Official documentation
Using dictation (Dictate Help, Microsoft Word)
Microsoft Support, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- Microsoft's help page for Dictate in Word on Windows and the web. It lists the punctuation, editing, formatting and list commands, and it says that corrections cannot yet be made fully by voice.
- How much weight it carries
- Official Microsoft documentation, read on 2026-10-16. It labels some commands as preview, and it says the command set may change. The page lists commands for several languages, and only the English list is used here.
Facts taken from this source
- Microsoft's Dictate Help says that on Windows you use Alt + ` (backquote) to toggle the microphone, so a stray press of that key can turn dictation off.
“On Windows, use Alt + ` (backquote) to toggle the mic” (Using dictation, step 3 tip)
- Microsoft says corrections cannot be made fully with voice in Word dictation, so some fixes still need suggestions or the keyboard.
“At the moment, corrections cannot be made fully with voice.” (Making corrections)
Pages that rest on this source
- What is the keyboard shortcut for Dictate in Word on Windows?Question
- Why does Word dictation keep stopping?Question
- Dictation and Voice Typing: How to Talk Instead of TypeTopic
- Dictation Commands: How to Edit and Format by VoiceGuide
- How do you correct a misheard word by voice?Question
- How do you proofread dictated text?Question