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Using dictation in Word 2013
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Thanks for your interest, Greg. However, my edition of Word (2013) does not seem to want to setup Speech Recognition. Perhaps there is a conflict with the new update on Windows 10, which makes dictation easy - simply press the Windows key + H (while in the app you want to use with it). This works imperfectly in Word 2013, but it does work after a fashion (leaving too many corrections to be made). However, when I open the Windows accessory, WordPad, it works perfectly -- at least if I speak clearly and enunciate clearly. At least then I can copy any text and paste it into Word. For now, this seems to be my best option.
5 people found this reply helpful
My apologies for taking this long to get back to you. We have had internet problems for several days and I am just now catching up with online correspondence, etc. It seems that looking at the link you offered that it involves downloading an app. Since the recent update for Windows 10 includes an app for dictation, I am concerned that maybe the two are the same -- just that now "Dictate" can be accessed from the taskbar in the new version of Windows. And, that downloading what might be an older version of "dictate" will cause some problems with the newer version. Just wondering. I hate to mess up the Windows update. They have added some things that are very useful -- such as the dictation ability. Comments?
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How to use speech to text in Microsoft Word
Speech to text in Microsoft Word is a hidden gem that is powerful and easy to use. We show you how to do it in five quick and simple steps
Master the skill of speech to text in Microsoft Word and you'll be dictating documents with ease before you know it. Developed and refined over many years, Microsoft's speech recognition and voice typing technology is an efficient way to get your thoughts out, create drafts and make notes.
Just like the best speech to text apps that make life easier for us when we're using our phones, Microsoft's offering is ideal for those of us who spend a lot of time using Word and don't want to wear out our fingers or the keyboard with all that typing. While speech to text in Microsoft Word used to be prone to errors which you'd then have to go back and correct, the technology has come a long way in recent years and is now amongst the best text-to-speech software .
Regardless of whether you have the best computer or the best Windows laptop , speech to text in Microsoft Word is easy to access and a breeze to use. From connecting your microphone to inserting punctuation, you'll find everything you need to know right here in this guide. Let's take a look...
How to use speech to text in Microsoft Word: Preparation
The most important thing to check is whether you have a valid Microsoft 365 subscription, as voice typing is only available to paying customers. If you’re reading this article, it’s likely your business already has a Microsoft 365 enterprise subscription. If you don’t, however, find out more about Microsoft 365 for business via this link .
The second thing you’ll need before you start voice typing is a stable internet connection. This is because Microsoft Word’s dictation software processes your speech on external servers. These huge servers and lighting-fast processors use vast amounts of speech data to transcribe your text. In fact, they make use of advanced neural networks and deep learning technology, which enables the software to learn about human speech and continuously improve its accuracy.
These two technologies are the key reason why voice typing technology has improved so much in recent years, and why you should be happy that Microsoft dictation software requires an internet connection.
Once you’ve got a valid Microsoft 365 subscription and an internet connection, you’re ready to go!
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Step 1: Open Microsoft Word
Simple but crucial. Open the Microsoft Word application on your device and create a new, blank document. We named our test document “How to use speech to text in Microsoft Word - Test” and saved it to the desktop so we could easily find it later.
Step 2: Click on the Dictate button
Once you’ve created a blank document, you’ll see a Dictate button and drop-down menu on the top right-hand corner of the Home menu. It has a microphone symbol above it. From here, open the drop-down menu and double-check that the language is set to English.
One of the best parts of Microsoft Word’s speech to text software is its support for multiple languages. At the time of writing, nine languages were supported, with several others listed as preview languages. Preview languages have lower accuracy and limited punctuation support.
Step 3: Allow Microsoft Word access to the Microphone
If you haven’t used Microsoft Word’s speech to text software before, you’ll need to grant the application access to your microphone. This can be done at the click of a button when prompted.
It’s worth considering using an external microphone for your dictation, particularly if you plan on regularly using voice to text software within your organization. While built-in microphones will suffice for most general purposes, an external microphone can improve accuracy due to higher quality components and optimized placement of the microphone itself.
Step 4: Begin voice typing
Now we get to the fun stuff. After completing all of the above steps, click once again on the dictate button. The blue symbol will change to white, and a red recording symbol will appear. This means Microsoft Word has begun listening for your voice. If you have your sound turned up, a chime will also indicate that transcription has started.
Using voice typing is as simple as saying aloud the words you would like Microsoft to transcribe. It might seem a little strange at first, but you’ll soon develop a bit of flow, and everyone finds their strategies and style for getting the most out of the software.
These four steps alone will allow you to begin transcribing your voice to text. However, if you want to elevate your speech to text software skills, our fifth step is for you.
Step 5: Incorporate punctuation commands
Microsoft Word’s speech to text software goes well beyond simply converting spoken words to text. With the introduction and improvement of artificial neural networks, Microsoft’s voice typing technology listens not only to single words but to the phrase as a whole. This has enabled the company to introduce an extensive list of voice commands that allow you to insert punctuation marks and other formatting effects while speaking.
We can’t mention all of the punctuation commands here, but we’ll name some of the most useful. Saying the command “period” will insert a period, while the command “comma” will insert, unsurprisingly, a comma. The same rule applies for exclamation marks, colons, and quotations. If you’d like to finish a paragraph and leave a line break, you can say the command “new line.”
These tools are easy to use. In our testing, the software was consistently accurate in discerning words versus punctuation commands.
Microsoft’s speech to text software is powerful. Having tested most of the major platforms, we can say that Microsoft offers arguably the best product when balancing cost versus performance. This is because the software is built directly into Microsoft 365, which many businesses already use. If this applies to your business, you can begin using Microsoft’s voice typing technology straight away, with no additional costs.
