Note that web-based voice recognition and voice-to-text recognition apps all require a permanent internet connection in order to work.

In these reviews, we’ve looked at a combination of offline and online dictation software that can be used on a Mac. You can read more about dictating on Mac in our guide on how to dictate on Mac. Siri also only works for US English and you need to be online to use it although there is a way to dictate offline in macOS Catalina, Big Sur & Monterey including on Apple Silicon M1 Macs. Siri is still mainly designed as a personal assistant to launch apps, answer questions and generally speed-up your workflow on a Mac rather than dictation although with macOS Big Sur and Catalina, Apple is moving Siri closer towards being a more professional dictation software. However, although Siri doesn’t do a bad job of transcribing text, using Siri to dictate on a Mac is nowhere near as accurate as professional dictation software. Since macOS Catalina including Big Sur and Monterey, you can dictate on a Mac using Siri.

Dictating cuts down on scribbled notes on pieces of paper if you want to go paperless.

It’s more confidential than dictating notes to a secretary or colleague.

It’s an especially good way for creative writers to get all their ideas down on paper without editing along the way.

It prevents you forgetting ideas that you meant to type out later.

You can note down things hands free (for example when cooking, eating, doing the laundry etc).

Other keyboard related injuries on the rise include Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Quadriplegia. Excessive typing is one of the most common reasons for repetitive strain injury on hands and the more people type on both keyboards and mobile phones, the bigger the problem is getting.

It increases productivity as you can talk much faster than you can type.

There are many reasons to use dictation software on your Mac but some of the most important ones are: Text to speech is already in everything from Siri to Google Docs although professional dictation software like Dragon Dictate offer much greater accuracy as they actually learn how you talk. However, most people can speak up to 4000 words in the same time period – that equals a massive potential increase in your productivity especially if you’re having to tediously document business operations. The average person can type anything up to 1000 words in half an hour.

Dictation Microphones To Enhance Recognitionĭictation software enables your Mac to translate spoken words into written text which enables you to write much more than typing alone.

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