A navigation system is described that is configured to carry out selectively suppressing audio turn-by-turn instructions on the navigation system. The navigation system maintains a step n-gram table for an identified entity. Each entry in the step n-gram table includes a navigation step n-gram identification, and a count value. The navigation system generates a turn-by-turn direction for the identified entity that includes a step n-gram identification, a description of a navigation direction, and a known status of the step n-gram to the identified entity. The known status is established according to a criterion including at least the count value for the navigation step n-gram. Upon completion of the step n-gram, the navigation system updates the entry in the step n-gram table.