Official documentation
Dictation guidelines (Dragon for PC, version 15 help)
Nuance Communications (Dragon help), 2015
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- The official Dragon help page of guidelines for speaking to dictation software: speak at a normal conversational pace, keep a consistent speed and volume, pause briefly around punctuation, and dictate in longer phrases rather than single words.
- How much weight it carries
- Vendor documentation for a Dragon version released several years ago, so details may not match the current product. The advice on pace, phrase length and pauses is general to dictation software, and the page is the vendor's own guidance for its product.
Facts taken from this source
- Nuance's Dragon guidelines say that, unless the user tells Dragon to stop listening, it records everything it hears, including a phone conversation or a coworker's talk.
“unless you tell Dragon to stop listening, it records everything it hears, including:” (Dictation guidelines, section on listening)
- Nuance's Dragon guidelines recommend dictating using longer phrases rather than short phrases or individual words, because hearing a whole phrase helps the software predict what you say.
“dictate using longer phrases rather than short phrases or individual words” (Dictation guidelines, list of tips)
- Nuance tells Dragon users to speak clearly and naturally at a normal conversational tone and pace, and to dictate with a consistent speed and volume.
“Speak clearly and naturally, at your normal conversational tone and pace. Dictate with a consistent speed and volume.” (Dictation guidelines, list of tips)
- Nuance's Dragon guidelines tell users to pause briefly before and after dictating punctuation.
“Pause briefly before and after you dictate punctuation.” (Dictation guidelines, list of tips)
- Nuance's Dragon guidelines tell users to reduce background noise, because Dragon hears and transcribes everything.
“Reduce background noise, as Dragon hears and transcribes everything.” (Dictation guidelines, list of tips)
Pages that rest on this source
- Dictation Software: How to Choose the Right AppTopic
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking: What It Is and Where It StandsGuide
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking Alternatives, Free and PaidGuide
- Legal Dictation Software for Lawyers and Law FirmsGuide
- Dictation and Background Noise: Where and How to DictateGuide
- Does Dragon NaturallySpeaking need an internet connection?Question
- Is Dragon NaturallySpeaking worth it?Question
- What is the best legal dictation software?Question
- Dictation and Voice Typing: How to Talk Instead of TypeTopic
- How to Dictate: Techniques for Clean, Usable TextGuide
- How to Use Dragon NaturallySpeaking: Setup to CommandsGuide
- Do you need to train dictation software to your voice?Question
- How do you get dictation to spell names correctly?Question
- How do you improve dictation accuracy?Question
- How do you practice dictation?Question
- Why does dictating feel so awkward at first?Question
- Can you dictate in a noisy room?Question
- Can you whisper to dictation software?Question
- How close should the microphone be when you dictate?Question
- How do you improve Mac dictation accuracy?Question
- Does Dragon NaturallySpeaking use AI?Question
- How do you say a question mark in talk to text?Question
- How do you stop saying um when you dictate?Question
- Is Dragon NaturallySpeaking good for dyslexia?Question