PURPOSE: To input characters at high speed by deciding a character group and the character in the character group at a position crossing each line, and executing continuous input and the repeated input of the same character.

CONSTITUTION: The character group is decided by the position for a pen to cross a decided line U. Next, the character in the character group is decided when the pen passes an area B and crosses a decided line V. Afterwards, when it is detected that a circle is drawn in an area C, the repetition of the character is decided and further, it is decided whether the next character is continued or blank or the line is shifted at the position crossing a decided line W. Then, when it is detected that a circle is drawn in an area A, the blank decided on the decided line W or the shift of the line is added only for the number of times to draw the circle. Thus, the cycle of one character is completed. When no circle is drawn, the cycle of the next continuous character is immediately started and at the position crossing the decided line U, the character group is decided. When the continuous input is executed until picking up the pen, the character group is automatically recognized as one phrase in the case of picking up the pen.