🎤 Voice to Text: Say It, Don’t Type It

Let’s talk dictation—aka, letting your brain speak for itself.

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

Typing can be tedious, and handwriting? Even slower. For neurodivergent folks—especially those with ADHD, dysgraphia, or executive functioning challenges—dictation tech can be a total game-changer. Whether you’re drafting a blog post, capturing a thought before it disappears, or just too tired to type, voice to text tools can help you keep up with your own mind.

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🧠 Why Dictation Helps

Our brains often move faster than our fingers. Dictation bridges that gap. It’s like having a personal assistant jot things down as you think out loud.

Historically, dictation was the domain of detectives and doctors muttering into handheld recorders. Now, it's baked right into our phones, laptops, and browsers—with far more accuracy and accessibility than ever before.

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❓ What is Dictation?

Dictation is the process of speaking aloud and having your words transcribed into text. Thanks to modern tech, this often happens in real time and across all sorts of devices—no special equipment required.

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🛑 One Quick Note: Proofread

Voice-to-text isn’t perfect. Expect weird typos—especially with names, background noise, or fast talking. A quick skim edit can make a huge difference. Think of dictation as a messy first draft you can polish later.

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🛠️ Dictation Tools to Try

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💻 In-Built Software

🪟 Microsoft Dictate (Windows)
Found in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and more.
Hit Win + H to activate voice typing in almost any text box, even in your browser or email.
➡️ How to use Microsoft Voice Typing

🍏 Apple Dictation (iOS & macOS)
Tap the mic icon on your keyboard. For longer dictation sessions, enable Enhanced Dictation under System Settings.
You can also use Voice Memos to record audio and come back to it later—helpful for low-energy communication.
➡️ How to use Apple Dictation

🤖 Android Voice Typing
Look for the mic icon on your keyboard. Works in most apps.
You can also use Google Assistant to capture notes via voice.

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🌐 Browser-Based Dictation

The following are some simple, browser-based dictation note-takers:

• Dictation.io – Free
  Simple and works best in Chrome. Just press the mic and start speaking.

• Speechnotes – Free (with optional premium upgrade)
  A popular, feature-rich online notepad that autosaves your dictated notes. Great for journaling or long-form writing.

• Voice Notebook – Free (with optional paid features)
  Lightweight and designed for quick dictation. Offers offline mode (Chrome only) and customisable voice commands.

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📱 Apps for Dictation

• Voice Dream – Paid (one-time purchase)
  Combines text-to-speech and dictation features. Excellent for accessible reading and capturing thoughts.

• Google Keep – Free
  Includes voice notes that automatically convert to text. Syncs across devices. Ideal for quick notes and task lists.

• Just Press Record (iOS) – Paid (one-time purchase)
  One-tap audio recording with optional transcription. Works on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

• Dragon Anywhere (iOS/Android) – Paid (subscription-based)
  High-accuracy professional-grade voice to text with customisable voice commands. Great for heavy or enterprise users.

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🧩 When to Use Dictation

• Brain-dumping ideas when you're low on energy or overwhelmed

• Journaling without the pressure to format or type

• Writing first drafts of emails, posts, or essays

• Capturing thoughts before they vanish

• Messaging hands-free

• Processing emotions out loud before writing them down

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⚠️ What Dictation Can’t Do (Yet)

Dictation isn’t magic. It won’t organise your thoughts or make your writing coherent on its own. It’s a great starting point, but don’t skip the editing phase—especially if you're writing something important or professional.

Also, while it can replace typing, it shouldn’t replace thoughtful communication. Be mindful of tone when sending voice memos or dictated messages—especially if you’re prone to rambly tangents (hi, ADHD friends 👋).

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💬 Final Thoughts

Dictation = underrated ADHD-friendly tech.
It’s fast, hands-free, and built into most devices. Use it to stay ahead of your own thoughts, then polish later.

✨ Coming next: a deeper dive into transcription tools.

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