How to Use Microsoft Office by Talking Instead of Typing

Author Info

Last Updated: June 6, 2025

• Mac
|
• Windows
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Things You'll Need

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Whether it's a broken keyboard or a broken finger, you can still produce that document using these steps and Microsoft Office.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Mac

1. 
   1
   Open System Preferences.
2. 
   2
   Go to 'Dictation and speech'
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3. 
   3
   Select 'Turn on Dictation
4. 
   4
   Open Microsoft Word
5. 
   5
   Press the Function (fn) key twice
6. 
   6
   Start speaking
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Windows

1. 
   1
   Right click on the desktop
2. 
   2
   Select 'Personalize'
3. 
   3
   Click 'Control Panel Home'
4. 
   4
   Select 'Ease of Access' and click 'Start Speech Recognition'
5. 
   5
   Take the tutorial. After you've finished, open Microsoft Word
6. 
   6
   Click the microphone icon at the top of the screen. Start speaking
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  How do I get my speech recognition box back?

  

  Community Answer

  Go to "insert," then "speech recognition box."

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Tips

• Speak loudly and clearly.
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  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Macs only: Dictation automatically gets used to your voice.
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Things You'll Need

• OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion or Windows 7/8
• Microphone attached to computer (laptops and notepads may have one)
• Microsoft Office (Any Version)