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Revising text

In this topic, learn how to use your voice to:

  • Select text
  • Replace existing text
  • Insert text
  • Delete text
  • Copy, cut and paste text

These Dictation mode commands are designed for basic text editing – to correct your own errors or to modify what you dictated.

If what you dictated was not correctly recognized by Dragon, use Correction to improve future recognition. See Using Correction for more information.

When using fully supported applications, such as TextEdit or Microsoft Word 2011 or 2016, you can edit your text manually using your keyboard and mouse if you prefer. If you are using a different application, see Mixing dictation with typing for information on how to avoid errors caused by mixing dictation and typing.

Making a selection

Say: To select:
Select that The last word or phrase you spoke
Select <text> A specified word or phrase

Select next / previous

The next or previous instance of the same text

Select <text> to <text> A range of text from the first word specified through the second word

Select the paragraph

The current paragraph

Select next / previous word The word before or after your cursor
Select next / previous <number> words The specified number of words (between 1 and 99) before or after your cursor
Select all All the text in the document
Unselect that Undo your selection

Dragon defines a "phrase" based on how it detects pauses in your speech.

When you specify a word to select (Select <text>), Dragon selects the nearest instance, based on the location of the cursor. To move to a different instance of the word, say Select next / previous.

Replacing text

  1. Using the Select voice commands above, select the text you want to replace.
  2. Dictate the text you want to use instead.

Inserting text

  1. Place the cursor where you want to insert the text. For example, say Insert before <text>. or Insert after the paragraph.
  2. Dictate the text.

Deleting text

To delete the last thing you said

Say one of the following:

  • Scratch that
  • Delete that
  • Undo that
  • Undo dictation

To delete a specific word or string of words

  • Say Scratch word to delete the word to the left of your cursor.
  • Say Delete <text> to delete a specified word or phrase.
  • Say Delete next or Delete previous to delete the next or previous instance of the same text.
  • Say Delete <text> to <text> to delete from the first word specified through the second word.
  • Say Delete selection to delete the selected text.
  • Say Delete the paragraph to delete the entire paragraph.

Copying, cutting and pasting text

To cut text

  • Say Cut <text> to cut a specified word or phrase.
  • Say Cut selection to cut the selected text.
  • Say Cut that to cut the last word or phrase you spoke.
  • Say Cut the paragraph to cut the entire paragraph.

To copy text

  • Say Copy <text> to copy a specified word or phrase.
  • Say Copy selection to copy the selected text.
  • Say Copy that to copy the last word or phrase you spoke.
  • Say Copy the paragraph to copy the entire paragraph.

To paste text

  • Say Paste from clipboard or Paste it here.