In a computing device that receives handwritten data, a method and system that facilitates the selection of alternates for a hand written word. A mechanism uses rules to select a word for the user based on the operating mode (state) of the system. In a cursor operating mode, a word is selected and the alternates are provided for the word based on the position of on screen cursor relative to the word (within or adjacent the word). If not on a word having alternates, the selection can move to another word that has alternates. If multiple words are selected, (selection mode), the system selects the first word of those selected that has alternates. Menu options to go to the next or previous recognized word may also be placed on the menu for easy navigation among words, and a user can automatically walk through multiple word sets to receive alternates for each word, one-word at a time. Words that the recognizer believes correct to a high actual or relative probability may be skipped over in the automatic process, and the display of words that the recognizer is less confident are correct can be modified. The user can adjust such sensitivity settings for determining the probability of correctness.