We hope this article has taught you how to use speech to text software in Microsoft Word, and that you’ll now be able to apply these skills within your organization.
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How to use speech-to-text on microsoft word 2013.
In the digital age, technology is a huge part of our lives. It makes tasks simpler and more efficient. For example, Microsoft Word 2013 has a speech-to-text feature. This lets users turn spoken words into written text quickly and easily.
Imagine a world where you can dictate your words, ideas and documents into Microsoft Word without typing. With its cutting-edge voice recognition technology, speech-to-text on Microsoft Word 2013 makes this possible.
No more struggling with typing speed or spending hours crafting documents. Just speak your mind and watch it appear on the screen. This saves time and allows ideas to flow freely.
To get started, you need a microphone connected to your computer. Go to the “Insert” tab in Microsoft Word 2013 , click on “Speech” and select “Start Speech Recognition”. Then, follow the prompts to calibrate the microphone.
Once it’s set up, you can click the microphone icon in the toolbar and start using speech-to-text. Your words will be turned into text with great accuracy. You can also use traditional keyboard input to make corrections or edit the text.
The speech-to-text feature on Microsoft Word 2013 has many benefits. For people with disabilities or those who have difficulty typing, it removes barriers and helps them express themselves more easily. Professionals can also benefit from it, as they can dictate their thoughts while focusing on other tasks. This increases efficiency and makes work processes smoother.
Understanding Speech to Text Technology
Speech to Text technology has changed the way we interact with our devices. It converts spoken words to written text, providing efficient communication and data entry. Knowing how to use Speech to Text on Microsoft Word 2013 can boost productivity, even if you have a physical disability or simply prefer speaking.
The Speech to Text feature on Microsoft Word 2013 means no more typing. Just speak into the mic and watch your words appear on the screen. Advanced algorithms accurately transcribe your speech and reduce errors.
To use it, open a document, click the “Dictation” button in the “Home” tab, click the mic icon and start talking. Speak clearly and use commands like “new paragraph” or “comma” for formatting. Click the mic icon or say “stop dictating” to end the session.
Speech to Text technology has been around for decades. Early attempts were unsuccessful due to technical challenges. But, machine learning algorithms and data processing have made it incredibly accurate and accessible.
Enabling Speech to Text on Microsoft Word 2013
Speech to text is a cool feature on Microsoft Word 2013 ! To get started, do these steps:
- Open Microsoft Word 2013 .
- Click the “File” tab in the top left corner.
- Choose “Options” from the drop-down menu.
- In the Word Options window, click on “Customize Ribbon”.
- Next to “Dictation”, check the box and then click “OK”.
You can now use speech to text on Microsoft Word 2013 . Plus, you can customize the language settings to match your accent for more accurate transcription.
Fun fact: According to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) , speech recognition software like Microsoft Word 2013’s speech to text can help those with hearing impairments.
Why not give it a go and make your writing easier with speech to text on Microsoft Word 2013 ?
Using Speech to Text on Microsoft Word 2013
To use speech recognition in Microsoft Word 2013, follow these steps:
- Open Microsoft Word 2013.
- Click the “Review” tab.
- In the “Speech” section, click “Start Speech Recognition” .
- A window with a mic icon will appear; click the mic icon to start listening.
- Enunciate each word as you speak clearly into the microphone.
- Word will transcribe your words in real-time.
- Save time and effort using speech recognition for written text!
- Keep in mind accuracy may not be perfect; you may need to correct words/phrases.
- Thanks to research and development, speech recognition technology has made great strides!
Tips for Efficiently Using Speech to Text on Microsoft Word 2013
Speech to Text is a great feature from Microsoft Word 2013. To get the most out of it, here are some tips:
- Invest in a good microphone. This will give you clear and noise-free audio input.
- Speak clearly and enunciate each word.
- Use the voice commands for formatting.
- Remember to proofread and edit afterwards.
- Speech to Text supports multiple languages.
- You can train the software to learn your voice patterns and pronunciation.
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Speech to Text on Microsoft Word 2013
Sarah had a mission: to use Speech to Text on Microsoft Word 2013 for increased productivity. But, obstacles arose, like low accuracy and misinterpreted words. She asked for help from IT support who advised her to change the settings of her mic and invest in a noise-canceling headset. This worked! Sarah could now easily transcribe documents with Speech to Text tech.
You too can overcome issues with Speech to Text and Microsoft Word 2013 . First, ensure your mic is connected and functioning properly. Then, adjust settings in Word to select the correct input device. If accuracy is low, try changing the mic’s placement or speaking more clearly and slowly. Additionally, train the software by reading out passages from books or articles. Finally, minimize noise distractions or use noise-canceling headphones.
It’s also essential to note that updating your version of Microsoft Word 2013 may help resolve certain problems, and checking for any conflicting applications running in the background. Take cues from Sarah’s story, and you’ll be able to troubleshoot common Speech to Text issues like a pro!
Wrapping up, speech-to-text on Microsoft Word 2013 is a great way to create documents. It helps you to dictate your thoughts and the software will turn them into text. This feature saves time and effort as it eliminates manual typing.
It also benefits those with disabilities or those who prefer dictation. It encourages inclusivity and accessibility.
Moreover, MS Word 2013’s speech-to-text offers customization options. You can choose language preferences and train the software to recognize your voice.
This function is powered by Microsoft Research’s advanced voice recognition tech. They strive to improve their algorithms for better accuracy in capturing words.
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How to use speech-to-text on Microsoft Word to write and edit with your voice
- You can use speech-to-text on Microsoft Word through the "Dictate" feature.
- With Microsoft Word's "Dictate" feature, you can write using a microphone and your own voice.
