Evmenova, A. S., Graff, H. J., Jerome, M. K., & Behrmann, M. M. (2010). Word prediction programs with phonetic spelling support: Performance comparisons and impact on journal writing for students with writing difficulties . Learning Disabilities Research & Practice , 25 (4), 170–182. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5826.2010.00315.x

The effects of word prediction software programs (Co:Writer, WordQ, and WriteAssist) on the quality of journal writing of students with writing and spelling difficulties were examined.

Six students with learning disabilities in grades 3 through 6 were selected to participate, based on informal writing assessments collected previously. These students were attending a technology-based summer writing camp at a postsecondary institution in the Northeast (U.S.).

Quality of student writing while using the three prediction programs was assessed using the number of words, proportion of words spelled correctly, and the number of words written per minute.

When using word prediction software, the proportion of correctly spelled words improved for all students. The average spelling accuracy change was from 58% (without the software) to 95% across all software programs. While the improvement rate was smaller, the majority of students also performed better in the areas of total number of words and composition rate when using the predictive software.