A reduced keyboard system for text input comprising: a first keyboard having a first plurality of keys, the keys being adapted to be keystroked for input of a word; a virtual keyboard having a plurality of virtual keys, the plurality of virtual keys corresponding respectively to the first plurality of keys and wherein the virtual keyboard is adapted to generate a linear pattern from the keystroked keys of the first keyboard; and a dictionary database associated with the virtual keyboard, the dictionary database having a plurality of classes wherein each of the classes contains at least one candidate word having first and last letters corresponding to predetermined keys of the virtual keyboard, wherein the linear pattern and dictionary database are adapted to enable recognition and disambiguation of the inputted word.