- When you use Dictate, you can say "new line" to create a new paragraph and add punctuation simply by saying the punctuation aloud.
- If you're not satisfied with Word's built-in speech-to-text feature, you can use a third-party program like Dragon Home.
- Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.
While typing is certainly the most common way to create and edit documents in Microsoft Word , you're not limited to using a keyboard.
Word supports speech-to-text, which lets you dictate your writing using voice recognition.
Speech-to-text in Word is convenient and surprisingly accurate, and can help anyone who has issues typing with a typical keyboard.
You can use speech-to-text in Microsoft Word in the same way on both Mac and PC.
Check out the products mentioned in this article:
Apple macbook pro (from $1,299.00 at apple), acer chromebook 15 (from $179.99 at walmart), how to use speech-to-text on word using dictate.
Make sure you have a microphone connected to your computer. This can be built-in, like on a laptop, or a separate mic that you plug into the USB or audio jack.
It doesn't matter which type you use, though the best kind of mic to use is a headset, as it won't need to compete with as much background noise as a built-in microphone.
1. In Microsoft Word, make sure you're in the "Home" tab at the top of the screen, and then click "Dictate."
2. You should hear a beep, and the dictate button will change to include a red recording light. It's now listening for your dictation.
3. Speak clearly, and Word should transcribe everything you say in the current document. Speak punctuation aloud as you go. You can also say "New line," which has the same effect as pressing the Enter or Return key on the keyboard.
4. When you're done dictating, click "Dictate" a second time or turn it off using your voice by saying, "Turn the dictate feature off."
You can still type with the keyboard while Dictate is on, but if you click outside of Word or switch to another program, Dictate will turn itself off.
Want to change languages? You can click the downward arrow on the Dictate button to choose which of nine or so languages you want to speak. You might also see additional "Preview Languages," which are still in beta and may have lower accuracy.
Speech-to-text alternatives
You're not limited to using the Dictate feature built into Word. While not as popular as they once were, there are several commercial speech-to-text apps available which you can use with Word.
The most popular of these, Dragon Home , performs the same kind of voice recognition as Word's Dictate, but it also lets you control Word, format text, and make edits to your text using your voice. It works with nearly any program, not just Word.
Related coverage from Tech Reference :
How to use speech-to-text on a windows computer to quickly dictate text without typing, you can use text-to-speech in the kindle app on an ipad using an accessibility feature— here's how to turn it on, how to use text-to-speech on discord, and have the desktop app read your messages aloud, how to use google text-to-speech on your android phone to hear text instead of reading it, 2 ways to lock a windows computer from your keyboard and quickly secure your data.
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How to use speech-to-text on Microsoft Word to write and edit with your voice
- You can use speech-to-text on Microsoft Word through the "Dictate" feature.
- With Microsoft Word's "Dictate" feature, you can write using a microphone and your own voice.
- When you use Dictate, you can say "new line" to create a new paragraph and add punctuation simply by saying the punctuation aloud.
- If you're not satisfied with Word's built-in speech-to-text feature, you can use a third-party program like Dragon Home.
While typing is certainly the most common way to create and edit documents in Microsoft Word , you're not limited to using a keyboard.
Word supports speech-to-text, which lets you dictate your writing using voice recognition.
Speech-to-text in Word is convenient and surprisingly accurate, and can help anyone who has issues typing with a typical keyboard.
You can use speech-to-text in Microsoft Word in the same way on both Mac and PC.
Check out the products mentioned in this article:
Apple macbook pro (from $1,299.00 at apple), acer chromebook 15 (from $179.99 at walmart), how to use speech-to-text on word using dictate.
Make sure you have a microphone connected to your computer. This can be built-in, like on a laptop, or a separate mic that you plug into the USB or audio jack.
It doesn't matter which type you use, though the best kind of mic to use is a headset, as it won't need to compete with as much background noise as a built-in microphone.
1. In Microsoft Word, make sure you're in the "Home" tab at the top of the screen, and then click "Dictate."
4. When you're done dictating, click "Dictate" a second time or turn it off using your voice by saying, "Turn the dictate feature off."
You can still type with the keyboard while Dictate is on, but if you click outside of Word or switch to another program, Dictate will turn itself off.
Want to change languages? You can click the downward arrow on the Dictate button to choose which of nine or so languages you want to speak. You might also see additional "Preview Languages," which are still in beta and may have lower accuracy.
Speech-to-text alternatives
You're not limited to using the Dictate feature built into Word. While not as popular as they once were, there are several commercial speech-to-text apps available which you can use with Word.
The most popular of these, Dragon Home , performs the same kind of voice recognition as Word's Dictate, but it also lets you control Word, format text, and make edits to your text using your voice. It works with nearly any program, not just Word.
Related coverage from Tech Reference :
How to use speech-to-text on a windows computer to quickly dictate text without typing, you can use text-to-speech in the kindle app on an ipad using an accessibility feature— here's how to turn it on, how to use text-to-speech on discord, and have the desktop app read your messages aloud, how to use google text-to-speech on your android phone to hear text instead of reading it, 2 ways to lock a windows computer from your keyboard and quickly secure your data.
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How-To Geek
How to transcribe audio in microsoft word.
Microsoft recently rolled out a new feature for Word online that allows you to transcribe audio. Here's how to use it.
Quick Links
Record and transcribe live audio, upload and transcribe an audio file.
Microsoft debuted in August 2020 an audio transcription feature for the online version of Word that converts audio (recorded or uploaded from a file) directly to text, and even separates the text based on the speaker. Here's how to use the feature.
To transcribe audio with Word, you must be a Microsoft 365 premium subscriber . If you have the free version and you try to use the feature, you'll be met with a message asking you to subscribe.
