Dictation & Voice Features
Use Word's Dictation feature to type hands-free using your voice, and learn how to use voice commands to edit, format, and punctuate as you speak.
By the end of this lesson you can
- Start and stop dictation and dictate punctuation by voice
- Use voice commands for basic editing
- Change the dictation language
- Judge when dictation is appropriate given the setting and the content
Video
Watch the lesson video, then complete the reading and challenge.
Lesson Notes
Read through the key concepts before you try the challenge.
Dictation is fast, and it is spoken out loud
You are writing up notes at the front desk of Lakeside Medical Associates.
Dictation would let you produce the summary in a third of the time. The front desk is also within earshot of the waiting room, and the summary contains a patient's name and reason for visit.
Your task: Use dictation where it genuinely helps, and recognize where speaking aloud is the wrong choice.
Dictation (Home > Dictate) converts speech to text using cloud speech recognition, which means it requires an internet connection. Most people speak far faster than they type, so for long-form drafting it is a substantial gain — and for anyone for whom typing is painful or difficult, it is an accessibility tool rather than a convenience.
Punctuation is spoken: say 'period,' 'comma,' 'question mark,' 'new line,' 'new paragraph.' Speak at a natural pace in complete phrases — recognition accuracy is better on flowing speech than on isolated, over-enunciated words.
What Is Dictation?
Dictation converts your spoken words into typed text in Word. It works with a microphone connected to your computer and uses Microsoft's speech recognition service. Dictation is available on both the desktop app and Word Online.
Starting Dictation
Click inside your document where you want to start typing, then go to Home → Dictate. The microphone icon turns red and a listening indicator appears. Speak clearly and Word types your words in real time.
Adding Punctuation by Voice
Speak punctuation marks aloud as you dictate. For example, say 'comma', 'period', 'question mark', or 'new paragraph' and Word will insert them automatically.
Voice Commands for Editing
You can use voice commands to make edits while dictating. Say 'delete that' to remove the last word, 'undo that' to undo the last action, or 'select [word]' to select a specific word for formatting.
Changing Dictation Language
Click the dropdown arrow on the Dictate button to select a different spoken language. Word supports dozens of languages and regional accents for dictation.
Stopping Dictation
Click the Dictate button again or press the keyboard shortcut (Alt + `) to stop dictation. The microphone icon turns back to its normal color.
Knowledge Check
How do you insert a period (full stop) when using Dictation in Word?
Challenge
Apply what you've learned in this lesson.
Complete the following tasks:
- Open a blank document and click Home → Dictate.
- Dictate a two-sentence paragraph, speaking punctuation marks aloud.
- Use the voice command 'new paragraph' to start a new paragraph.
- Say 'undo that' to undo your last dictated word.
- Stop dictation and review the text for accuracy.
- Correct any misrecognized words by typing normally.
Finished this lesson?
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