Do you wish you could just talk and have your email write itself? You can! When you dictate in Gmail, you can talk to your computer or phone. Then you can watch your words show up on the screen. No typing needed! It is a super fast way to write and send messages.
Why You Should Talk Your Emails in Gmail
Think about writing a very long email. Maybe you were telling a friend a story. Or maybe you were giving big ideas to someone at work. Your fingers might get tired from typing so much. Instead, you could just say the words out loud, like you were talking to them.
This is a great helper for busy people. You can write an email back while you clean your desk. Or you can walk around your room. Your hands are free to do other things.
Get Your Thoughts Out Faster
Have you ever had a great idea, but you forgot it while you were typing? When you dictate in Gmail, your words pop up right away. You can catch your idea before it floats away.
Using your voice also makes your writing sound more like you. This can make your emails feel friendly. Talking your emails is a good way to send them strategies to send emails faster and better. It helps you talk clearly and quickly.
Fun fact: Most people can say about 150 words in one minute. But they can only type about 40 words in one minute. By talking, you could write emails almost four times faster!
A Big Help for Everyone
Talking your emails is not just about being fast. It is a great tool for anyone who finds it hard to type. If your hands hurt when you type, talking is a much easier way.
It also helps you make fewer spelling mistakes. The computer is very good at writing what you say. So you can spend less time looking for mistakes and more time thinking about your message.
Talking Your Emails on Your Computer
Are you ready to talk instead of type at your computer? It is very easy to start. Both Windows and Mac computers have tools for this. I will also show you a special helper for Chrome that makes it even easier.
Getting Started on Windows and Mac
If you have a Windows computer, there is a secret button trick. Just press the Windows key and the H key at the same time. A small box will pop up. It is ready to listen to you. All you do is click in your Gmail email, press those two keys, and start talking.
If you have a Mac computer, you have to turn on a switch first. Go to System Settings, click on Keyboard, and turn on Dictation. After you do that, you can press a key to start talking in Gmail. It is often the picture of a microphone or by tapping the Function key two times.
Here is a cool trick: I don't have to sit at my desk to write an email. I can stand up and walk around while I talk. I can even sort papers. It is a small change that helps a lot.
A Simpler Way with WriteVoice
For an even easier way, a Chrome helper like WriteVoice is a game-changer. What's neat about this tool is that it puts a little microphone button right inside Gmail. You don't have to remember any secret button tricks. You just click the microphone and talk.
Here is what it looks like. The button is right where you need it.
As you can see, the small microphone button is easy to find. You can start talking with just one click.
This way of working is smart. We talk to our phones and smart speakers all the time. People get over 120 emails every day. And people make over 1 billion voice searches every month. So using our voice for email just makes sense. It saves time and helps us do more.
This skill is not just for email. Once you are good at talking to your computer, you can do it for lots of things. Our guide on how to dictate to Google Docs is a great next step: https://www.writevoice.io/blog/how-to-dictate-to-google-docs/
The tools on your computer are good. But if you talk to your computer a lot, you can find other best speech to text software options that can do even more cool things.
Using Voice Typing on Your Phone
Let's be real. Typing long emails on a tiny phone screen is hard. This is when your phone's talking tool is your best friend. It is already on your keyboard, ready to turn your words into text.
On an iPhone or an Android phone, there is a little microphone button on your keyboard. The next time you open the Gmail app to write an email, just tap that microphone and start talking. You will see your words pop up on the screen.
Talking an Email in Real Life
Imagine you are walking to get lunch. You remember you need to send a message to your team. Instead of stopping to type on your phone, you can just dictate in Gmail as you walk. Before you even get to the lunch spot, your email is sent.
This is great for doing two things at once at home, too. If you get a good idea while you are cooking, you don't have to stop and wash your hands. You can just say the email out loud. It makes writing emails feel easy and natural.
Think of your phone's microphone as your helper. It is always ready to turn your thoughts into written words. It's like having a chat, but you get a finished email.
This is not just a little trick. Billions of people talk to their phones and gadgets. There are over 8.4 billion talking gadgets in the world. That's more gadgets than people! And 56% of all voice searches happen on phones. It shows we like to talk to our tech. You can learn more about these voice search trends to see how big this has gotten.
How to Do It on iPhone and Android
Finding the microphone is the only "hard" part, and it's super easy. On an iPhone, you will see the microphone at the bottom of the keyboard. On an Android phone, it is usually at the top of the keyboard.
One tap is all you need to start.
- Tap the microphone button.
- Start talking in a clear voice.
- Tap it again when you are done.
And just like that, your words are in the email. You can read it one more time and then hit send. It is a very easy and strong way to handle all your emails, no matter where you are.