You can have Word transcribe audio that you record directly within Word. Sign in to Microsoft 365, and open Word. In the "Home" tab, click the arrow next to "Dictate" and then select "Transcribe" from the menu that appears.
If this is your first time using the feature, you'll need to give Microsoft permission to access your microphone .
The "Transcribe" pane will open in the right-hand side of the window. Select "Start Recording."
Once selected, the timer will start. Now, you'll want to begin speaking. You won't see the transcription happen live as you're speaking because Microsoft found that to be a bit too distracting during its testing.
After you're finished, click the "Pause" button and then select "Save and Transcribe Now."
It may take a few minutes for Word to finish transcribing the audio recording and uploading it to OneDrive .
Once this is done, you'll see the transcription appear in the same pane you recorded the audio. Each section will have a timestamp, the speaker's name, and the transcribed text. Microsoft automatically separates the text by the speaker.
If Word detects multiple speakers, you'll see "Speaker 1," Speaker 2," and so on. If Word can't detect multiple speakers, you'll just see "Speaker."
You might notice that the transcript doesn't perfectly reflect the recorded audio accurately. You can edit a section of the transcript by hovering your mouse over the incorrect text and then selecting the pen icon.
Now you can edit the transcription found in this section. You can also edit the name of the speaker, as well as every instance where the speaker (i.e., Speaker 1 or Speaker 2) appears by ticking the box next to "Change All Speaker." When you're finished, click the checkmark.
If necessary, you can use the playback controls to revisit the audio recording. This is necessary if the transcript is long, and you can't remember exactly who said what. Here's the function of each button, from left to right:
- Playback speed
- Fast forward
When you're finished editing the transcript, you can add it to the document by selecting the "Add All To Document" button at the bottom of the pane.
Once selected, the audio recording and the content of the transcript will appear in the document.
If you already have an audio file that you want to transcribe, you can upload it to Word. Sign in to Microsoft 365, and open Word. In the "Home" tab, click the arrow next to "Dictate" and then select "Transcribe" from the menu that appears.
The "Transcribe" pane will open in the right-hand side of the window. Select "Upload Audio." You can upload these audio file types:
File Explorer (Finder for Mac) will open. Navigate to the location of the audio file, select it, and then click "Open."
Microsoft will begin transcribing the audio file. Depending on the size of the file, this could take quite a bit of time.
Once Microsoft finishes transcribing the audio file, the text will appear in the pane.
If you face the same issue with your audio file, you can edit the text by hovering over the section and clicking the "Pen" icon. If you need to hear the audio again, you can do so by using the audio controls.
Next, edit the name of the speaker (and each instance that the speaker appears by ticking the "Change All Speaker" box) and the text from that section. When finished, click the "Checkmark."
Once you've edited the content of the transcript, click "Add All To Document."
The audio file and text of the transcript will be added to the Word document.
While not perfect, this feature can potentially save you a lot of time, especially if the speaker in the audio is speaking clearly.
How to Dictate Documents in Microsoft Word
Great for writing speeches or your autobiography
Most people can speak faster than they can type. Take advantage of this superpower by dictating your documents! Using speech-to-text is a great way to quickly get your thoughts down in writing. We’ll show you how to dictate documents in Microsoft Word on a computer or your smartphone.
If you use the Mac or Windows desktop version of Word, you won’t find the dictate button unless you subscribe to Microsoft 365. However, you can use the free Microsoft Word web app or smartphone apps to dictate to your heart’s desire. We’ll assume you have a good internet connection and a device with a microphone enabled.
How to Use Dictation in Word on Macs, PCs, or the Web
The steps for dictating documents in Word are largely the same, no matter whether you’re using the desktop app or the browser-based version.
- Launch the Word app, either the desktop app on your Mac or PC or the web app in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
- In the Home menu, select the microphone icon.
- If prompted, select the button to Allow the use of your microphone.
- Web app users will see a toolbar with controls for your microphone. Select the microphone icon to begin dictating.
- Once the microphone icon is activated, you can begin speaking, and you’ll see your words appear in the Word document.
- Web users can select the gear icon on the dictation toolbar to choose the spoken language, select which microphone device they want to use, and toggle auto-punctuation and the profanity filter on or off.
- You can use your keyboard or Word’s suggestions to edit your document without needing to turn the microphone off.
- When you’re finished, you can exit dictation by selecting Close ( X ) in the dictation toolbar or pressing the microphone button on the ribbon again.
That’s enough to get started with dictating a Word document on a computer. But keep reading for some expert tips and tricks.
How to Use Dictation on Your Smartphone’s Word App
Smartphones are made for dictation. You might feel strange talking to yourself, but it’s certainly faster than using your phone’s tiny keyboard.
Start with a new Word document or open an existing one. Tap the screen where you want to start dictating, and then select the microphone icon. You can choose the microphone icon inside the Word app itself or the icon on your soft keyboard. Either one will work.
The benefit of using the Word app’s microphone icon is that you’ll have access to some other dictation tools. You’ll see a toolbar with standard punctuation, a spacebar, and a carriage return (new line) button. Sometimes it’s easier to tap those buttons than it is to use voice commands.
You’ll also have access to the gear icon to adjust the settings like the spoken language, auto punctuation, and the profanity filter.
The first time you select the microphone icon in the Word app, you may be prompted to grant Word permission to record audio on your phone. You can choose to either allow it every time you use the app or only this time.
At any point, you can always select the Help button, where you’ll find information on all the voice commands you can use.
Tips and Tricks for Dictating in Microsoft Word
Sure, you can dictate the text of a Word document, but did you know about all the other things you can do in Word with voice commands? You can use your voice to edit, format, create lists, and add a comment.
Punctuation Tips & Tricks
You’ll get used to saying the names of punctuation marks and symbols when you dictate.
