Abstract: An editing system operable for automatically detecting and correcting multi-word data entry errors. A standard list including a plurality of source-target pairs is provided as an integral part of an editing program suitable of operation on a conventional personal computer. Each source term is a common multi word data entry error, and each target term is a correction for a corresponding source term. Each user may create a customized substitution list by adding user-defined source-target pairs to the list, and deleting source-target pairs from the list. In addition to correcting common multi-word spelling and grammatical errors, the substitution list may be used to perform other functions such as substituting a symbol for a multi-word alias typed with a standard keyboard. The substitution list may optionally be implemented in connection with an "AUTOCORRECT" engine that implements multi word substitutions as they are typed by a user.