A semiconductor memory device is provided to keep data reliability while decreasing programming time. A NAND flash memory loads programming data from an external input/output terminal to a page buffer/sense circuit. A detecting circuit for monitoring the programming data detects whether the programming data is a specific bit string. If it is detected that the programming data is not a specific bit string, a transferring/writing circuit transfers the programming data kept by the page buffer/sense circuit to an error checking correction (ECC) circuit, and an ECC code generated by an ECC operation is written to the page buffer/sense circuit. If it is detected that the programming data is a specific bit string, transfer of the programming data kept by the page buffer/sense circuit is forbidden and a known ECC code corresponding to the specific bit string is written to the page buffer/sense circuit.