- Add punctuation simply by saying the name of the punctuation mark you want to insert. You can say things like period , comma , new line , and apostrophe .
- Say open quotes and close quotes .
- You can say ellipsis or dot dot dot … it’s up to you!
- For punctuation like parentheses, brackets, and braces, you can say either left or open bracket (or parentheses or brace) and either right or close bracket (or parentheses or brace).
- If it’s a character, you can probably dictate it. Try commands like asterisk , m-dash , copyright sign , and degree symbol .
Editing Tips & Tricks
Think of it this way. You’re the boss and Word is your employee. Just tell Word what you want it to do.
- If you say delete , Word will delete the last word or punctuation mark that appears before the cursor.
- If you say delete that , it’ll remove the last thing you said.
- You can tell Word to delete a specific word in the middle of a sentence. For example, let’s say you dictated, “You can’t judge a book by its awful cover.” You could say delete awful , and then you’d be left with “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
- Rather than saying backspace repeatedly to go back several spaces, you can just say backspace [1-100] . In other words, you can say backspace twenty .
- If you make a mistake, you can always say undo .
Formatting Tips & Tricks
Like the editing tips, you can use voice commands to add formatting to specific words or phrases.
- For simple formatting like bold , italics , underline , and strikethrough , you can pair those commands with words or phrases in your document. For example, in the screencap below, we said, “ bold phrases ,” and it did!
- To undo all the formatting from the document, say clear all formatting .
- Use the align command to align your text left, right, or center.
- If you’re not sure a particular command exists, try it and find out. For example, you can say, underline last sentence , and Word will know exactly what you mean.
- Creating lists is easy with commands like start list , start numbered list , and exit list .
Bonus Dictation Tips & Tricks
Before you go, check out these final dictation tips and tricks.
- Say add comment to create a blank comment box that you can type into.
- Even better, say something like add comment I love this paragraph period , and it will insert a comment with the text “I love this paragraph.”
- Dictate currency symbols. You can say dollar sign , pound sterling sign (don’t forget the “sterling” or it will insert the # sign), euro sign , or yen sign .
- Insert common emojis like smiley face , winky face , heart emoji , or frowny face .
If you know of any more dictation commands in Microsoft Word, leave them in the comments!
Maggie Marystone is a freelance technology writer, human rights worker, and storyteller based in Chicago. Read Maggie's Full Bio
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How to Convert Speech to Text in Word? A step-by-Step Guide
(Note: This guide on how to convert speech to text in Word is suitable for all MS Word versions including Office 365 )
Typing a large document might be hectic sometimes. It is a rigorous process to sit with your keyboard and click key after key. You might wonder if there is an easier way to type.
Fortunately, an alternate way to ease your efforts in typing is to use the Speech-to-Text feature in Word.
The speech-to-text feature is particularly useful when you have to type fast. This reduces the additional work you have to do while taking notes for meetings, jotting down quick ideas, or drafting any content.
Speech-to-Text is the cutting-edge feature adopted by many businesses and technological streams to increase user-friendliness and maintain productivity features. Among them, Microsoft has one of the advanced speech-to-text features.
If you are planning on a long write-up, this article is for you. In this guide, I’ll explain how to activate the speech-to-text feature in Word and how to make the best out of it.
You’ll Learn
Prerequisites to Know Before Using Speech to Text Feature in Word
How to activate the speech to text feature in word, settings option, help option.
Related Reads:
How to Add Columns in Microsoft Word? All You Need to Know
How to Superscript in Word? 4 Easy Methods
How to Make a Checklist in Word? 3 Simple Steps
Enabling voice typing in Microsoft Word is easy. However, there are some points to bear in mind to make the best of the voice typing feature.
- Make sure you have logged in to the Microsoft official account. Only then you will find the Dictate option in the Home option. But a workaround is to use the built-in Windows speech-to-text function. To activate Windows speech-to-text feature, hold the Windows key and press H. In this way, you can enable the voice typing feature for Word and in all text spaces. But, this feature has some limitations to the language options.
- Speak clearly with proper pronunciation. It is very common for Word to interpret your speech into a relatable word. However, you can change the text through suggestions or manually.
- Try to stay in a silent and noiseless room. It is very easy for microphones to pick up stray noises and convert them into text, which might interfere with your speech.
- The efficiency of speech-to-text conversion relies on the speed of the internet. Make sure you have a stable and reliable internet connection to use the speech-to-text feature with ease.
- Make sure you allow access to the microphone option for Word. In case the microphone does not have access, the Dictate feature will not be turned on and speech won’t be converted to text. Access to the microphone can be given when activating the Dictate option.
- It is always better to have an external microphone to discern your speech into text in a better way. However, the internal microphone array also does a good job of listening to your speech and converting them to text.
Open a Word document.
In the Main Menu, select Home. Under Voice, select the Dictate option.
Or, you can use the keyboard shortcut (Alt+`) to enable the voice typing feature in Word.
This opens up a small dialog box.
To activate the speech-to-text feature, tap on the microphone icon. You will hear a chime and the dialog box shows “Listening…”.
You can also see the dictate icon in the main menu changes.
As you speak, Microsoft Word converts the speech into text. The text appears on the screen as you speak.
You can exit the Dictate mode by clicking on the close button in the top right corner of the dialog box. Also, the Dictate mode automatically closes when you open another window or move away from the Word file.
How to Add Page Numbers in Word? 3 Easy Examples
How to Convert PDF to Word
How to Create a Fillable Form in Word
Additional Attributes of Dictate Mode
To the left of the microphone button, you can find the Settings Option. You can customize the Dictate mode by using the Settings button. It shows three options:
- Enable Auto Punctuation: You can toggle this feature ON to add punctuation marks as you speak. Initially, punctuation marks were entered manually. Now, enabling this option adds punctuation marks like commas, periods, hyphens, and exclamations wherever necessary without being prompted by the user.
