Dictation overview

You can use Dragon to dictate text into most Windows applications in just three steps.

  1. Open the application you want to use.
  2. Click inside the window or field where you want to dictate.
  3. Turn on Dragon's microphone and speak!

The procedures for many text types below assume you have configured Auto-Formatting options. For more information, see About Auto-Formatting rules and Auto-Formatting dialog box.

If you dictate specific text frequently, you can create custom auto-text commands to insert a specific block of text into your dictation. For more information, see MyCommands Editor—Auto-Text.

Text Type

Examples

To dictate punctuation:

Say the punctuation at the appropriate places in your dictation.

If you don't know the spoken form for specific punctuation, open the Vocabulary Editor and search for it. For more information, see Vocabulary Editor dialog box.

Note: You can automatically add periods and commas as you dictate by selecting the Automatically add commas and periods option in the Auto-Formatting dialog box.

Say: We're going to the park comma then for ice cream period would you like to come question mark

Result: We're going to the park, then for ice cream. Would you like to come?

Quotes

You can put quotes around text using the "Quote That" or "Quote Selection" commands.

To dictate quotes:

  1. Dictate text.
  2. Say "Quote That".

Or

  1. Say "Select <text>".

    The Correction menu opens.

  2. Say "Quote Selection".

Example 1:

Say: Don't find fault comma find a remedy period

Say: Quote That

Result: "Don't find fault, find a remedy."

Example 2

Sample text: My Mom said, my kids are my life.

Say: Select my kids are my life

Say: Quote Selection

Result: My Mom said, "my kids are my life".

Special characters

Most special characters are already in Dragon's vocabulary. If you don't know the spoken form for a specific special character, open the Vocabulary Editor and search for it. For more information, see Vocabulary Editor dialog box.

To dictate special characters:

Say the special characters at the appropriate places in your dictation.

 

Say: Copyright sign Nuance Communications 2015

Result: © Nuance Communications 2015.

Proper names

Most common names are already in Dragon's vocabulary. If you frequently dictate a proper name that Dragon doesn't recognize, you can add it to Dragon's vocabulary. For more information, see Adding words and phrases to your vocabulary.

To dictate proper names:

Say the name. Dragon capitalizes the name automatically.

 

Say: James is going to Boston tomorrow period

Result: James is going to Boston tomorrow.

Hyphenated words

Most common hyphenated words are already in Dragon's vocabulary. You can add hyphens to other words by saying "Hyphen".

To dictate hyphenated words:

Say the word. Dragon hyphenates the word automatically.

Or

Say the word, saying "Hyphen" at the appropriate place.

Or

  1. Say "Select <text>".

    The Correction menu opens.

  2. Say "Hyphenate That".

 

Example 1

Say: cross country

Result: Cross-country

Example 2

Say: power hyphen sharing

Result: power-sharing

Example 3

Say: Amy Miller Smith

Say: Select Miller Smith

Say: Hyphenate That

Result: Amy Miller-Smith

Compound words

Most common compound words are already in Dragon's vocabulary. You can compound other words using the "Compound That" command.

To dictate compound words:

Say the words. Dragon compounds the words automatically.

Or

  1. Say the words.
  2. Say "Compound That".

Or

  1. Say "Select <text>".

    The Correction menu opens.

  2. Say "Compound That'.

Example 1

Say: firefighter

Result: Firefighter

Example 2

Say: power user

Say: Compound That

Result: poweruser

Example 3

Say: power user

Say: Select power user

Say: Compound That

Result: poweruser

Abbreviations

Most common abbreviations are already in Dragon's vocabulary. If you frequently dictate an abbreviation that Dragon doesn't recognize, you can add it to Dragon's vocabulary. For more information, see Adding words and phrases to your vocabulary.

To dictate abbreviations:

Say the abbreviation. Dragon abbreviates the word automatically.

Say: mister james brown

Result: Mr. James Brown

Acronyms

Most common acronyms are already in Dragon's vocabulary. If you frequently dictate an acronym that Dragon doesn't recognize, you can add it to Dragon's vocabulary. For more information, see Adding words and phrases to your vocabulary.

To dictate acronyms:

Say the acronym. Dragon formats it automatically.

Say: The C E O will address the company tomorrow period

Result: The CEO will address the company tomorrow.

 

Related procedures

Additional information

Dictation basicsAbout Auto-Formatting rules
Dictating numbersDictation guidelines
Dictating email addresses and web addressesAbout adding words and phrases to your vocabulary
Dictating bullet points or numbered listsUsing the Dictation Box
Dictating punctuation and special characters