A guide to master the power of voice typing in Google Docs

Introduction

In this article, you will explore a guide to master the power of voice typing in Google Docs. Having a guide to master the power of voice typing in Google Docs at your disposal can come in handy. Voice typing is a new technology, rather a feature that enables you to eliminate the hassle of manually typing the words as a user. Instead, with the help of this facility, you can simply narrate what you want to include in the document, and it will be typed in the Google Doc. Now, there are obvious benefits of this system, which include curbing typing-related errors and saving time. For these reasons, it has become popular day by day. With the help of a few simple steps, you can enable the voice typing feature in Google Docs.

How to enable voice typing in Google Docs

1. First, ensure that your microphone works. 
2. Then, open your documents with Google Docs. Use Chrome Browser to launch Docs.
3. Then, go to Tools > Voice typing. 
4. After that, you will find a microphone box. Click that microphone to speak.
5. Next, speak clearly on the microphone.
6. When you're done, click the microphone again. The microphone will change its color to black, which means it has paused. 
7. After you have completed the speaking, again click the microphone.

Benefits of using voice typing in Google Docs

Using voice typing brings in a few advantages for you. Here are the primary ones –

1. By using voice typing in Google Docs, you can save time from excessive and manual typing tasks. As a result, you can free up more time to focus on other significant business-related tasks and strategies. With the help of this technology, you don’t need to sit and type the words; instead, simply narrate them. 
2. As Google Docs voice typing saves more time, it subsequently improves productivity. An average individual can type 35 to 40 words per minute. But, when he/she uses voice typing, this rate increases significantly. As a result, professionals end up saving more time and they are no longer tired after typing for a long time. Curbing the hassle and effort of typing, this technology unlocks more productivity, which ultimately reflects in the increase in business revenue. 
3. The manual process requires typing with keyboards, which is not a feasible option for people with physical disabilities such as visual impairments or non-functional limbs. In this case, voice typing can relieve them from the burden of manual typing. It helps them to complete their typing tasks without spending too much time and effort. Thus, this technique has become helpful for specially-abled individuals. Apart from their daily life, it has also opened new employment opportunities for them. They can set aside their physical limitations and be a part of the workforce, living a dignified life and actively contributing to society.

Tips for effective voice typing in Google Docs

Exploring the advantages of voice typing can transform your way of preparing a document. Today, you can easily voice-type content and get away from the hassle of banging your fingers on the keyboard. But, to harness its true potential, you need to know a few effective tips, and here are they –

• Google Docs voice typing becomes easier with voice commands. These commands help the users to write, format, and edit a document effectively. You can find different categories of commands such as navigation, text selection, adding and editing tables, pausing the typing, and more.
•  You can use the screen reader support feature to type voice in Google Docs. Follow this path to enable this feature - Tools > Accessibility settings.
•  Turn on screen reader support > Ok. This feature helps to read aloud the document.
• It’s crucial to check the health of your microphone before straining the voice typing. The type of devices and microphones varies. Thus, you have to check the microphone settings from System Preferences (Mac) or Control Panel (windows). 

Voice commands and shortcuts for efficient document creation

After starting voice typing in Google Docs, you can use several voice commands to enhance your typing speed. But remember that voice commands are only available in English, so ensure that your account and document language must be English.

Now let’s learn some common voice commands available for voice typing in Google Docs –

1. To select texts

• Select [ mention specific word or phrase]
• Select all
• Select next character
• Select next characters [numbers]
• Select all matching text
• Select last character
• Select last characters [number]
• Select next line
• Select line
• Select next lines [mention the number of the lines] 
• Select last line
• Select last lines[ mention the number of the lines] 
• Select paragraph
• Select next paragraph
• Select last paragraph
• Select word
• Select last word
• Select next word
• Select last words [ mention the number of the words]
• Deselect
• Select next words [mention the number of the words]

2. To edit a document

• Copy
• Paste
• Delete
• Cut
• Delete last word
• Insert bookmark
• Delete [word or phrase]
• Insert equation
• Insert footer
• Insert header
• Insert footnote
• Insert horizontal line
• Insert page break
• Copy link
• Delete link
• Insert comment [then dictate your comment]

3. Text formatting in Voice Typing Google Docs

• Apply normal text
• Bold
• Uppercase
• Lowercase
• Italics
• Apply subtitle
• Italicize
• Underline
• Strikethrough
• Subscript
• Title case
• Apply title
• Apply heading [1–6]
• Superscript

For more voice commands go here.

Also, you can use these shortcuts to access the Google Docs voice typing-

• You can activate voice typing in Google Docs by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+S on Windows.
• To activate voice typing in Google Docs on Mac Cmd+Shift+S.

Voice typing accuracy and ways to improve it in Google Docs

These are the effective ways to improve the accuracy of Google Docs voice typing -

• You should speak prominently and slowly so that Google understands your speech.
• Use a microphone that doesn’t make any additional noise. Also, select a noise-free environment to make your prompts clear and recognizable.
• Use simple language and avoid slang words.
• Before submitting the text, proofread it. It will help you to figure out the errors. 

Voice typing in different languages and accents

Google Docs voice typing works for this language and accents –

Go to this link to learn about more languages and accents for voice typing.

Google Docs voice typing troubleshooting and their solutions

Undoubtedly, voice typing is an excellent tool that enables you to reduce the effort you spend preparing a document. But, the whole process is not trouble-free, so here are the solutions –

The voice command is not working

1. Try to speak slowly and clearly.
2. Verify that Your Google Docs has heard the right command. The microphone shows the most recent command with the bubble container. If you don’t find the right command, simply say ‘Undo’.
3. Pause before and after prompting each command. The command will be shown in the document before selecting a text. 

If your microphone is not working

1. First, check the settings of your microphone on the computer system.
2. Make sure it’s plugged in and that another application does not currently use it.
3. Check that the microphone isn’t broken.
4. Restart the computer and move to a quiet environment.

Voice typing vs. traditional typing: Pros and cons

Pros 

• Due to the interaction of artificial intelligence and machine learning, voice typing has become faster as compared to traditional typing. Instead of typing a certain number of words per minute, you have to speak for voice typing. Thus, the process becomes easier and faster. 
• In traditional typing, you have to be careful about spelling mistakes. You have to rectify the spelling errors manually. However, in voice typing, the speak-to-text devices automatically recognize the correct spelling after you have spoken out the text. Thus, you don’t have to worry about spelling mistakes.

Cons

• The major drawback of this technology is that you have to train the voice recognition software to understand the prompts from an individual's voice. However, some machines still struggle to recognize your voice after having a training session. They fail to figure out similar-sounding words or complex names. As a result, you gain poor experience. 
• These software have limited vocabulary knowledge. They can efficiently understand easy words. But when it comes to fictional or uncommon names, they can’t recognize them. For example, if you’re trying to write ‘Jaymz’, it might be understood as ‘James’. That’s why using voice typing can sometimes become frustrating.

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Conclusion

Hopefully, you have learned everything about voice typing in Google Docs and how it makes your life easy! So, utilize the power of this technology and efficiently complete your tasks. Also, learn about Foresight and automate your regular workloads without any hassle. You can try its 14-day free trial first and later go for a professional subscription package.