PURPOSE: To realize easy correction of characters, by displaying plural units of image patterns of rejected characters and candiate characters on a display screen.

CONSTITUTION: A slip 1 is read by a semiconductor sensor 60, and the characters are recognized by a character recognizing unit 63. If the characters on the slip 1 cannot be recognized, the image pattern of the rejected character is displayed on a display 65 by a control unit. At the same time, a candidate characters are produced by a character recognizing unit 63 and displayed on the display 65. Then a correct character is selected through a keyboard 66. In case no correct character exists among the candidate characters, the correct character is selected from the keyboard. In such way, an easy correction is feasible for characters to shorten the processing time of slips.