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This feature is available in the Simplified Chinese, English (U.S.), and Japanese language versions of Microsoft Office. Speech recognition is installed in all Office programs by initially using the feature in Microsoft Word, or by doing a custom installation. For details see, Install and train speech recognition.

You'll save time if you complete dictation first, review your file, and then format text or make corrections. As a result, you'll switch between using Dictation mode and Voice Command mode less often.

1. Position your microphone.

   How

   A high quality close-talk (headset) universal serial bus (USB) microphone with gain adjustment (gain adjustment: A microphone feature that allows your input to be amplified so that it is made louder for use by the system.) support is recommended. For more information, see the Microsoft Office Online Web site.

   Position the microphone so that:

   • It is about an inch, or a thumb's width, to the side of your mouth.

   • It is not directly in front of your mouth, and you are not breathing directly into it.

   Note  If you inadvertently move the microphone as you speak, remember to bring it back to the correct position.

2. Click in the program in which you want to use speech recognition.

   If you open a Help topic while you're working or if a message appears on the screen, click again in the program to continue using speech recognition.

3. On the Language bar, click Microphone if the microphone is not already turned on.

   Note  The Language bar by default shows text labels beside each button on the bar. You can hide or show the text labels by right-clicking the Language bar, and then clicking Text Labels.

4. Switch between Dictation and Voice Command modes as you work:

   Use Dictation mode

   • To turn the words you speak into text, on the Language bar, click Dictation .

     As you speak, you'll see a blue bar on the screen that means the computer is processing your voice. As your words are recognized, text is displayed on the screen.

     You can continue to speak while the computer processes your voice; you don't have to wait until the blue bar disappears to speak again.

     

     Previously recognized text

     Blue bar that indicates the computer is processing your voice

   Note   While the blue bar is on the screen, avoid using your mouse or keyboard to type or take other actions. This will interrupt speech recognition, and your words will not be processed.

   Use Voice Command mode

   • To select menu, toolbar, dialog box (U.S. English only), and task pane (task pane: A window within an Office application that provides commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while still working on your files.) (U.S. English only) items, on the Language bar, click Voice Command .

     For example, to change font format, you can say "font" or "font face" to open the Font box on the Formatting toolbar (toolbar: A bar with buttons and options that you use to carry out commands. To display a toolbar, click Customize on the Tools menu, and then click the Toolbars tab.), and then say a font name.

     Or to format selected text, say "bold" or "underline."

5. Turn the microphone off when you are through speaking to the computer by clicking Microphone on the Language bar.

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