Using speech-to-text has become a popular way to use dictation on a Mac. It allows you to dictate documents, emails, and even text messages rather than typing them. If you want to try dictation onMacOS, you can use a handy built-in tool, so you don’t need a third-party app or dictation software.
With the dictation feature included in your keyboard settings, you can speak your text in apps like Pages, Notes, and Mail. You can also adjust settings for a keyboard shortcut to activate dictation and the language you speak. Let’s take a look at how to use dictation on a Mac, along with some common commands.
Difficulty
What You Need
Mac computer
Enable dictation on a Mac
The keyboard dictation is a feature that you need to turn on to use.
Step 1:Open yourSystem Preferencesusing the icon in your Dock or the Apple icon in the menu bar, and chooseKeyboard.
Step 2:Select theDictationtab in the keyboard settings.
Step 3:Next to Dictation, pickOn.
Step 4:You’ll see a pop-up message letting you know that what you dictate will be sent to Apple to convert it to text. If you want to continue, clickEnable Dictation. Otherwise, chooseCancel.
Step 5:To use a different language, click theLanguagedrop-down box and either pick a language from the list or selectCustomizeto add one.
Step 6:To use a different keyboard shortcut to turn on dictation, click theShortcutdrop-down box and choose the one you want. you may also set your own keyboard shortcut by selectingCustomizeand entering the combination you want to use.
Step 7:You don’t need a topquality microphonefor dictation, as the Mac’s built-in mic will do. To select a specific microphone for the input, click theDrop-Down Arrowbelow theMicrophoneicon on the left.
When you finish, close the System Preferences window, and you’re set.
Should you choose to turn off keyboard dictation later, return to theKeyboardsettings inSystem Preferencesand selectOffon theDictationtab.
Use dictation on a Mac
Once you have dictation enabled, you can simply use the keyboard shortcut to begin using it.
Step 1:Place your cursor in the app where you want to speak the text.
Step 2:Press the key combination or chooseEdit>Start Dictationfrom the menu bar, and you’ll see a small microphone icon appear on the screen.
Begin speaking, and you’ll see your text appear in the app and the icon fluctuate for volume as you speak.
Step 3:To change the language while you’re dictating, click the current language below the microphone icon and select a new one.
Step 4:To stop using dictation, clickDonebelow the microphone icon, enter the keyboard shortcut, or press yourReturnkey.
Common dictation commands
As you speak your text, you’ll likely need to perform actions like starting a new paragraph and inserting punctuation marks.
Here are some common commands you’ll need:
To include punctuation marks, symbols, and special characters, use the following:
For a complete list, take a look at the Apple support page fordictation commands on Mac.
Whether for convenience or necessity, MacOS makes it easy to dictate what you need. And remember, you canuse dictation on your iPhoneas well as non-Apple software likeMicrosoft Word!
