What dictation commands work in Windows 10?

Windows 10 dictation understands a short set of spoken commands. The ones most people need are "Delete that" or "strike that" to delete the last dictated text, "Select that" to select it, "Start spelling" before a letter or symbol, and "Stop dictation" to stop. Microsoft says these commands are available in US English only, so the rest of this page assumes you dictate in that language. The commands are a different set from the Windows 11 voice typing commands, and some phrases do not match.

Dictation commands on Windows 10 work only in US English

Microsoft says "Dictation commands are available in US English only" ¹. Windows 10 dictation takes speech in 13 language variants: US English, plus 12 that Microsoft lists for basic text, symbols, letters and numbers ². In those other languages you can dictate words, symbols and numbers, but the commands on this page do not respond. If you dictate in English (United Kingdom), for example, you get text but none of the commands on this page.

The commands delete, select, spell and stop

Microsoft's Windows 10 table lists the commands below. Its first row deletes the most recent dictation result or the currently selected text, with "Delete that" or "strike that" ³.

For letters and symbols, say "start spelling" first, then the symbol or letter, or use the ICAO phonetic alphabet ⁴. Microsoft's Windows 10 section also says you stop dictating at any time by saying "Stop dictation" ⁵.

Dictation starts with Windows logo key + H and needs the internet

On Windows 10, you select a text field and press the Windows logo key + H to open the dictation toolbar ⁶. Dictation also needs the internet. Microsoft says "To use dictation, your PC needs to be connected to the internet" ⁷. If the commands seem to do nothing, check the connection first, then the phrase.

Windows 10 is past support, so plan for Windows 11

Windows 10 reached the end of support on October 14, 2025 ⁸. If you are still on Windows 10 and need a wider set of commands, plan for Windows 11. Its Voice Access commands guide covers the command list in that tool.

It depends on the language, the connection and the Windows version

• Language: only US English gets the commands on this page. Other English locales and other languages get text.
• Connection: Windows 10 dictation needs the internet, so an offline PC cannot use it.
• Windows version: this answer covers Windows 10 only. Windows 11 uses different phrases in some places, and its voice typing commands and punctuation guide lists them.

What to do

1. Check the language you dictate in. If it is not US English, use the keyboard for edits.
2. Select a text field, press the Windows logo key + H, and dictate.
3. After a mistake, say "Delete that" or "strike that", then dictate the replacement.
4. To spell a name or a symbol, say "start spelling", then the letters, then "stop spelling".
5. Say "Stop dictation" when you have finished.

For the set-up steps, read how do you use dictation on Windows 10?. For the languages the system supports, see which languages Windows 10 dictation supports. The voice typing glossary entry explains the tool these commands belong to, and dictation on Windows covers the rest of the tools.