A telephone has several lists of phone numbers. Each phone number within a list has a number of digits which is not less than a predetermined minimum number, and not more than a predetermined maximum number. The maximum number is the “size” of the list. When a digit is entered, the phone compares (1B) the number of digits entered to the lists, and selects (1C) the list of the smallest size which is greater than or equal to the number of digits entered. That list is searched (1D) and the results displayed (1E) when the search is complete. If another digit is entered during the search (1F), the comparing (1B) and list selecting (1C) steps are repeated.