Selected adaptive touch screen key pad characters not existing in a list of possible available character strings are removed from the touch screen key pad and the space occupied by the remaining characters on the key pad and their character size (font) are enlarged, making their recognition and selection by a user much easier. The method includes detecting selection of a button displaying at least one of the selectable characters; creating at least one character substring, one for each of the one or more selectable characters displayed on the selected button; identifying selectable characters on the touch screen not included in the one or more character strings; removing the identified selectable characters from the touch screen; and enlarging the selectable characters remaining on the touch screen.