Significantly Reduce Spelling Errors with Free Speech Recognition

Microsoft: Dictation in Word and Windows speech recognition

Dictation in Word Online

1. Open a new document in Word Online.
2. Click the Dictate button (microphone icon) in the Home tab.
3. Allow the use of the microphone. Then, click the Microphone icon in a pop-up window at the bottom of the screen.
4. With the cursor on the page, start speaking and watch your words appear as text in the document.
5. Use the Settings icon (gear icon) in the window with the microphone icon to change the spoken language or enable/disable auto punctuation.
6. You may dictate punctuation marks, symbols, mathematical and currency signs, and emojis.
7. Also, you may dictate formatting. For example, say “new line.” For a list of the specific phrases to say, reference the “What can I say” section in the Microsoft Support article Dictate your documents in Word.
8. Press the Microphone icon again to stop dictation.

Mike Tholfsen (Microsoft employee) YouTube Channel: How to use Dictation and voice commands in Microsoft Word (2021)

Tip: Treat the document as a first draft and plan to make revisions. To illustrate my point, look at the error in the dictation example below. The dictation feature typed the word “by” instead of the spoken word “my.” So, be prepared to catch word choice mistakes and spelling errors.

Dictation in OneNote, PowerPoint, and Outlook

The dictation feature is also available in the free applications OneNote for the Web and PowerPoint for the Web. For consistency, you can always find the dictation button in the Home tab. To use dictation in Outlook, you must have a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Microsoft Support article: Dictate in Microsoft 365

Mike Tholfsen (Microsoft employee) YouTube Channel: How to use dictation in Word, OneNote and PowerPoint. Free in Office 365 and Windows 10

Windows Speech Recognition

Speech recognition in the Windows 10 and 11 operating systems allow you to use your voice to type any place that has a text box; for example, the Windows search bar, an internet browser, or a productivity application.

Furthermore, use specific commands to operate the computer hands-free. For example, say “Open WordPad” to bring up the WordPad application.

To enable speech recognition in the operating system:

1. Press the Start button.
2. Select Settings.
3. Click Time & Language.
4. Click Speech on the left side of the screen.
5. On the right side of the screen, choose the language and press Get Started under the Microphone heading.
6. Follow the instructions to set up your microphone for speech recognition.
7. Select a text field and open the speech recognition toolbar by pressings the Windows logo key + H.
8. Speak words. Press the microphone when finished dictating or say “Stop dictation.”

Microsoft Support articles: Use dictation to talk instead of type on your PC, Use voice recognition in Windows, Windows Speech Recognition commands

YouTube video recommendation: Points of Access with Phillip White – Speech Recognition on Windows 10 Playlist

Google: Voice typing in Docs and the Chrome operating system

Voice typing in Docs

1. Open a document in Google Docs.
2. Click the Tools tab in the menu.
3. Select Voice Typing.
4. A microphone icon will appear. Click the Microphone icon.
5. With the cursor on the page, start speaking and watch your words appear as text in the document.
6. Add common punctuation marks by saying “comma,” “period,” “question mark,” “exclamation mark,” or “exclamation point.”
7. Speak formatting commands such as “new line.” To view a list of voice commands, go to the Google Help article Type with your voice.
8. Press the Microphone icon again to stop dictation or say “Stop listening.”

Note: You can also use voice typing in Slides to add text to the speaker notes. Plus, voice typing is available in the Google Keep note taking application, reference the article Add notes with your voice.

Chromebook dictation in any text field

Google offers dictation in any text box with the Chrome operating system.

1. On a Chromebook, enable Dictation by going to Settings.
2. Select Advanced.
3. In the Accessibility section, press Manage Accessibility Settings.
4. Under Keyboard and Text Input, enable Dictation.
5. Now, place the cursor in any text box.
6. Then, press the Microphone icon and start speaking.

Google Help article: Turn on Chromebook accessibility features