If you’re someone who likes the idea of talking to your computer and having it type for you, Microsoft Word’s speech to text feature is here to make your life easier. Whether you’re working on a project, writing notes, or simply brainstorming ideas, letting Word do the typing can boost your productivity. In this post, I’ll walk you through everything about using speech to text in Word, along with some useful commands that make things even simpler.

Let me show you how to get started with speech to text and make your work a lot easier!

What Is Speech to Text in Word?

Speech to text in Word is exactly what it sounds like. You speak, and Word types what you say. It’s great for dictating ideas, writing papers, or even transcription. Whether you’re the type of person who thinks out loud or just wants to give your fingers a break, you’re going to love this feature!

This also comes with voice commands, so you can delete text, format words, and even start new paragraphs by simply talking to Word.

How to Turn on Speech to Text in Word

Getting started is simple, and once you understand how to use it, it will save you time.

Here’s how to use the speech to text feature in Word:

Steps to Activate Speech to Text

  1. Open Microsoft Word – If you don’t already have Word open, launch the program where you want to use speech to text.
  2. Navigate to the Home Tab – At the top ribbon of the screen, locate the Home tab.
  3. Click on “Dictate” – On the far right of the Home tab, you’ll see the Dictate button. Click that. You’ll hear a tone signaling that Word is now listening to what you’re saying.

Now, start speaking! As you talk, you should see the text appear in your document. It’s that easy.

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Pro Tip: Faster Speed? No Problem!

Word’s speech to text has improved significantly over the years. It can now keep up with fast talkers. Whether you’re speaking slowly or picking up the pace, Word will do a great job of understanding and typing out your words. Plus, it can pick up different accents without breaking a sweat. Whether you have a southern twang or a New York accent, Word’s got you covered.

Customizing Dictation Settings

Once you’re set up, you may want to tweak a few settings for better control:

  1. Auto Punctuation – This feature guesses where punctuation should go, like placing periods or commas. Some people love it. I personally prefer to call the shots and say “period” or “comma” when I need to.
  2. Profanity Filter – Automatically on by default, this filter censors any inappropriate language.
  3. Language Options – Word supports many languages and dialects. If you’re working in a different language, choose the one you need from the settings.

Microsoft keeps adding new languages to speech to text in Word regularly, so if your language isn’t available yet, it might be added soon.

Using Voice Commands for Editing and Formatting

Speech to text isn’t just about turning voice into words. You can also control how your document looks and functions using simple voice commands.

Here are some common voice commands you can start using right now:

Speech to Text in Word Voice Commands for Editing:

  • “Delete” – Removes the last word you spoke.
  • “Delete that” – Deletes the current sentence or phrase.
  • “Undo” – Reverses your last action.

Voice Commands for Formatting:

  • “Bold [word]” – Makes the word or selected text bold.
  • “Italicize [text]” – Italicizes specific words.
  • “Underline [text]” – Underlines words or phrases.

Example in Action:

You can say, “Can you please have this ready by next week? Bold next week. Underline week. Italicize this.” And Word will do exactly that.

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Creating Lists Using Voice Commands

Speech to text in Word also has some handy commands for creating lists—whether bulleted or numbered. You don’t have to touch the keyboard at all!

Steps for Making a Bulleted List:

  1. Say, “Start list” – Word will start a bulleted list right where your cursor is.
  2. Then say, “Eggs. New line. Bread. New line. Milk. New line.”
  3. Finally, say, “Exit list” – Word will stop the bulleted formatting.

Steps for a Numbered List:

  1. Say, “Start numbered list” – A numbered list will begin.
  2. Then say, “Wake up. New line. Get out of bed. New line. Take a shower. New line.”
  3. Stop the list by saying, “Exit list.”

It’s that simple!

Adding Comments in Word via Voice Commands with Speech to Text

Need to leave a note about something in the document? You don’t have to stop dictating. Word allows you to add comments using your voice too with speech to text.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Highlight the part of the text you want to comment on.
  2. Say, “Add comment” – This opens the comment box.
  3. Dictate your comment directly by saying what you would like to type.

For example, “Add comment. Needs to be reviewed for accuracy.”

The comment will appear next to the text you selected. Easy, right?

Pausing and Stopping Dictation

If someone walks into your office and you need to take a quick break, there are handy voice commands that will pause or stop the dictation entirely.

  1. Say, “Pause dictation” – This will stop Word from listening until you’re ready to start again.
  2. If you’re done for the day, say “Stop dictation” or “Exit dictation” – Word will close the dictation box and stop listening.

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Conclusion

Speech to text in Word is a true time-saver. With the ability to use voice commands for formatting, creating lists, and even editing, it’s like having a personal assistant right at your fingertips. Don’t be afraid to explore more commands on Microsoft’s support page to get the most out of this tool.

Ready to start using Word’s speech to text? Go for it, and let your voice do the typing!

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