A character reader device of the present invention is capable of reading as read data characters written in a portion corresponding to a given read field on a manuscript, detecting a reject character in the read data, generating a pattern image corresponding to the reject character, displaying the read data, the reject character and the pattern image, computing the position of a display area for the read data, deciding whether or not the computed display area is overlapped with the display area for the pattern image shifting the pattern image to the area which is the outside of the display area for the read data if overlapped and displaying it on the latter area. The character reader device can therefore prevent a disadvantage in modifying the reject character if the display area for the pattern image of the reject character is overlapped with the display area for the read data of the read field including the reject field by shifting the display area for the pattern image to another area and modify the reject character more efficiently.