Method for inputting and recognizing a character string, in which - a plurality of successively-input user inputs for forming the character string are detected, - a confidence analysis is carried out in which each user input is compared with a plurality of characters stored in a database, wherein the relevant characters (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4) are assigned a confidence rating value (22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4), which represents the matching of the user input with these relevant characters (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4), - character combinations (24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4) are formed from the characters (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4) assigned to the user inputs, wherein the total confidence rating values (25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4) for the character combinations (24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4) are determined from the confidence rating values (22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4) assigned to the relevant characters (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4), - a subset of the character combinations (24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4) is output as a function of the total confidence rating values (25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4), - the user input is detected by a touch-sensitive surface of an input device, wherein a field is formed on the input device in the form of a keyboard with keys, characterized in that - the user input is detected by a keystroke on a key of the keyboard, wherein an actual finger position is detected as a result of the keystroke and the corresponding confidence rating values (22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4) are determined as a function of the distance between the center-point coordinates of the keys and the finger position, and - only the character combinations (24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4) whose total confidence rating values (25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4) lie above a certain threshold value are output, wherein the threshold value is chosen as a function of the number of multiple user inputs. - a plurality of successively-input user inputs for forming the character string are detected, - a confidence analysis is carried out in which each user input is compared with a plurality of characters stored in a database, wherein the relevant characters (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4) are assigned a confidence rating value (22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4), which represents the matching of the user input with these relevant characters (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4), - character combinations (24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4) are formed from the characters (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4) assigned to the user inputs, wherein the total confidence rating values (25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4) for the character combinations (24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4) are determined from the confidence rating values (22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4) assigned to the relevant characters (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4), - a subset of the character combinations (24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4) is output as a function of the total confidence rating values (25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4), - the user input is detected by a touch-sensitive surface of an input device, wherein a field is formed on the input device in the form of a keyboard with keys, characterized in that - the user input is detected by a keystroke on a key of the keyboard, wherein an actual finger position is detected as a result of the keystroke and the corresponding confidence rating values (22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4) are determined as a function of the distance between the center-point coordinates of the keys and the finger position, and - only the character combinations (24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4) whose total confidence rating values (25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4) lie above a certain threshold value are output, wherein the threshold value is chosen as a function of the number of multiple user inputs.