Siri dictation guide

Dictation can be used on any Apple device with Siri installed. From the iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers, through to the HomePod and Apple Watch.

Dictation can be used instead of a keyboard for entering text into many default and third-party apps.

Below is a visual guide listing many of the most popular dictation commands you can use with Siri. Ideal if you want to try text dictation on your device for sending messages, emails, or taking notes.

If you’ve used any kind of voice recognition software before, many of these commands will be familiar.

Enable dictation on your iPhone

Ensure Dictation is turned on by opening the Settings app and tapping Keyboard > Enable Dictation. The switch should be toggled to the On position.

How to dictate text using Siri

You can trigger dictation by using the “Hey Siri” voice command or by tapping the microphone icon at the bottom right of your device’s keyboard when it is active.

Hey Siri, dictate a text message

If you specify a specific task that involved a particular app, Siri will automatically ask you what you want to say without the need to mention dictation.

Hey Siri, send an email to my sister

As you talk, the words you speak appear on the screen. To finish your dictation, stop speaking, then tap the keyboard button iPhone keyboard.

Making dictation corrections

If Siri isn’t sure about a word it heard, a blue line will appear underneath it, then you can check it for accuracy.

• To make a correction, tap on the underlined word, then select the correct spelling.
• To replace a word, double-tap it, tap the microphone button, say it again, then tap the keyboard button to stop dictation.
• To replace a section, select what you want to replace, then tap the microphone button and speak again, then tap the keyboard button to stop dictation.
• To add more text, tap where you want to add new text, tap the microphone button, then speak again, then tap the keyboard button to stop dictation.

Deleting text using Siri dictation

Dictation on iOS doesn’t include a way to delete letters, words, or lines of text. However, from iOS 13 upwards, an accessibility feature called Voice Control can be enabled. This opens up many more ways to communicate with your iPhone verbally, one of them being the ability to delete text while dictating.

To enable Voice Control:

• Open Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control.
• Toggle to On.

How to change the dictation language

To change the language that dictation uses on your iPhone, press and hold the microphone button when the keyboard is showing, then slide your finger up to select the language you want to use.

Siri Dictation Commands List

When dictating, you can include punctuation and formatting by saying what you want as you speak. For example:

Hi Jane comma I will be there soon exclamation mark

…becomes…

Hi Jane, I will be there soon!

Basic formatting

Punctuation

Symbols

Emoji