One embodiment provides a method including: receiving a plurality of handwriting ink strokes; determining, using a processor, at least one grouping of the plurality of handwriting ink strokes, wherein the grouping is determined using spacing associated with the plurality of handwriting ink strokes and at least one attribute associated with at least one portion of the plurality of handwriting ink strokes; sending the at least one grouping to a recognition engine; receiving machine input from the recognition engine; and displaying, on a display device, the machine input. Other aspects are described and claimed.