Millions of people spend hours each day typing away on the computer keyboard. Very few are aware of a new, simple system that makes typing easier, faster and less tedious. The system works within Microsoft Word®, Corel WordPerfect®, and for emails typed in Microsoft Outlook®, without the need for additional software. This unique method of typing saves a great many keystrokes by using instant "dot dot autocorrecting abbreviations." The method can be learned in less than 30 minutes. Here's how it works.

Type Your Abbreviation Followed by Two Dots

The typing method uses abbreviations for words, immediately followed by two dots. Generally, the first few letters of the word are used as the abbreviation, followed by the two dots. The abbreviation "autocorrects" on your screen to the full word the instant the second dot is typed. There are no distracting pop-up boxes involved.

For example, to type the word "because" you simply type "bec.." and it will autocorrect on your screen to the full word the instant the second dot is typed. Here are a few more examples: "ack.." for "acknowledge," "info.." for "information," "doc.." for "document," "asap.." for "as soon as possible," "ty.." for "thank you," and so on.

The two dots prevent the abbreviation from autocorrecting where not intended if the abbreviation happens to occur as part of another word. Ellipses (...) do not cause a problem because proper punctuation requires a space before the first ellipsis dot.

You can set up "dot dot autocorrecting abbreviations" for any word or phrase you choose, such as the name of your company. Rather than typing "XYZ Computer Consulting Associates, Inc." in full each time, you could simply assign a one-letter abbreviation "x.." that will autocorrect to the full name instantly.

If you are in a profession which uses long, technical terms, the system can be extremely helpful. You can use autocorrecting abbreviations for formulas, strings of numbers, addresses and URLs. Instead of typing a long URL, you could assign a simple double dot abbreviation, such as "wx..", that will autocorrect instantly to the full URL.

THERE ARE THREE MAIN STEPS TO USING THE ABBREVIATION SYSTEM:

1) Place an AutoCorrect or QuickCorrect Button on Your Toolbar

The system for typing with autocorrecting abbreviations takes advantage of the AutoCorrect feature in Microsoft Word and the QuickCorrect feature in Corel WordPerfect. In both word processing programs, the feature is found under the Tools pull-down menu.

However, to make the system most efficient, you should place a separate AutoCorrect or QuickCorrect button directly on your toolbar. It is easy and only takes a minute to do this. In Word, the instructions can be found in the Help menu under the keyword "toolbar" and the topic "Add a button to a toolbar." In the WordPerfect Help menu, the instructions are at "toolbars, adding and removing buttons."

Once you have your AutoCorrect or QuickCorrect button on your toolbar, it is very simple to create autocorrecting abbreviations. While you are typing and encounter a longer word, name or phrase that you expect to type often and to which you would like to assign an autocorrecting abbreviation, you simply double-click on that word in your document to highlight it, or highlight the phrase. You then click your AutoCorrect or QuickCorrect button. A window will open with the highlighted word or phrase appearing in a text box. In the text box next to it, you type in the abbreviation you wish to assign followed by two dots, close the window, and you are set. Note that the box for "Replace text as you type" in the AutoCorrect and QuickCorrect windows must be checked for the feature to work.

Whenever you type that abbreviation followed by the two dots in any document in the future, the abbreviation will instantly autocorrect on your screen to the full word. The few seconds it takes to add a word or phrase to your AutoCorrect or QuickCorrect database is well worth all the keystrokes you will save in your future typing.

2) Systematize Your Abbreviations

Setting up and using the system is easy. One of the tricks to using the method effectively is to be organized and systematic in how you assign abbreviations so they do not conflict, and so that they are easy to remember. Generally, you would use the first few letters of the word you wish to abbreviate.

In some instances, if the word already has a well-known abbreviated form, you can use that. For example, you will probably want to use "tv.." rather than "tel.." or "tele.." for "television." The latter abbreviations would best be reserved for "telephone."

3) Load Your Abbreviations

The final step for using the system is to load your abbreviations. You can gradually add new words into your AutoCorrect or QuickCorrect database as you encounter them in your typing. As described above, words or phrases can be easily added after they are typed by highlighting the word or phrase in your document, clicking your AutoCorrect or QuickCorrect button, and typing the abbreviation in the window that opens.

Revolutionizing the Way the World Types

One advantage of this method of typing is that you will no longer get bogged down with spelling when you are typing longer words. Even if you happen to misspell a word when entering it into the database, the spell check in Word and WordPerfect will still pick it up as a misspelling. Simply then correct the misspelling in the database by reopening your AutoCorrect or QuickCorrect window and scrolling to the word.

This system for typing with autocorrecting abbreviations will make typing easier, faster and less tedious for those who spend long hours at the computer. Millions of people who are typing long words and phrases in full unnecessarily will greatly benefit from this new way to type.

The system is not widely known yet, and it is the "early adopters" of new technology and methods who are using it. Once the word gets out, the "dot dot speed typing method" will most likely become commonplace around the world.