A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, at a user device, user input corresponding to handwritten text to be recognized using a recognition engine; and receiving, at the user device, a representation of the handwritten text. The representation includes the handwritten text parsed into individual handwritten characters. The method further includes: displaying, on a display of the user device, the handwritten characters using a first indicator; receiving, at the user device, an identification of a text character recognized as one of the handwritten characters; displaying, on the display, the text character; and adjusting, at the user device, the one of the handwritten characters from being displayed using the first indicator to using a second indicator in response to the received identification. The first and second indicators are different.