Before You Use Google Docs Speech-to-Text

Before you get started using dictation in Google Docs, you’ll need to make sure you’re using Google Docs on a Chrome browser. Although you can use the speech-to-text feature of the Google keyboard on a mobile device, it’s not as fully featured as voice typing in Google Docs on Chrome. You also need to make sure the microphone on your computer is enabled and is working properly. For most microphones on Windows computers you’ll find the microphone settings under settings system sound. For microphones on Mac computers, those options are in system preferences sound input.

How to Use Voice Typing in Google Docs

Google Docs voice typing works in over 100 languages. If you’re not sure if it will work in your language, you can check the Google Docs support page to find a full listing of available languages. To use Google Docs voice typing:

Tips for Using Speech-to-Text in Google Docs

Google Docs speech-to-text is easy to get started using, but if you really want to use it to its fullest potential, there are a few things you should know.

Windows: Ctrl+Shift+SMac: Command+Shift+S

If the microphone doesn’t have the circle around it, but it’s still orange, it’s idle and ready to capture speech. If the microphone is gray it is deactivated; click it once to activate it, and then begin speaking.

Correcting mistakes: If you make a mistake or if Google Docs hears you incorrectly, highlight the mistake, and with the microphone activated say the correct word. Do this often, and Google Docs will learn you speech patterns.Using suggested alternatives: While using Google Docs voice typing, words underlined in gray have suggested alternatives. If the word that was recorded is incorrect and it has the gray underline, click the word and (if correct) select the suggested alternate.Using commands: Some commands, such as those used for editing documents, are only available in the English language. Punctuation only works in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Russian.

Using Google Docs Voice Typing Commands

To get the most from using Google Docs voice typing, you should use the commands that are available to help when creating and editing documents. Some of the most basic (and most useful) commands are for basic formatting and navigating your document.

To navigate around your document, say any of these commands:

“Go to the end of the paragraph"“Move to the end of the paragraph"“Go to the end of the line"“Move to the end of the line"“Go to [word]““New line"“New paragraph”

Formatting Commands

The formatting commands that are available include a rich selection of capabilities. You can say:

“Apply heading [1-6]““Apply Bold"“Apply italics"“Decrease font size"“Increase font size"“Create bullet/numbered list” (After each line say “New line,” and at the end of the list say “New line” twice to end the list.)

Get Voice Typing Help

There’s a long list of commands available to use with Google Docs voice typing. The easiest way to access those commands is to use a voice command such as:

“Voice typing help"“Voice command list"“See all voice commands”

Additional Accessibility Options

For those who may need additional accessibility options, there’s also a Speak function available in Google Docs that can be used to have Docs speak to you to share information for everything from reading what’s been typed to telling you the location of your cursor or the style of formatting that’s been applied to a selection of text. You’ll need to turn on screen reader support and then can use these commands to assist with voice typing:

“Speak cursor location"“Speak from cursor location"“Speak selection"“Speak selection formatting”