- Filter Sensitive Phrases : Toggling this option ON enables you to cloak any sensitive content inappropriate. When any awkward context arises, Word automatically masks the said word by replacing it with “*****”.
- Languages : This is one of the notable features of the Dictate option in Microsoft Word. This helps you type out the text in the language of your choice.
For example, if you want to make a Japanese script, select Japanese in the Spoken Language option and start speaking. Microsoft recognizes the uttered word and types out the content in Japanese.
Microsoft takes great measures to add more languages and increase their compatibility with the feature. Currently, Word supports 15 languages and 36 preview languages. However, preview languages have comparatively less accuracy than the supported language.
To the right of the microphone button, you can find the Help option. Click on the Help option when faced with any query using the Dictate option. This directs you to Microsoft’s official help page to help solve your queries.
Another most important feature of the speech-to-text conversion in Microsoft Word is its ability to act on verbal commands.
You can add punctuation marks by saying “period”, “comma”, and other such commands. Word will add “.” and “,” in the respective places. For example, in the statement “My favorite colors are red, blue, and green”, you can add the commas “,” by uttering the word comma.
You can edit the text using voice commands like “delete” or “undo” to delete or undo any text after your command. For example, in the command “have a nice day. And a great weekend”, you can utter “delete weekend” to delete the word.
You can also use the “bold”, “strikethrough”, “italics”, and other commands to format the words. Consider the statement, “have a nice day”. To bold the words “nice day”, just utter the words “bold nice day”.
Another one that concerns most people is a breach of privacy. Microsoft has rolled out an official statement saying they don’t store any information. The spoken words are only used to convert your speech into text and provide you with the best results.
Suggested Reads:
Footnotes in Word and Endnotes in Word
How to do a Mail Merge in Microsoft Word 2013 – Part 2
Using Settings and Preferences in Microsoft Word 2013
Closing Thoughts
In this guide, we saw how to convert speech to text in Word and the additional attributes of the speech-to-text feature.
Speech-to-Text is one of the golden features of Microsoft. This method of typing is preferred by a majority of common Word users. Initially, you might face a bit of a struggle to properly pronounce the words and make the best of the speech-to-text feature, but as you progress, you will develop a flow for it.
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The full story on Dictate with Office 2013 & Office 2016
Microsoft released an interesting new tool for Office 2013/2016 which promised to be a major improvement on current ‘speech to text’ options. Most media have just reported Microsoft’s hype, we actually tested Dictate and here’s what we’ve found.
What made Dictate different is the use of Cortana voice recognition technology. It uses the same cloud system which converts your spoken questions to Cortana. Microsoft is pushing the Cortana voice features in Windows 10 and, frankly, Dictate is the first practical application we’ve seen for the technology.
Dictate is a Microsoft Garage tool, which means it’s ‘trial balloon’ for something that may, or may not, make it into fully released product. Alas, it’s now been removed.
It worked with Word, PowerPoint and Outlook for email writing in Office 2013 and Office 2016.
Setup Dictate
Download was available from http://dictate.ms/ but that page has been disabled. In Windows 10/11 there are in-built dictation tools to use in any app.
Our ebook Dictation and Read Aloud in Office explains all about modern dictation and speak options in Windows, Mac, Apple and Android devices.
A good, close and clear microphone is essential to getting speech recognition to work well. Setup and check your microphone. Go to Control Panel | Speech Recognition | Set up microphone. An inbuilt microphone usually isn’t enough for dictation. You’ll get better results with a headset microphone and in a quiet location.
Unlike some speech-to-text systems, Dictate/Cortana doesn’t have a ‘training’ mode. That lets the software get better at recognizing your particular voice.
Dictation tab
Start Word and you have a new Dictation tab. The default language settings should be correct (copied from Word/Windows) but you can change to suit your needs.
Start – click this button then start speaking. Click again to stop dictation.
From – choose the language and variant you’ll be speaking – eg English US, UK, India, Australian etc.
To – the language that will be typed. That does NOT have to be the language you’re speaking, see Translation below.
Manual Punctuation – in English only, you have the choice of Automatic or Manual punctuation.
Automatic – Dictate will add punctuation for you.
Manual – certain phrases will be converted into punctuation characters instead of words.
- Full Stop or Period
- New Line (strictly speaking, creates a new paragraph)
- Question Mark
- Close Quote
Speech to Text – Dictate
We tried Dictate with a section from one of our favorite stand-up comedy pieces of all time: Woody Allen’s The Moose. Peter read it ‘straight’ to give Dictate a fair test. It didn’t go well, as you’ll see from the highlights we’ve added to show the many errors.
As you can see, Dictate had a lot of trouble with Peter’s ‘comma’ and ‘full stop’. It seems that Dictate in Automatic punctuation mode ignores any spoken attempts to punctuate even when they agree with what Dictate is doing eg ‘full stop.”.
On the plus side, Dictate can handle speech at a reasonable pace. It saves/caches what you say then adds text in batches, sometimes many lines at a time.
You can type while you’re dictating, to add text or punctuation as you go.
Don’t be put off by the stray characters on the preview line. They disappear in the final text.
If there’s no Internet access, you’ll get this mysterious error “Unable to create MicrophoneRecoClient”
Translation with Dictate
A neat Dictate trick is translation. You speak in one language and the typed text comes out in another language. Just choose the Language Option | To that you want.
It’s a fantastic idea, if it works properly. We have no idea if the Monty Python phrase is correctly translated into Finnish.
