How to use Dictate in Microsoft Word
In Word, go to Home → Dictate, wait for it to start listening, and speak. Dictate is included with a Microsoft 365 subscription and needs an internet connection. Without a subscription, use Windows voice typing or Mac Dictation instead.
Start Dictate
- Open a document while signed in to Microsoft 365.
- Select Home → Dictate.
- Wait for the button to turn on and start listening, then speak.
- Select Dictate again, or say "stop dictation", to stop.
On a Mac, you can also start with Option + F1. To resume after a pause, Microsoft documents the shortcut Alt + `.
Settings
Select the gear icon on the dictation toolbar:
- Spoken language: Dictate starts in the document's language.
- Microphone: choose which mic to use.
- Auto punctuation: add punctuation automatically, where the language supports it.
- Filter sensitive phrases: masks potentially sensitive words with ***.
Languages
Full support, including punctuation and commands, is available for English (Australia, Canada, India, UK, US), Chinese (China), French (Canada, France), German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish (Spain, Mexico). Around 35 more languages are in preview, with lower accuracy and limited punctuation.
Editing and formatting by voice
In English you can delete, select, format and build lists by voice:
- "Delete that" or "scratch that"
- "Bold last three words"
- "Create bullet list"
- "Add comment check this figure"
See the full list on the Word dictation commands page.
Privacy
Microsoft says Dictate sends your audio to its speech service to be converted into text, and that the audio isn't stored.
Don't have Microsoft 365?
The free dictation built into your computer works in Word too. Press Windows + H on Windows, or use Mac Dictation. Or dictate in the free online tool and paste the text into Word.