How to Use Read Aloud in Word (Make Word Read to You)
Hearing your writing read back is one of the best ways to proofread. You'll catch missing words, repeated words and clunky sentences that your eyes glide straight over. Word has this built in.
Quick reference
| What you want | How |
|---|---|
| Start Read Aloud | Ctrl + Alt + Space or Review → Read Aloud |
| Pause / play | Ctrl + Space |
| Stop | Click ■ or press Ctrl + Alt + Space again |
| Immersive Reader | View → Immersive Reader |
1. Start Read Aloud
1. Click where you want Word to start reading (or select a section).
2. Press Ctrl + Alt + Space, or go to Review → Read Aloud.
2. Press Ctrl + Alt + Space, or go to Review → Read Aloud.
Word highlights each word as it reads it, so you can follow along.
2. Use the controls
A small toolbar appears at the top right:
• ▶ / ❚❚ — play or pause
• ⏮ / ⏭ — previous or next paragraph
• ⚙ Settings — change the reading speed and voice
• ■ — stop
• ⏮ / ⏭ — previous or next paragraph
• ⚙ Settings — change the reading speed and voice
• ■ — stop
3. Choose a voice
Open Settings on the toolbar and pick a voice. Microsoft 365 includes natural-sounding voices; others depend on the languages installed in Windows.
4. Why proofread by listening?
• You hear missing or repeated words ("the the").
• Long sentences become obvious when you run out of breath.
• Typos that spell real words (form instead of from) stand out.
• Long sentences become obvious when you run out of breath.
• Typos that spell real words (form instead of from) stand out.
5. Immersive Reader
Go to View → Immersive Reader for a distraction-free reading mode. You can:
• Widen the column width and text spacing.
• Change the page colour to reduce glare.
• Turn on Line Focus to show one, three or five lines at a time.
• Use Syllables to break words up.
• Press Read Aloud from here too.
• Change the page colour to reduce glare.
• Turn on Line Focus to show one, three or five lines at a time.
• Use Syllables to break words up.
• Press Read Aloud from here too.
These are particularly helpful for readers with dyslexia or visual stress.
6. Dictate as well
Read Aloud is text-to-speech. For the opposite — speaking to type — use Home → Dictate.
On a Mac
Review → Read Aloud works in Word for Mac too, or use the Mac's own Spoken Content with Option + Esc.
Troubleshooting
Read Aloud is greyed out. Update Office via File → Account → Update Options → Update Now.
It's reading in the wrong accent. Set the proofing language: Review → Language → Set Proofing Language → English (United Kingdom).
Wrapping up
Press Ctrl + Alt + Space and listen to your document before you send it. It's the easiest proofreading trick there is.