There’s two opportunities for Dictate translation to go wrong. Firstly, there’s the speech to text which must accurately render your words. Then the Cortana translate between languages has to be correct.
If you don’t know the To: language, it’s safer to use Dictate into something you can read and edit. Then use Office’s Translate to convert the text you’ve approved.
What privacy? Not a word about this from Microsoft, which is typical. Every word you say and text produced is recorded on Microsoft’s servers. As we know, that information can be used by Microsoft itself or government agencies.
Don’t use Dictate for anything confidential or personal.
Dictate is an interesting idea and works reasonably well. A lot depends on your voice and microphone setup. It’s nowhere near as accurate as their demo video suggests. Dictate is likely to appear in more Office releases, especially for tablets and phones.
In its current form, Dictate isn’t going to convert any Dragon NaturallySpeaking users. The documentation needs to be better. A microphone test should be added because that’s crucial for any ‘speech to text’ application to work properly.
The video promo
Here’s Microsoft’s promo video for Dictate. It takes the curious line that speaking is faster than typing. That’s unlikely after necessary checking and correcting any mistakes made by Dictate.
Dictation and Read Aloud in Office Dictation controls in Word 365 move and get smaller 25 new languages added to Microsoft Office Dictation Dictation updates in Office 365 for Mac
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How to Convert Word Docs to an Audiobook
Table of contents.
Converting your Microsoft Word documents into an audiobook isn’t just a nifty digital trick—it’s a game changer for absorbing information on the go, making content accessible, or just giving your eyes a break. Here’s a simple guide to turning those text files into audio formats, whether you’re using a Mac, Windows, Android, or iOS device.
What You Need:
- Microsoft Word Document (DOC or DOCX) : First, make sure your content is in a Word document. This can be a standard DOC or DOCX file. Microsoft Word is incredibly versatile, not just for creating documents but also for preparing them to be converted into audio.
- Text-to-Speech Software : There are numerous text-to-speech ( TTS ) software options that can read your Word files aloud and convert them into an audio file such as MP3, WAV, WMA, or OGG. Popular choices include NaturalReader, Google Docs’ text-to-speech feature, and the built-in Read Aloud function in Microsoft Word itself.
Step-by-Step Conversion:
For windows users:.
- Download and install NaturalReader from its official site.
- Open NaturalReader, and click ‘Add Text’ to import your Word doc.
- Select the desired voice and reading speed. NaturalReader offers a variety of voices that produce high-quality audio output.
- Choose the output format (e.g., MP3 or WAV) and hit ‘Convert’. Voila! Your Word document is now an audiobook.
- Open your document in Microsoft Word.
- Click on ‘Review’, then ‘Read Aloud’.
- Listen to the document to ensure it meets your expectations. Adjust the reading speed as necessary.
For Mac Users:
- Open your DOCX file in Microsoft Word on your Mac.
- Go to ‘System Preferences’ > ‘Accessibility’ > ‘Speech’. Select the voice and adjust the speaking rate.
- With the document open, select the text you want to convert or simply press Command + A to select all.
- Right-click and choose ‘Speech’ > ‘Start Speaking’.
For iOS and Android Users:
- Download a text-to-speech app such as NaturalReader, which is available for both iOS and Android.
- Upload your Word file or sync it from a service like Google Docs.
- Choose your output format and settings, then convert.
- iOS users can use the built-in ‘Speak Screen’ by swiping down with two fingers from the top of the screen when the document is open.
- Android users can utilize Google Text-to-Speech by enabling it in the ‘Accessibility’ settings and using it within any app that supports text selection.
Converting Other File Types:
If your content is not in a Word doc but in other file types like PDF, HTML, EPUB, MOBI, or even PowerPoint, the process remains largely the same. Apps like NaturalReader and Google Docs can handle multiple file types. Simply open the file in the app and follow similar steps to convert it to an audio file.
Tips for Best Results:
- Proofread Your Document : Ensure there are no typos or formatting errors in your document that could confuse the TTS software.
- Choose Natural Voices : Opt for high-quality, natural-sounding voices to enhance the listening experience.
- Test Different Formats : Some audio formats (like MP3 or OGG) might work better with your audiobook player than others.
Use Speechify to Convert your Word Docs to an Audiobook
With Speechify Voiceover you can import your word docs, choose from over 100+ AI voices, even add royalty free background music. That’s it. Speechify is the leading AI voice over generator with the most realistic and human sounding voices.
Try it free, today .
Converting word documents to an audiobook can significantly boost productivity and accessibility. Whether you’re a student looking to study on the go, a professional who needs to review documents while commuting, or someone who needs auditory support, these tools make it easier than ever to convert text to speech and enjoy the benefits of listening to your documents out loud. Enjoy your new audiobooks!
FAQ on Converting Word Documents to Audiobooks
<strong>how do i convert a word document to an audiobook</strong>.
To convert a Word document to an audiobook, use text-to-speech software like NaturalReader or Microsoft Word’s Read Aloud feature. Simply open your document in the application, select the text, and choose a voice and format for the audio output.
<strong>Can I convert a Word document to an audio file?</strong>
Yes, you can convert a Word document to an audio file. Use text-to-speech tools such as NaturalReader, or use the built-in features in Microsoft Word and operating systems like Windows and macOS to export the spoken text as an MP3 or WAV file.
<strong>How do I convert words to audio?</strong>
To convert words to audio, open your document in a text-to-speech software, select the text you want to convert, choose a voice and speed, and then save the audio output in your preferred format.
<strong>Can Microsoft Word convert text to audio?</strong>
Yes, Microsoft Word can convert text to audio using its Read Aloud feature, which is accessible under the Review tab. This feature reads the text aloud and is a handy tool for proofreading or multitasking.
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Cliff Weitzman
Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.
