diff --git a/res/values-bg/strings.xml b/res/values-bg/strings.xml
index a0a39d0e..bc09741c 100644
--- a/res/values-bg/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values-bg/strings.xml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 	<string name="dictionary_load_title">Зареди речник</string>
 	<string name="dictionary_not_found">Неуспешно зареждане. Липсва речник за „%1$s“.</string>
 	<string name="dictionary_truncated">Речникът е изтрит успешно.</string>
+	<string name="pref_category_abc_mode">Режим АБВ</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_appearance">Облик</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_function_keys">Бутони за бърз достъп</string>
 	<string name="pref_show_soft_function_keys">Бутони на екрана</string>
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@
 	<string name="key_hold_key">(задръж)</string>
 	<string name="dictionary_loading_indeterminate">Зареждане на речник</string>
 	<string name="dictionary_load_cancelled">Зареждането е отменено.</string>
+	<string name="pref_abc_auto_accept">Автоматичен избор на буква</string>
+	<string name="pref_abc_auto_accept_summary">Автоматично избирай текущата буква след кратко изчакване.</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_space">Автоматичен интервал</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_space_summary">Добавяй автоматично интервал след препинателни знаци и думи.</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_text_case">Автоматични главни букви</string>
diff --git a/res/values-ru/strings.xml b/res/values-ru/strings.xml
index 78d07e9f..a6457030 100644
--- a/res/values-ru/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values-ru/strings.xml
@@ -28,8 +28,11 @@
 	<string name="pref_category_keypad">Клавиатура</string>
 	<string name="char_space">Пробел</string>
 	<string name="char_newline">Новая строка</string>
+	<string name="pref_category_abc_mode">Режим AБВ</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_appearance">Внешний вид</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_function_keys">Горячие клавиши</string>
+	<string name="pref_abc_auto_accept">Автоматический выбор буквы</string>
+	<string name="pref_abc_auto_accept_summary">Автоматически ввести выбранную букву после короткого ожидания.</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_space">Авто пробел</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_space_summary">Автоматически добавлять пробел после слов и знаков препинания.</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_text_case">Авто заглавные буквы</string>
diff --git a/res/values-uk/strings.xml b/res/values-uk/strings.xml
index 54a82f79..38f05974 100644
--- a/res/values-uk/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values-uk/strings.xml
@@ -26,9 +26,12 @@
 	<string name="pref_category_keypad">Клавіатура</string>
 	<string name="char_space">Пробіл</string>
 	<string name="char_newline">Новий рядок</string>
+	<string name="pref_category_abc_mode">Режим AБВ</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_appearance">Вигляд</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_predictive_mode">Режим підсказки</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_function_keys">Гарячі клавіші</string>
+	<string name="pref_abc_auto_accept">Автоматичний вибір букви</string>
+	<string name="pref_abc_auto_accept_summary">Автоматично ввести вибрану букву після короткої затримки.</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_space">Авто пробіл</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_space_summary">Автоматично додавати пробіл після слів і розділових знаків.</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_text_case">Авто заголовні букви</string>
diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index 487e197b..3ef2f1f6 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -15,12 +15,16 @@
 	<string name="add_word_field_placeholder">Type a word…</string>
 
 	<string name="pref_category_about">About</string>
+	<string name="pref_category_abc_mode">ABC Mode</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_appearance">Appearance</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_predictive_mode">Predictive Mode</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_function_keys">Select Hotkeys</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_keypad">Keypad</string>
 	<string name="pref_category_setup">Initial Setup</string>
 
+
+	<string name="pref_abc_auto_accept">Automatic Letter Select</string>
+	<string name="pref_abc_auto_accept_summary">Automatically type the selected letter after a short delay.</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_space">Automatic Space</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_space_summary">Automatically add a space after punctuation or words.</string>
 	<string name="pref_auto_text_case">Automatic Capitalization</string>
diff --git a/res/xml/prefs_screen_keypad.xml b/res/xml/prefs_screen_keypad.xml
index 8a75f2a1..59ac7806 100644
--- a/res/xml/prefs_screen_keypad.xml
+++ b/res/xml/prefs_screen_keypad.xml
@@ -45,4 +45,18 @@
 
