Abstract: A dictionary order sorter resorts character strings of recognition candidates stored in a high-ranking candidate memory in the order of distance into a dictionary order (character code order). Upon receipt of a sort termination signal a display controller displays the character strings of recognition candidates stored in the high-ranking candidate memory in the dictionary order and their ranking numbers in order on a display. Where an attribute-dependent sorter is provided in place of the dictionary order sorter, the character strings of recognition candidates stored in the distance order in the high-ranking candidate memory are sorted (grouped) according to attribute information of categories, such as parts of speech, concepts, etc., which are stored in a template memory for each of the recognition candidates and then displayed classified into groups. The categories of attribute information can arbitrarily be specified by the user.