An enhanced text entry system uses word-level analysis to correct inaccuracies automatically in user keystroke entries on reduced-size or virtual keyboards. One or more alternate textual interpretations each sequence of inputs detected within a designated auto-correcting region. Actual interaction locations for keystrokes may occur outside the boundaries of specific keyboard key regions associated with actual characters of the word interpretations proposed or offered for selection, where the distance from each interaction location to each corresponding intended character may increase with the expected frequency of the intended the language or in a particular context. In a virtual keyboard system, keys actuated may differ from keys actually associated with letters of the word interpretations. Each such sequence corresponds to a complete word, and the user can select the intended word from among generated interpretations.