Use the Swype Keyboard for Android

Everyone knows that you have to tap letters to type on a smart phone. But if you really want to speed up your work, Android devices have a special keyboard that can help you input words quicker, which Swype, Corporation has installed on each and every Android device (hence called Swype). Learn how to use this keyboard, by following the directions in this article.

Steps

General Swype Maneuvers

  1. Learn all the words that you'll need to spell. If you can't spell the word right, how can the Android device learn what you are trying to say correctly, in turn?
  2. Use a solid motion when moving from one letter to the next when "writing" the word.
  3. Make sure that you've selected a box that will contain text, otherwise Swype won't work too well.
  4. Realize that Swype doesn't work when you are trying to type into a text-based password field. The reason: Swype stores in it's internal memory your "conversation" of what it learns through your actions on screen, and it recognizes that people don't want their passwords stored on the device, even if you told the device that it was okay to store your password.
  5. Realize that you may make corrections to the words as you Swype them to type. However, it's best if you don't make corrections too often.
  6. Learn how to Get Swype, if the device didn't come to you with this special keyboard turned on initially.
    • Go through the device's settings. Under "Language and keyboard" you'll find this setting.
    • Look for and tap the setting level called "Select input method" which should be directly underneath the level-header "Text settings".
    • Tap the radio checkbox to the right of "Swype". The device will then close out the window and return you to the Language and keyboard settings page.

Typing a Word (Lowercase)

  1. Locate the first letter of the word you'd like to start the word with. Place your finger on the letter.
  2. Draw a straight line through all subsequent letters without stopping.
  3. Release your finger from the keyboard once the word is complete.

Typing a Word Containing Repeated Letters

  1. Type up to and including the first half of the letter.
  2. Make a small loop on top of the same-lettered key that will become repetitive, but don't let the loop lap overtop of any other letter on the keyboard. Keep the circle looped on one letter only.
  3. Continue the word by Swyping the rest of the word into the device.

Typing a Word that Isn't in the Dictionary Yet

  1. Type the word, letter for letter, by using the same maneuver as if Swype hadn't been turned on initially.
  2. Look for the bar on the device that gives you suggestions of what it thinks you may have typed. It'll say something like "Add (x word) to dictionary".
  3. Tap word on the bar that best explains the word you tried to type. Review it letter for letter, before accepting the word.

Type a Word with a Capital Letter

Method 1: Pressing Shift and the Letter

  1. Tap the Shift key in one single tap.
  2. Tap the first letter of the word.
  3. Continue from the first letter and Swype through the remainder of the letters as if you were typing the remainder of the Swyped word.

Method 2: Typing Past Top of Keyboard

  1. Locate and place your finger on the first letter that may potentially be the letter needing to be capitalized.
  2. Swipe your finger straight up from the bottom edge of the key to above the very top of the keyboard. Don't let your finger go from Swyping on the keyboard.
  3. Return your finger to the next letter on the device's keyboard and continue Swyping from letter to letter, as if you were typing another regular lower-case word into the device.

Symbol-Keying

Method 1: Holding Down Character Key

  1. Drag your line from the letter before the symbol.
  2. Draw a small circle around the top "symbol portion of the key" where the symbol exists. Don't let this circle reach into any other key's area of the keyboard. The circle may extend over into the small blank spot between letters, but never allow it to extend over into other letters.
  3. Continue to type the remainder of the word (or next portion of the word to which the relevant word is associated to it).

Method 2: Swiping from Key to Space

  1. Locate and tap the key that has the symbol located above its letter.
  2. Swipe downward to the Space bar.
  3. Release your finger from the screen.

Characters with Accent Marks

  1. Locate and place your finger on the letter. You'll see dialog box pop up with other keys that can be accessed by using that key.
  2. Slide your finger to that choice of letter.

One-Lettered Words

  1. Type the letter with the Swype keyboard.
  2. Slide your finger down to the Space bar.
  3. Tap the choice of the letter that best describes the letter you tried to type.
    • Allow the keyboard to auto-correct the word "I" if you intentionally misspell it (if you keep it lowercase, it'll fix your entry, and therefore you'll become a little faster on this keyboard).

Tips

  • Even though Swype can be a quick keyboard to master and key in words, allow yourself some ample extra time at first to correctly type the word and learn it's usage. It'll traditionally take people awhile to get to master the use of this keyboard.
  • After you release your finger, the keyboard will automatically insert a space after the word. You shouldn't have to learn to place much (if any) use on the Space bar key itself.
  • The Backspace key doesn't work the same way as the other keys do. Release your finger from the last letter, and hold the key down for a few extra seconds if you'd like to remove the complete last word, or tap as if you were tapping on the regular Android keyboard (or any regular smartphone keyboard that is).
  • It doesn't matter which finger you use to Swype from letter to letter, but try to consistently use the same finger for the sake of learning (especially at first) and until you become better accustomed to using this keyboard.
  • If the device isn't sure which word you were trying to Swype, it'll ask you with a menu on top of the device. Tap the word. This is due to the fact that there could be several solutions from the pattern you "wrote" while only one pattern was the correct pattern you meant to type.
  • Although most Android phones use a blue line when you indicate the Swype pattern, there are some that use an orange line (like the Amazon Kindle Fire and other tablet-sized devices).
  • "Bounce" from letter to letter, if the same line could be drawn to the word. Watch your line as you try to spell out "pit" then try out "put". See how the same line comes real close. If you intentionally miss the complete key, you'll avoid the aggravation of seeing wrongly-typed words from Swype the first time.
  • Always try out the tutorial for Swype on the device. Not only will the tutorial help you learn the methods that you'll need to use the feature, but this way the device can better get used to your motions and thereby reduce the stress of it "freaking out" when it chooses the wrong word later.

Warnings

  • Make sure the correct language version of the Swype keyboard is selected. Otherwise, you could be looking completely at Swype misspelling every word of the sentence even after you correctly wrote it and/or added it to the custom dictionary. If you only type words in English, try to not fiddle with the language settings on the device (under Keyboard Input section>Swype settings). The device will have it's own key that designates the version of the keyboard that is currently selected.
    • You can edit the customized User dictionary later, but try not to keep too many dictionaries in use, when you don't plan to use them.

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