Getting started with dictation

Starting a new dictation session

1. Open the application in which you want to dictate.
2. Place the cursor where you want dictation to appear.
3. Position your headset or recording device.
4. Turn on Dragon's microphone.
5. Begin dictating.

Remember to say all punctuation as you dictate – except for some in-word punctuation such as apostrophes and hyphens, Dragon will not insert any punctuation unless you dictate it. For example, if you want to enter the text "Good morning, Mike!" say Good morning comma Mike exclamation point.

Dictation guidelines

• Speak clearly and naturally, at your normal conversational tone and pace.
• Pronounce each word clearly, but in a way that is comfortable for you. If you are not sure how to do this, imagine how a newscaster reads a story and try to copy that style.
• Reduce background noise, as Dragon hears and transcribes everything.
• Pause briefly before and after you dictate punctuation or commands.
• For best recognition, dictate using longer phrases rather than pausing after a each word or every few words. Hearing a whole phrase helps Dragon predict what words you are likely to say in context, which makes it more accurate.

Remember, in most applications, it's better not to use your mouse and keyboard while dictating text. See Dictating and typing for more on how to avoid errors caused by mixing dictation and typing.