus, organization, and language. Additionally, writing involves spelling, conventions, and the use of grammatical rules. And then, to complete any type of written text, writers must use both fine and gross motor skills. Each one of these skills has nuances and subskills that complicate them, leading to many metaphorical places in a straw where a writer could get stuck. Therefore, I welcome systems, scaffolds, and tools that can isolate skills and make the process easier if possible.

Some of the ideas I’ve used include writing prompts for ideas, graphic organizers for planning, pictures for helping with memory, and sentence frames for fluency and organization. Text dictation programs help writers who can verbalize their ideas, but struggle with spelling, handwriting, or keyboarding. Just like a carpenter finds the right tools for a construction project, writing teachers have more and more tools to choose for their instruction.

Word prediction software has emerged as a powerful new tool. Originally, I thought of it as a spelling tool. With a background in special education, I could see its benefits for students who struggle with spelling and encoding. However the more I study the process of writing and the implications of word prediction, the more I appreciate the range of benefits it offers any writer (myself included), and especially writers who sometimes struggle with getting their words into the world. Co-Writer prediction in Read&Write offers much more than assistance with spelling.

In addition to spelling help, Co-Writer prediction in Read&Write helps students to form sentences correctly using the right words in the right context. If a student begins a sentence, the prediction tool will suggest words that could follow using correct grammar and syntax. The suggestions remove that element of brainwork involved with written expression, allowing students to focus on the many other cognitive demands involved in getting ideas to paper in ways readers can understand.

Because Co-Writer Prediction offers specific suggestions for words, it alleviates the dilemma I have over whether students should have spelling notifications turned on or off. If I teach students to use spellcheck as they draft, the lines and notifications interrupt the thinking process that writing coherent texts requires. However, if I discourage students from using spellcheck, they continue to misspell words, adding to the neurological confusion that happens when the brain sees and processes a variety of spelling options for the same word; the brain is likely to register that the word is tricky and difficult, but not the correct spelling. My personal example is the word embarrassment. I know it’s tricky, but I do not spell it with automaticity-- perhaps because I’ve spelled it in different ways. Word prediction lets students see, experience, and process the correct spelling of words more frequently, facilitating the internalization of correct spelling. Furthermore, reduced focus on mechanics allows writers to brainstorm and express ideas more creatively. It can help learners to focus on the writing task rather than worry about making spelling mistakes.

There are times when all writers struggle with finding the right words. Word prediction software does not do the writing, but it does provide suggestions for words that make sense in the context of sentences and paragraphs. When I use it, the program guesses what I’m going to write; sometimes it’s not exactly what I’m trying to say, and I ignore it. But sometimes it’s better than what I’m trying to say, and I accept the suggestion. In this way, word prediction acts as a quiet coach that provides gentle nudging without becoming distracting and derailing the concentration I need to write. For students, the program has the power to build vocabulary and empower writers to use new words effectively and correctly.

In addition to all the cognitive work involved with writing, there’s also the component of motor skills. For some students, the physical act of typing is a potential place in the straw for gum to stick. Not everyone learns keyboarding skills as easily as others; finding letters, managing shift keys, seeking punctuation tools, and maintaining the finger dexterity while doing all that is brainwork in and of itself, setting aside the additional challenges of what you’re trying to say, how to spell words, and how to structure sentences and paragraphs.

Writing prediction software minimizes the amount of letters writers have to find on the keyboard because if the words are correct, then all the writer has to do is select them from the list. There’s no need to hunt for the rest of the letters in order to spell the word. While this feature may not seem to be a big deal to a skilled typist, for a writer who faces challenges with learning the keyboard, this feature could save a lot of time, frustration, and cognitive energy, allowing cognitive energy to be channeled to other areas involved with writing.

In conclusion, word prediction software offers a comprehensive range of benefits that extend beyond spelling correction. Co-Writer prediction in Read&Write is a feature that will help many children become more confident and effective writers, and I can’t wait to see how it continues to evolve in the months and years ahead.