For the best results, speak clearly and enunciate.

If you enabled Enhanced Dictation, it will take some time to download, and you won’t be able to use dictation until the download finishes.Īfter it downloads, you can simply double-tap the Function (Fn) button to begin dictating a sentence.

From there, dictation will be enabled, but you can change some of the settings below, like the language and the shortcut that activates dictation.

You’ll immediately receive a pop-up asking if you want to enable Enhanced Dictation, which allows you to use dictation offline without an internet connection, but it does require a hefty download.

Next to Dictation, click the On button to enable the feature.

Follow these steps to turn the feature on and get going.

How to Enable Dictation in OS X YosemiteĮnabling dictation in OS X Yosemite is really easy and simple.

However, dictation is something that’s worth trying if you’ve never used it before, and if you’re not sure if it’s something that you would use regularly, it never hurts to give it a go and see how you like it. Otherwise it can mess some words up and you’ll have to manually go in there and fix it using the keyboard. You have to speak clearly in order for OS X’s dictation to properly convert your speech into text. Specifically, there are some flaws in its accuracy. In some instances, it can be faster than typing, but dictation in OS X Yosemite does have its drawbacks that can make it less convenient. The microphone picks up your voice and translates it into text.

However, in OS X Yosemite, dictation is essentially speech-to-text, and it allows you speak what you would otherwise type. This means that dictation can be all sorts of things, liking jotting down notes in class or writing down ideas that someone shouts out during a business meeting. If you look up the word “dictation” in the dictionary, it means “the action of saying words aloud to be typed, written down, or recorded on tape.” Here’s a brief explainer on what dictation is and how to set it up on your Mac. Luckily, it’s really easy to get it set up and begin using. OS X Yosmite has dictation abilities, but you have to enable the feature first before you can start using it. This is why dictation can be a useful feature on computers. Your wrists can become tired after a long period of typing, which can lead to carpal tunnel and other discomforting effects. The same could be said for any typing in general. It’s a feature that’s especially convenient on the iPhone, as the small on-screen keyboard isn’t exactly ideal for typing out long messages. Just like on the iPhone, Mac users can talk into the microphone and have it translated into text, saving you from having to type out long-winded responses. Typing away on your Mac is second nature, but if you’d rather turn your speech into text instead, here’s how to enable dictation in OS X Yosemite.

Voice type on mac