How to Build a Personal Dictionary That Actually Sticks

I built my personal dictionary over three months. Here's the system that actually works , and the mistakes that don't.

I started with 10 terms. Three months later, I have 40. The dictionary catches mistakes before they happen, and I rarely correct the same word twice.

Here's the system I used to build it.

Start small (10 terms)

Don't try to add every term you use. Start with the 10 words you correct most often.

Mine were: Echo Flow, DataDab, SFSpeechRecognizer, CFBundleVersion, and six client names.

That's it. Ten terms. Add them, use the app for a week, and see what happens.

I resisted the urge to add everything at once. That patience paid off , I added terms that actually mattered, not words I thought might come up.

Feed it from real mistakes

Here's the key: don't guess what terms you'll need. Wait for mistakes, then add them.

Every time I correct a word, I add it to the dictionary. If I correct the same word twice in a week, it definitely goes in.

This keeps the dictionary grounded in reality. I'm not adding words I think I'll use , I'm adding words I actually use and actually get wrong.

The monthly prune

Here's what most people skip: pruning.

Every month, I review my dictionary and remove terms I haven't used. If a client project ended and I'm not using those names anymore, they come out.

A bloated dictionary becomes a junk drawer. Terms you don't use anymore clutter the list and make it harder to find what matters.

I prune mine on the first of every month. It takes two minutes and keeps the dictionary tight.

What NOT to add

Here's what I learned not to add:

Common words. If the dictionary gets "the" wrong, that's not a dictionary problem , that's a recognition problem.

Words you might use. Only add words you actually use and actually get wrong.

Every technical term in your field. Add the terms you use in your actual writing. Not every term you know.

Terms with uncertain spelling. If you're not sure how to spell it, look it up first. Adding a wrong spelling protects the wrong version.

The bottom line

Start with 10 terms. Feed it from real mistakes. Prune monthly.

That's the system. It's boring, and it works.

Try Echo Flow free for 14 days · How the Personal Dictionary works · Why accuracy fails on important words

Sources

• Echo Flow's Personal Dictionary: protects terms across dictation and polish.
• Writer's own experience: building a personal dictionary over three months.