 	</PreferenceCategory>
 
+
+	<PreferenceCategory
+		android:title="@string/pref_category_abc_mode"
+		app:layout="@layout/pref_category"
+		app:singleLineTitle="true">
+
+		<SwitchPreferenceCompat
+			app:defaultValue="true"
+			app:key="abc_auto_accept"
+			app:layout="@layout/pref_switch"
+			app:summary="@string/pref_abc_auto_accept_summary"
+			app:title="@string/pref_abc_auto_accept" />
+	</PreferenceCategory>
+
 </PreferenceScreen>
diff --git a/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/TraditionalT9.java b/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/TraditionalT9.java
index a04d2f4d..aeedda55 100644
--- a/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/TraditionalT9.java
+++ b/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/TraditionalT9.java
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package io.github.sspanak.tt9.ime;
 
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.os.Build;
+import android.os.Handler;
+import android.os.Looper;
 import android.view.KeyEvent;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.inputmethod.EditorInfo;
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 	private boolean isActive = false;
 	@NotNull private TextField textField = new TextField(null, null);
 	@NotNull private InputType inputType = new InputType(null, null);
+	@NotNull private final Handler autoAcceptHandler = new Handler(Looper.getMainLooper());
 
 	// input mode
 	private ArrayList<Integer> allowedInputModes = new ArrayList<>();
@@ -136,6 +139,8 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 		// in case we are back from Settings screen, update the language list
 		mEnabledLanguages = settings.getEnabledLanguageIds();
 		validateLanguages();
+
+		resetKeyRepeat();
 		determineInputMode();
 		determineTextCase();
 	}
@@ -192,6 +197,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 
 	protected void onFinishTyping() {
+		cancelAutoAccept();
 		isActive = false;
 	}
 
@@ -213,6 +219,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 			return false;
 		}
 
+		cancelAutoAccept();
 		resetKeyRepeat();
 
 		if (mInputMode.onBackspace()) {
@@ -228,6 +235,8 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 
 	public boolean onOK() {
+		cancelAutoAccept();
+
 		if (!isInputViewShown() && !textField.isThereText()) {
 			forceShowWindowIfHidden();
 			return true;
@@ -248,6 +257,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 	protected boolean onUp() {
 		if (previousSuggestion()) {
+			cancelAutoAccept();
 			mInputMode.setWordStem(suggestionBar.getCurrentSuggestion(), true);
 			textField.setComposingTextWithHighlightedStem(suggestionBar.getCurrentSuggestion(), mInputMode);
 			return true;
@@ -259,6 +269,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 	protected boolean onDown() {
 		if (nextSuggestion()) {
+			cancelAutoAccept();
 			mInputMode.setWordStem(suggestionBar.getCurrentSuggestion(), true);
 			textField.setComposingTextWithHighlightedStem(suggestionBar.getCurrentSuggestion(), mInputMode);
 			return true;
@@ -269,6 +280,8 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 
 	protected boolean onLeft() {
+		cancelAutoAccept();
+
 		if (mInputMode.clearWordStem()) {
 			mInputMode.loadSuggestions(this::getSuggestions, getComposingText());
 		} else {
@@ -280,6 +293,8 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 
 	protected boolean onRight(boolean repeat) {
+		cancelAutoAccept();
+
 		String filter;
 		if (repeat && !suggestionBar.getSuggestion(1).equals("")) {
 			filter = suggestionBar.getSuggestion(1);
@@ -306,6 +321,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 	 * @return boolean
 	 */
 	protected boolean onNumber(int key, boolean hold, int repeat) {
+		cancelAutoAccept();
 		forceShowWindowIfHidden();
 
 		String currentWord = getComposingText();
@@ -329,6 +345,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 		if (mInputMode.shouldSelectNextSuggestion() && !isSuggestionViewHidden()) {
 			nextSuggestion();
+			scheduleAutoAccept(mInputMode.getAutoAcceptTimeout());
 		} else {
 			getSuggestions();
 		}
@@ -338,6 +355,8 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 
 	public boolean onOtherKey(int keyCode) {
+		cancelAutoAccept();
+
 		String acceptedWord = acceptIncompleteSuggestion();
 		if (mInputMode.onOtherKey(keyCode)) {
 			autoCorrectSpace(acceptedWord, false);
@@ -355,6 +374,8 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 			return false;
 		}
 
+		cancelAutoAccept();
+
 		// accept the previously typed word (if any)
 		autoCorrectSpace(acceptIncompleteSuggestion(), false);
 
@@ -371,6 +392,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 			return false;
 		}
 
