PURPOSE: To recognize an input word easily, efficiently and with high accuracy by utilizing sufficiently the result of recognition with regard to each character of the input word.

CONSTITUTION: A candidate character Ri,j derived by a recognizing part 1 is stored successively in a candidate register 2 in accordance with its character position. An obtained point output part 10 outputs an obtained point corresponding to a candidate order (j) of its character position (i) of the candidate character Ri,j read out of the candidate register 2. This obtained point is outputted from the obtained point output part 10 in accordance with the candidate character Ri,j read out of the candidate register 2, and given to an accumulator 7. The accumulator 7 executes a recognition processing, and derives successively the sum total of the obtained points regarding each word. An output part 11 compares mutually the sum total of the obtained points derived in this way, and selects it as a candidate word.