I have often this problem using VE:

1. I type {{
2. I start typing the template name: "refnec"

By the time VE understood that I'm asking to insert a template, the field has only got "fnec".

Search for templates that contain "fnec" would help.
I can also be useful when you don't recall a template name, or for beginners, to get the template they want (insert an infobox about an artist without knowing that you must start your search by "infobox").