Resource bundles are provided that contain localized resources that a handheld device can use to adapt an application to the current locale of the hand-held electronic device. The resource bundles can be stored in a remotely-located server and downloaded over a network to the hand-held electronic device on request. Alternatively, a hand-held device can store resource bundles for multiple locales and choose a resource bundle that is appropriate for its current locale. A resource bundle can be used to allow a hand-held device to automatically adapt an application to the current locale such as by identifying an entered character sequence that matches a predetermined sequence associated with the current locale of the hand-held device, choosing an article for use with a word that is grammatically correct for the language associated with the current locale, and automatically replacing the character sequence with the article.