As the name implies, iPhone’s predictive text feature predicts the words that you’re likely going to type next. You can then tap those predicted words to add them to what you’re already typing, which speeds up typing. For example, if you start typing “How are,” the feature automatically suggests “you,” so your resulting sentence is “How are you?”

The feature predicts words based on the data it has gathered from your past conversations, writing style, and the sites you’ve visited in Safari. It may also use your other apps and recent activity to suggest words.

If you are not typing anything at the moment (meaning your keyboard is not open), use the Settings app to activate predictive text on your phone.

• First, launch the Settings app on your iPhone. Then tap General > Keyboard.

• Scroll down the “Keyboards” page that opens to the bottom. There, turn on the “Predictive” option.

• If you are typing something and your iPhone’s keyboard is open, you can use an option on the keyboard itself to toggle on the predictive text feature. To do that, open your iPhone’s keyboard, then tap and hold on the globe icon (just beside the space bar).

• In the menu that opens, select “Keyboard Settings.”

• On the “Keyboards” page, scroll down to the bottom. Then, enable the “Predictive” feature.