How to Use Dictate in Word (Type With Your Voice)
Most people speak three times faster than they type. Word's Dictate feature turns your voice into text as you talk — great for first drafts, long emails, or if typing is uncomfortable. It's included with Microsoft 365.
What you need
• Microsoft 365 (Word for Windows, Mac or the web).
• An internet connection — the speech recognition happens online.
• A microphone. The one built into your laptop works; a headset works better.
• An internet connection — the speech recognition happens online.
• A microphone. The one built into your laptop works; a headset works better.
Start dictating
1. Open a Word document and click where you want the text.
2. On the Home tab, click Dictate (the microphone icon).
3. The first time, allow Word to use your microphone if asked.
4. Wait for the microphone icon to show it's listening, then start speaking.
2. On the Home tab, click Dictate (the microphone icon).
3. The first time, allow Word to use your microphone if asked.
4. Wait for the microphone icon to show it's listening, then start speaking.
Click Dictate again, or just stop talking for a while, to turn it off.
Keyboard shortcut: Alt + ` (the key to the left of 1) turns Dictate on and off in Word for Windows.
Punctuation and formatting commands
Say these out loud as you dictate:
| Say | You get |
|---|---|
| "full stop" or "period" | . |
| "comma" | , |
| "question mark" | ? |
| "exclamation mark" | ! |
| "colon" | : |
| "new line" | A line break |
| "new paragraph" | A new paragraph |
| "open quote" / "close quote" | " " |
You can also say commands like "delete" (removes the last word or phrase), "undo", and "bold that". Exactly which commands work depends on your language.
Dictate settings
Click the cog on the Dictate toolbar to:
• Change the spoken language.
• Turn on auto-punctuation, so Word adds full stops and commas for you.
• Turn on the profanity filter.
• Choose which microphone to use.
• Turn on auto-punctuation, so Word adds full stops and commas for you.
• Turn on the profanity filter.
• Choose which microphone to use.
Tips for better accuracy
• Speak normally — not slowly and robotically. Full sentences work best.
• Use a headset or sit close to the microphone.
• Reduce background noise — close the window, turn off the radio.
• Pause briefly between sentences.
• Fix mistakes afterwards rather than stopping every few words. Dictate the draft, then edit with the keyboard.
• Use a headset or sit close to the microphone.
• Reduce background noise — close the window, turn off the radio.
• Pause briefly between sentences.
• Fix mistakes afterwards rather than stopping every few words. Dictate the draft, then edit with the keyboard.
Dictate anywhere on Windows
Windows has its own voice typing that works in any app — email, web forms, Notepad, the lot.
1. Click in a text box.
2. Press Windows key + H.
3. Start talking.
2. Press Windows key + H.
3. Start talking.
Dictate on a Mac
Word for Mac has the same Dictate button on the Home tab. macOS also has built-in dictation that works in any app: go to System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, turn it on, then press the microphone key (or Fn twice) to start.
Also try: Transcribe
In Word for the web, Home > Dictate > Transcribe can turn a recording (like a meeting or interview) into text, with different speakers labelled. Handy if you record voice notes.
Troubleshooting
The Dictate button is greyed out or missing. Make sure you're signed in to Word with a Microsoft 365 account and connected to the internet.
It's not hearing me. Check your microphone is selected in the Dictate settings, and that Word has microphone permission (Windows: Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone).
It types the word "comma" instead of the symbol. Pause briefly before and after saying punctuation commands.
Wrapping up
Click Home > Dictate (or Alt + `), speak naturally, and say "full stop" and "new paragraph" as you go. For anything outside Word, Windows key + H does the same job.
