watchOS 8 is still in beta, but it has communication features that make my Apple Watch 6 infinitely easier to use.

The full version of this software won't be available until the Apple Watch 7 debuts later this year, but in the meantime you can see me editing messages on my wrist. While some will appreciate the new mindfulness app and the long-awaited option to set multiple timers, I'm most excited to finally be able to correct my ridiculous typos.

I didn't realize how much I needed this feature until I got the chance to use it in the watchOS 8 beta over the past few weeks. I have long relied on my Apple Watch to send messages and have accepted the occasional frustration that comes with talking by text. Sometimes I throw out a good amount of text that is littered with errors, but most of the time I have to re-record the message over and over until the smartwatch can get it right.

And as any regular Apple Watch user knows, relying on Scribble to send messages is not an option. Still, if several attempts are required, using talk-to-text does not save much time compared to clumsily writing out words and punctuation.

Apple has enhanced the messaging functionality in watchOS 8. We were secretly hoping for a keyboard, but the revamped software has so far succeeded in reducing the effort of communicating from the wrist. [i.e., you can use Scribble, emojis, and dictation to create the same message. The new software also makes it easy to send GIFs. Me? m happy just to be able to send longer texts without having to record it half a dozen times.

To edit a message in watchOS 8, simply turn the digital crown to scroll through the message one letter at a time. Tap on a word to delete it or see a short list of suggestions.

Being able to delete words one by one is a game-changer for me because I tend to use unnecessary phrases like "like" especially when I am distracted or in a hurry. Also, it is less obvious to others when I am texting from my phone versus talking to my wrist and sending a message; I am not saying that texting from the Apple Watch should become the norm, but I am saying that it is a great way to get a better understanding of what is going on in my life and what I am doing.

Even better, this improvement in the messaging feature has made me more comfortable freeing my Apple Watch from my iPhone. With cellular support, I could already answer calls from my wrist, but now I can send texts from my smartwatch as well.