Methods and apparatuses are provided for improving word prediction candidate selection in an electronic device. Input of one or more characters is received via a capacitive physical keyboard. A word prediction process generates a set of word prediction candidates, determines a unique character in each word prediction candidate, and displays the word prediction candidates along with visual indicia to indicate the unique character. A second input is then received comprising a tap input of a single character on the keyboard. The electronic device determines whether the second input corresponds to a unique character associated with any of the word prediction candidates, and if so, displays the selected word in an input field on the display.