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Use the Speak text-to-speech feature to read text aloud
Speak is a built-in feature of Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote. You can use Speak to have text read aloud in the language of your version of Office.
Text-to-speech (TTS) is the ability of your computer to play back written text as spoken words. Depending upon your configuration and installed TTS engines, you can hear most text that appears on your screen in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote. For example, if you're using the English version of Office, the English TTS engine is automatically installed. To use text-to-speech in different languages, see Using the Speak feature with Multilingual TTS .
To learn how to configure Excel for text-to-speech, see Converting text to speech in Excel .
Add Speak to the Quick Access Toolbar
You can add the Speak command to your Quick Access Toolbar by doing the following in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote:
Next to the Quick Access Toolbar, click Customize Quick Access Toolbar .
Click More Commands .
In the Choose commands from list, select All Commands .
Scroll down to the Speak command, select it, and then click Add .
Use Speak to read text aloud
After you have added the Speak command to your Quick Access Toolbar, you can hear single words or blocks of text read aloud by selecting the text you want to hear and then clicking the Speak icon on the Quick Access Toolbar.
Listen to your Word documents with Read Aloud
Listen to your Outlook email messages with Read Aloud
Converting text to speech in Excel
Dictate text using Speech Recognition
Learning Tools in Word
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COMMENTS
Perhaps there is a conflict with the new update on Windows 10, which makes dictation easy - simply press the Windows key + H (while in the app you want to use with it). This works imperfectly in Word 2013, but it does work after a fashion (leaving too many corrections to be made). However, when I open the Windows accessory, WordPad, it works ...
Step 1: Open Microsoft Word. Simple but crucial. Open the Microsoft Word application on your device and create a new, blank document. We named our test document "How to use speech to text in ...
Want to use your voice to type in Microsoft Word rather than your keyboard? Using dictation, or commonly known as "speech-to-text", is a simple feature offe...
Speech to text is a cool feature on Microsoft Word 2013! To get started, do these steps: Open Microsoft Word 2013. Click the "File" tab in the top left corner. Choose "Options" from the drop-down menu. In the Word Options window, click on "Customize Ribbon". Next to "Dictation", check the box and then click "OK".
1. In Microsoft Word, make sure you're in the "Home" tab at the top of the screen, and then click "Dictate." Click "Dictate" to start Word's speech-to-text feature. Dave Johnson/Business Insider ...
Dictate in Microsoft 365. Dictation lets you use speech-to-text to author content in Office with a microphone and reliable internet connection. Use your voice to quickly create documents, emails, notes, presentations, or even slide notes.
With your computer's internal microphone, or with a USB microphone in hand, you can dictate your document in Word on both Windows and Mac. Head to the Home tab and click "Dictate." When the microphone icon appears, you can drag to move it anywhere you like. Click the icon to begin dictating, click again to stop or pause.
Dictate in Word for the Web. To use Microsoft Office on the web, sign in with your Microsoft Account. At the main Office screen, click the icon for Word. Open a document and click the Dictate icon ...
3. Speak clearly, and Word should transcribe everything you say in the current document. Speak punctuation aloud as you go. You can also say "New line," which has the same effect as pressing the ...
If you already have an audio file that you want to transcribe, you can upload it to Word. Sign in to Microsoft 365, and open Word. In the "Home" tab, click the arrow next to "Dictate" and then select "Transcribe" from the menu that appears. The "Transcribe" pane will open in the right-hand side of the window.
Launch the Word app, either the desktop app on your Mac or PC or the web app in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. In the Home menu, select the microphone icon. If prompted, select the button to Allow the use of your microphone. Web app users will see a toolbar with controls for your microphone. Select the microphone icon to begin dictating.
To activate the speech-to-text feature, tap on the microphone icon. You will hear a chime and the dialog box shows "Listening…". Listening activated. You can also see the dictate icon in the main menu changes. Click on Dictate. As you speak, Microsoft Word converts the speech into text.
Microsoft released an interesting new tool for Office 2013/2016 which promised to be a major improvement on current 'speech to text' options. Most media have just reported Microsoft's hype, we actually tested Dictate and here's what we've found. What made Dictate different is the use of Cortana voice recognition technology.
In this step-by-step tutorial video, learn how you can transcribe speech in Word. Transcribe converts speech (recorded directly in Word or from an uploaded a...
Click on the Review tab in the menu bar. Select Read Aloud. You can have MS Word read your text back to you using the Read Aloud feature. Once you click on the Read Aloud button, a popup appears with the Play, Previous, Next, and Settings icons. To have the text be read aloud, press the Play icon.
The transcribe feature converts speech to a text transcript with each speaker individually separated. After your conversation, interview, or meeting, you can revisit parts of the recording by playing back the timestamped audio and edit the transcription to make corrections. You can save the full transcript as a Word document or insert snippets ...
In this video we will see how to Enable Voice Typing in Word 2019, 2016, 2013 With Windows 10 Voice Activation setting. Subscribe to More Office TutorialsSub...
How to convert Speech to text through MS Word in just 2 StepsStep1:Open word documentStep2: Window HIf you wanted to learn Text to Speech: https://youtu.be/s...
Open your DOCX file in Microsoft Word on your Mac. Go to 'System Preferences' > 'Accessibility' > 'Speech'. Select the voice and adjust the speaking rate. With the document open, select the text you want to convert or simply press Command + A to select all. Right-click and choose 'Speech' > 'Start Speaking'.
You can add the Speak command to your Quick Access Toolbar by doing the following in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote: Next to the Quick Access Toolbar, click Customize Quick Access Toolbar. Click More Commands. In the Choose commands from list, select All Commands. Scroll down to the Speak command, select it, and then click Add.