Tips for Talking Your Emails Just Right
Learning to talk to Gmail is like learning a new game. You don't have to talk like a robot. But if you change how you speak just a little, the computer will understand you better. With a little practice, you'll be talking your emails like a pro.
The biggest mistake people make is talking too fast or not speaking clearly. The computer needs you to talk at a normal, steady speed. If you talk too fast, the words get mixed up. Imagine you are leaving a message for a friend on the phone. That is the perfect speed.
You Need to Say the Punctuation Out Loud
This part feels funny at first. But you will get used to it fast. Instead of stopping to type a comma or a period, you just say the word for it.
You can add dots and marks just by saying words like:
- "period"
- "comma"
- "question mark"
- "exclamation point"
- "new line"
- "new paragraph"
Once you learn this, you can write a whole email without touching the keyboard. It is super fast.
To make it easier, here is a small chart with the most common words you will use.
Voice Words for Dots and Marks
What You Want | What You Say |
---|---|
. | "period" |
, | "comma" |
? | "question mark" |
! | "exclamation point" |
A new paragraph | "new paragraph" |
A new line | "new line" |
🙂 | "smiley face" |
🙁 | "sad face" |
😉 | "winky face" |
Keep this chart near you when you start. Soon you will know all these words by heart.
How to Fix Mistakes Without Typing
Sometimes, the computer will not write down 100% of what you said. That's okay! You don't have to stop and grab the mouse to fix it.
If the last thing you said was wrong, just say "undo" or "delete that." This will erase the mistake so you can say it again. This is much faster than using your mouse and the backspace key.
The best part of talking your emails is when it feels easy and smooth. Learning a few words to fix mistakes helps you keep going. You can focus on what you want to say, not on typing.
If you want to be a master at this, you can look at other voice to text software to see what other cool things you can say.
Teach the Computer How to Spell Special Words
Does the computer always get your friend's name wrong (like "Siobhan")? Or does it mess up a special word you use for work? You can teach it.
When the computer makes a mistake with a word, say the word again clearly. Then, use your keyboard to fix it. If you do this a few times, the computer will start to learn your special words. For names you use all the time, this will save you a lot of time later.
Fixing Common Problems with Voice Typing
Let's be honest. Sometimes, talking to your computer doesn't work right away. If you try to dictate in Gmail and nothing happens, don't worry. It is usually an easy fix. You don't need to be a computer expert.
Most of the time, the problem is your microphone. Your computer will ask for your okay before it lets any app listen. If you said "no" by mistake, the tool can't hear you. It's a safety rule that can get in the way sometimes.
Easy Fixes to Talk Without Problems
When your microphone is not working, a few quick checks can help.
- Check your permissions: Go to your computer's settings and find the microphone part. Make sure your web browser, like Chrome, is allowed to use it.
- Find a quiet spot: Does your email have silly words in it? Noise from a TV or a loud room can mix up the computer. Going to a quiet place can help a lot.
- Speak clearly, not loudly: You might want to yell at the microphone when it's not working. But that won't help. Just talk in a normal, clear voice, like you are talking to a friend.
For anyone who talks to their computer a lot, getting the words right is important. Small changes can make a big difference. To learn more, you can read our guide on how to get better speech to text accuracy.
So many people use Gmail. Over 1.8 billion people! Together, they send 121 billion emails every day. That's a lot of emails! It shows why tools like voice typing need to work well. You can discover more fascinating Gmail statistics to see how big it is.
Common Questions About Talking in Gmail
Do you still have questions about using your voice to write emails? Let's answer some common ones.
Can I Talk in Other Languages?
Yes, you can. It is very easy. Most talking tools can understand many languages. You just have to tell the tool what language you are going to speak before you start.
On a Mac computer, you can add more languages in the System Settings. If you use a tool like the WriteVoice Chrome extension, you can pick from a long list of languages with just one click.
Does It Cost Money to Talk My Emails?
Nope, it is free. The talking tools on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS are part of the computer or phone. They don't cost extra.
This means you can start talking your emails right now without paying any money. Even cool helpers that add more features are often free to get.
The best part? You don't need a fancy microphone. The microphone that is already in your laptop or phone is good enough to get clear words.
Is It Safe to Talk My Secrets?
That is a very good question. When you use tools from Apple or Google, your voice is sent to their computers to be turned into words. These companies have strong rules to keep your words safe. But it is always smart to be careful.
Here is my rule: for very secret things like passwords or credit card numbers, it is better to type. For your everyday emails, talking is safe.
Ready to make your emailing faster and easier? WriteVoice turns your spoken words into perfectly formatted text in less than a second. Give it a try for free at https://www.writevoice.io.