Voice Commands for Editing: Hands-Free Text Editing
Master voice commands for formatting, punctuation, navigation, and editing. Control your text completely hands-free with speech commands for advanced dictation workflows.
Table of Contents
- • Voice Command Overview
- • Punctuation Commands
- • Formatting & Capitalization
- • Navigation Commands
- • Deletion & Correction
- • Special Characters & Symbols
- • Platform Differences
- • Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: November 12, 2025
Voice Command Overview
Voice commands allow you to format, edit, and navigate text without touching the keyboard. Different speech recognition systems support different command sets, but core functionality is similar across platforms.
Browser-Based Commands
Browser voice typing tools typically support basic punctuation commands like "period", "comma", and "new line". Advanced editing requires keyboard or mouse.
Desktop Software Commands
Professional tools like Dragon NaturallySpeaking offer extensive command vocabularies: navigation, selection, formatting, and application control.
Mobile Platform Commands
iOS and Android support punctuation and basic formatting via voice. Commands vary by keyboard app and system settings.
Custom Command Systems
Tools like Talon allow programmers to create completely custom voice command vocabularies tailored to specific workflows and applications.
Works in your browser. No sign-up. Audio processed locally.
Transcript
Tip: Keep the tab focused, use a good microphone, and speak clearly. Accuracy depends on your browser and device.
Punctuation Commands
Say these commands to insert punctuation marks. Most systems recognize natural punctuation speech without requiring "insert" or "add" prefixes.
| Say This | Get This | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| period / full stop | . | Ends sentences |
| comma | , | List separation |
| question mark | ? | Questions |
| exclamation mark / exclamation point | ! | Emphasis |
| colon | : | Lists, definitions |
| semicolon | ; | Clause separation |
| apostrophe | ' | Possessives, contractions |
| quotation mark / open quote / close quote | " | Direct speech |
| hyphen / dash | - | Compound words |
| ellipsis / dot dot dot | ... | Trailing off |
Formatting & Capitalization
Control text structure and capitalization with formatting commands. Availability varies by platform.
Line Breaks
- new line - Single line break
- new paragraph - Double line break
Capitalization
- cap / capital [word] - Capitalize next word
- all caps [phrase] - UPPERCASE phrase
- no caps [phrase] - lowercase phrase
Spacing
- no space - Remove space before next word
- space bar - Explicit space
Numbers
- numeral [number] - Force numeric: "5"
- [number] spelled out - Force word: "five"
Deletion & Correction
Fix mistakes and remove text using deletion commands. Most effective with desktop speech software.
Basic Deletion
- scratch that - Delete last utterance
- backspace - Delete previous character
- delete [phrase] - Remove specific text
- delete previous word - Remove last word
Advanced Deletion
- delete previous [number] words - Remove multiple words
- delete line - Remove entire line
- delete all - Clear document
Correction Commands
- correct [phrase] - Highlight for correction
- undo that - Reverse last action
- redo that - Restore undone action
Special Characters & Symbols
Insert special characters and symbols using voice commands. Support varies by platform.
| Say This | Get This | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| at sign | @ | Email addresses |
| hashtag / pound sign | # | Tags, numbers |
| dollar sign | $ | Currency |
| percent sign | % | Percentages |
| ampersand / and sign | & | Conjunction |
| asterisk / star | * | Lists, footnotes |
| open parenthesis / close parenthesis | ( ) | Grouping |
| open bracket / close bracket | [ ] | Arrays, notes |
| open brace / close brace | Code blocks | |
| slash / forward slash | / | URLs, division |
| backslash | \ | File paths |
| underscore | _ | Variable names |
Platform Differences
Voice command support varies significantly across platforms and software:
Browser Voice Typing
Limited commands: Most browser tools only support basic punctuation. Navigation, selection, and deletion require keyboard/mouse.
Example: Google Docs Voice Typing, VoiceToTextOnline
Dragon NaturallySpeaking
Full command suite: Comprehensive editing, navigation, formatting, and application control. Industry standard for professional dictation.
Windows / Mac (Premium Software)
Windows Speech Recognition
Medium capability: Built-in Windows tool with navigation and editing commands. Free but less accurate than Dragon.
Built into Windows 10/11
Mac Dictation
Basic to enhanced: Standard mode has punctuation only. Enhanced mode (offline) adds some editing commands.
Built into macOS (System Preferences)
iOS Voice Control
Advanced mobile: Comprehensive voice control including navigation, editing, and device control. Best mobile implementation.
iPhone/iPad (Settings → Accessibility)
Android Voice Typing
Punctuation focused: Good punctuation support, limited editing. Varies by keyboard app (Gboard, SwiftKey).
Android devices (varies by manufacturer)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't browser voice typing tools support editing commands?
Browser-based tools use the Web Speech API, which only transcribes audio to text. It doesn't include command interpretation or text manipulation features. For full voice editing, use desktop software like Dragon NaturallySpeaking or system-level voice control (Windows Speech Recognition, Mac Enhanced Dictation).
How do I insert punctuation without it being transcribed as words?
Most speech recognition systems automatically recognize punctuation commands. Say "period" and it inserts "." instead of the word. If your tool types "period" as text, it lacks command support - switch to a better tool or manually type punctuation.
Can I create custom voice commands for specific phrases I use often?
Yes, with professional software. Dragon NaturallySpeaking allows custom voice commands and auto-text shortcuts. Talon (for programmers) offers fully customizable command grammars. Browser tools don't support custom commands.
What's the difference between "delete" and "scratch that"?
"Scratch that" removes your last spoken utterance (typically the last sentence or phrase). "Delete [phrase]" removes specific text you identify. "Scratch that" is immediate undo; "delete" is targeted removal.
Do voice commands work in any application?
It depends on the tool. System-level voice control (Windows Speech Recognition, iOS Voice Control) works across all apps. Dragon works in most applications but with varying command support. Browser-based tools only work within the browser tab containing the voice typing tool.
Related Resources
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