1. A computer-implemented method for recognizing user handwriting, the method comprising: receiving digital ink based on handwriting received from a user; identifying words within the received digital ink; for each identified word, identifying segments within the word that are potential characters or parts of characters; classifying each segment to determine letters with which the segment may be associated; determining a score for each classified segment, wherein a greater score indicates a higher probability that the segment represents the classification associated with the score; selecting a recognition result for the word based on the determined score.