23. An electronic device comprising: a display, and a processor configured to: display a preliminary input area on the display, the preliminary input area comprising first, second, and third regions; display a text box on the display; receive character entries via a keyboard; display the character entries in the first region and the text box; generate candidate predictions for a first text unit based on the character entries; rank the candidate predictions for the first text unit, based on a first plurality of criteria; display, in the first region, one of the candidate predictions of the first text unit as an initial prediction of the first text unit, based on the rankings of the candidate predictions for the first text unit; generate first predictions for the second text unit based on the candidate predictions for the first text unit, wherein first predictions for the second text unit are generated by a predictive algorithm that predicts subsequent text units based on preceding text units; rank the first predictions for the second text unit based on a second plurality of criteria; display, in the second region, one of the first predictions of the second text unit, based on the rankings of the first predictions for the second text unit; receive user input to accept the initial prediction of the first text unit displayed in the first region; display the accepted initial prediction in the third region; display, in the first region, the prediction displayed in the second region, as the current prediction of the first text unit; generate second predictions for the second text unit based on the current prediction of the first text unit; rank the second predictions for the second text unit based on a third plurality of criteria; display, in the second region, one of the second predictions of the second text unit, based on the rankings of the second predictions for the second text unit; and display the accepted initial prediction in the text box.
23. An electronic device comprising: a display, and a processor configured to: display a preliminary input area on the display, the preliminary input area comprising first, second, and third regions; display a text box on the display; receive character entries via a keyboard; display the character entries in the first region and the text box; generate candidate predictions for a first text unit based on the character entries; rank the candidate predictions for the first text unit, based on a first plurality of criteria; display, in the first region, one of the candidate predictions of the first text unit as an initial prediction of the first text unit, based on the rankings of the candidate predictions for the first text unit; generate first predictions for the second text unit based on the candidate predictions for the first text unit, wherein first predictions for the second text unit are generated by a predictive algorithm that predicts subsequent text units based on preceding text units; rank the first predictions for the second text unit based on a second plurality of criteria; display, in the second region, one of the first predictions of the second text unit, based on the rankings of the first predictions for the second text unit; receive user input to accept the initial prediction of the first text unit displayed in the first region; display the accepted initial prediction in the third region; display, in the first region, the prediction displayed in the second region, as the current prediction of the first text unit; generate second predictions for the second text unit based on the current prediction of the first text unit; rank the second predictions for the second text unit based on a third plurality of criteria; display, in the second region, one of the second predictions of the second text unit, based on the rankings of the second predictions for the second text unit; and display the accepted initial prediction in the text box. 28. The method of claim 23 , wherein: the remaining input area comprises a horizontal bar; and the first, second, and third regions respectfully comprise center, right, and left segments of the horizontal bar.