Word Dictation: A Faster Way to Write

If typing isn’t your favourite part of running a business, I have some good news. The Word dictation feature has been quietly getting better for years, and it’s now useful for everyday work. Instead of typing out your next email or document, you simply talk, and Word turns it into text.

I’ll be honest with you upfront: it’s not perfect. But it’s come a long way, and for a lot of small business owners, it’s a real time-saver. Let me show you how it works.

Where to find dictation in Word

You’ll find the Dictate button on the Home tab, right at the far end of the ribbon. It’s the little microphone icon. Click it, and Word starts listening.

The Word dictation feature button shown on the Home ribbon in Microsoft Word

One tip before you start: if you’ve got a headset with a microphone, use it. Word will pick up your voice far more accurately than it will through a laptop’s built-in mic, especially if you’re in a busy office or working from a coffee shop.

Getting started with dictation

Before you click that microphone, make sure your cursor is sitting exactly where you want the text to appear. Word will start typing from wherever the insertion point is, so if you’re adding a paragraph halfway through a document, click there first.

Once you’re ready, click Dictate and just start talking. Word will pick up most of what you say and update the text as you go.

Active dictation toolbar in Word while using voice to text

Screenshot suggestion: Word document mid-dictation, showing the dictation toolbar active.
ALT text: Active dictation toolbar in Word while using voice to text

Learning the commands

Here’s the bit that catches most people out. Dictating isn’t quite the same as typing. You need to speak your punctuation, too.

Saying “full stop” adds a full stop. Saying “new line” moves you down a line, and “new paragraph” gives you a bit more space. It feels odd at first, especially if you’re used to typing where your fingers do this automatically. Give yourself a little time to get used to it, and it’ll start to feel more natural.

Why editing afterwards matters

This is probably the most important tip I can give you: always go back and check what you’ve dictated. Dictation isn’t flawless, and it will sometimes mishear a word or miss a bit of punctuation.

I suggest a two-pass review.

Immediately after you’ve finished dictating, or even take a pause if that won’t derail your thoughts. Read through it. You’re checking for punctuation, that it caught the right words. You’re not editing the text but while you remember what you said checking that it got it right.

Then step away for a few minutes before you come back to really edit. If you check it immediately, you tend to read what you meant to say rather than what’s actually on the page. A short break gives you fresh eyes and you’ll spot the errors much more easily.

Does it work in Word on the web?

Yes, it does, and it works in exactly the same way. You’ll find the same Dictate button under the Home tab, and it switches on and off just as smoothly as it does in the desktop version. So whether you’re working from your main computer or logged in through a browser, you’ve got the same option available.

Dictate button available in Word on the web version of Microsoft 365

Worth a try

If typing isn’t your thing, or you simply find it easier to think out loud, dictation could genuinely help. It won’t get everything right, but with a bit of practice and a proper edit afterwards, it can save you real time. Give it a go on your next email or document, and see how you get on.

Thinking out loud tip: Use the dictation/record feature in an AI Assistant. You can talk, it will listen and transcribe. Unlike Word (unless you have a version of Copilot) it can take your ramblings and try to make it into something better.

Created with the help of Claude AI from an original transcript.