How do you start a new line with Mac dictation?

Say "new line" to start a new line, and "new paragraph" to start a new paragraph. Mac Dictation does not type those words. It turns them into a line break or a paragraph break. Apple describes the two phrases as the same as pressing the Return key once and twice ¹, so the result is what you would get from the keyboard.

The phrases are part of Apple's list of formatting commands for Dictation. This answer uses Apple's Mac Help page on Dictation and its command list, read on 16 October 2026 for macOS 27.

Say "new line" for one break and "new paragraph" for two

The two phrases produce two different breaks. "New line" starts a new line, and "new paragraph" starts a new paragraph ². In a document, a new line moves the cursor down one line. A new paragraph leaves a blank line between the two blocks of text, which is what Return twice gives you.

Say the phrase at the point where the break belongs. Dictate the words that end the line, then say "new line", then carry on. Dictation keeps going after the break, so you do not need to stop and start again.

The break appears when you finish dictating, so check the text afterwards

Apple's page says the new line or new paragraph "appear when you're done dictating" ³. Do not expect the cursor to jump to a new line while you are still speaking. Finish the paragraph, stop Dictation, and then read the text.

To stop, press the Escape key, the Microphone key if your Mac has one, or the Dictation shortcut ⁴. Dictation also stops on its own when it hears no speech for 30 seconds ⁵, so a long pause to think can end the session before your break appears. Start Dictation again and carry on from where you stopped.

Pressing Return during dictation may work on Apple silicon Macs

A search for "mac dictation press enter" usually means the Return key. Apple's Dictation page says that on a Mac with Apple silicon, "you can still use the keyboard while you speak" ⁶. That note covers the keyboard in general. It does not name the Return key, so the page does not confirm that Return inserts a line break during dictation.

The spoken command is the one Apple documents. If you want a Return press instead, test it in the app you use before you rely on it. The keyboard note names Apple silicon only. We found no statement on Intel Macs, so an Intel Mac needs its own test.

The same phrases work on iPhone, but the other commands differ

On iPhone, saying "new line" or "new paragraph" also adds a line break during Dictation ⁷. The break phrases match across the two devices. Other commands do not, so a list written for iPhone can fail on a Mac. Our full list of Mac dictation commands sets out which phrase belongs to which device.

If you have turned on Voice Control, standard Dictation is switched off, and Voice Control handles the text ⁸. The Voice Control command page we read does not list "new line" or "new paragraph". Use Voice Control's own commands for layout if you work that way, and check its list on your Mac.

What to do

1. Start Dictation in the app where you are typing. Our guide to how to use Dictation on a Mac covers the start keys.
2. Dictate the words that end the line, then say "new line". For a blank line between paragraphs, say "new paragraph".
3. Keep dictating. Stop with Escape, then check where the breaks landed before you move on.
4. If you want a keyboard Return during dictation, test it first on your Mac, especially on an Intel model.

For the other way to shape dictated text, read how to delete a word with Mac dictation. If your dictated lines need marks as well, see does Mac dictation add punctuation automatically and how to say a question mark when dictating. Each voice command is a spoken phrase that the software reads as an instruction rather than as text. For the whole Mac section, see Dictation on Mac.