+		cancelAutoAccept();
 		showAddWord();
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -378,6 +400,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 
 	public boolean onKeyNextLanguage() {
 		if (nextLang()) {
+			cancelAutoAccept();
 			commitCurrentSuggestion(false);
 			mInputMode.changeLanguage(mLanguage);
 			mInputMode.reset();
@@ -390,12 +413,12 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 			return true;
 		}
 
-
 		return false;
 	}
 
 
 	public boolean onKeyNextInputMode() {
+		scheduleAutoAccept(mInputMode.getAutoAcceptTimeout()); // restart the timer
 		nextInputMode();
 		mainView.render();
 
@@ -413,6 +436,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 			return false;
 		}
 
+		cancelAutoAccept();
 		UI.showSettingsScreen(this);
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -456,6 +480,32 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 	}
 
 
+	private boolean scheduleAutoAccept(int delay) {
+		cancelAutoAccept();
+
+		if (delay == 0) {
+			this.onOK();
+			return true;
+		} else if (delay > 0) {
+			autoAcceptHandler.postDelayed(this::autoAccept, delay);
+		}
+
+		return false;
+	}
+
+
+	private void cancelAutoAccept() {
+		autoAcceptHandler.removeCallbacksAndMessages(null);
+	}
+
+
+	private void autoAccept() {
+		if (suggestionBar.hasElements()) {
+			this.onOK();
+		}
+	}
+
+
 	private String acceptIncompleteSuggestion() {
 		String currentWord = getComposingText();
 		mInputMode.onAcceptSuggestion(currentWord);
@@ -504,12 +554,11 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		// display the list of suggestions
+		// display the word suggestions
 		setSuggestions(mInputMode.getSuggestions());
 
-		// flush the first suggestion immediately, if the InputMode has requested it
-		if (mInputMode.getAutoAcceptTimeout() == 0) {
-			onOK();
+		// flush the first suggestion, if the InputMode has requested it
+		if (scheduleAutoAccept(mInputMode.getAutoAcceptTimeout())) {
 			return;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/InputMode.java b/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/InputMode.java
index fb3f9274..7de4f5cb 100644
--- a/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/InputMode.java
+++ b/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/InputMode.java
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ abstract public class InputMode {
 			case MODE_PREDICTIVE:
 				return new ModePredictive(settings, language);
 			case MODE_ABC:
-				return new ModeABC(language);
+				return new ModeABC(settings, language);
 			case MODE_DIALER:
 				return new ModeDialer();
 			default:
diff --git a/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/ModeABC.java b/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/ModeABC.java
index 5d9e7c5e..4330a5f6 100644
--- a/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/ModeABC.java
+++ b/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/ModeABC.java
@@ -3,13 +3,17 @@ package io.github.sspanak.tt9.ime.modes;
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 
 import io.github.sspanak.tt9.languages.Language;
+import io.github.sspanak.tt9.preferences.SettingsStore;
 
 public class ModeABC extends InputMode {
+	private final SettingsStore settings;
+
 	public int getId() { return MODE_ABC; }
 
 	private boolean shouldSelectNextLetter = false;
 
-	ModeABC(Language lang) {
+	ModeABC(SettingsStore settings, Language lang) {
+		this.settings = settings;
 		changeLanguage(lang);
 	}
 
@@ -22,9 +26,11 @@ public class ModeABC extends InputMode {
 			autoAcceptTimeout = 0;
 		} else if (repeat > 0) {
 			shouldSelectNextLetter = true;
+			autoAcceptTimeout = settings.getAbcAutoAcceptTimeout();
 		} else {
 			reset();
 			suggestions.addAll(language.getKeyCharacters(number));
+			autoAcceptTimeout = settings.getAbcAutoAcceptTimeout();
 		}
 
 		return true;
diff --git a/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/preferences/SettingsStore.java b/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/preferences/SettingsStore.java
index e2346af2..aaddc2bf 100644
--- a/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/preferences/SettingsStore.java
+++ b/src/io/github/sspanak/tt9/preferences/SettingsStore.java
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ public class SettingsStore {
 
 	/************* typing settings *************/
 
+	public int getAbcAutoAcceptTimeout() { return prefs.getBoolean("abc_auto_accept", true) ? 800 : -1; }
 	public boolean getAutoSpace() { return prefs.getBoolean("auto_space", true); }
 	public boolean getAutoTextCase() { return prefs.getBoolean("auto_text_case", true); }
 	public String getDoubleZeroChar() {