{"id":73166,"date":"2021-04-05T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-05T17:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=73166"},"modified":"2021-04-05T11:40:01","modified_gmt":"2021-04-05T16:40:01","slug":"start-dictation-with-a-word-in-macos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/73166-start-dictation-with-a-word-in-macos\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start Dictation With a Spoken Word in macOS (Then Take Advantage of Its Features)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Dictation<\/strong> feature of macOS allows you to talk where you would type. You can reply to an email, search the web, or write a report using just your voice. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navigate to any text field, activate Dictation<\/strong>, then say what you want to write. Dictation converts your words into\u00a0text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Launching Dictation with a spoken command<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starting with macOS El Capitan and continuing through macOS Big Sur, you can set your Mac so it will begin accepting dictation upon a spoken command. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Open System Preferences<\/strong> and go to Accessibility<\/strong>.<\/li>
  2. Choose Voice Control<\/strong> from the sidebar items at the left.\u00a0<\/li>
  3. Select the microphone<\/strong> you wish to use.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Voice<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    1. Click the \u201cCommands<\/strong>\u201d menu at the bottom of the window (it\u2019s in the lower right).<\/li>
    2. Click the \u201c+<\/strong>\u201d sign to add a new vocal command.<\/li>
    3. Enter \u201cStart dictation<\/strong>\u201d in the blank field.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"Start<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      Setting up Dictation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Now you\u2019ll want to set up the Dictation<\/strong> app to your preferences.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Choose Apple (\uf8ff) menu > System Preferences<\/strong>, click Keyboard<\/strong>, then click\u00a0Dictation<\/strong>. You can enable or disable Dictation and choose the Language you wish to use.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You can also click the \u201cAbout Dictation & Privacy<\/strong>\u201d box to see Apple\u2019s description about how it protects your information. Note that when you dictate text, what you say is sent to Apple to be converted to text. What\u2019s more, other info will be sent as well, such as the names of your contacts, in order to, in Apple\u2019s words, \u201chelp your Mac recognize what you\u2019re saying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"About<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Also, in macOS Sierra and higher, you can\u00a0ask Siri\u00a0to \u201cturn on Dictation\u201d for you. Don\u2019t be confused. Siri isn\u2019t the same as Dictation, but you can\u00a0ask the personal digital assistant to compose short messages, such as email and text messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n

      How to use Dictation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Now that you\u2019re ready to dictate, open a document or text field and put the insertion point at the spot where you want to dictate text. Say \u201cStart Dictation<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You can tell if\u00a0your Mac is listening if it\u2019s showing a microphone in the lower-right corner of your screen. You can drag it to another position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Say the words that you want your Mac to type. The more you use the feature, the more it learns the characteristics of your voice and the better it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      When you\u2019re finished dictating, click \u201cSleep<\/strong>\u201d below the microphone icon or switch to another window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And you can always go back and delete the \u201cStart Dictation<\/strong>\u201d command from the Voice Control Commands<\/strong> option if you no longer wish to use it. Or just turn off Voice Control<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n