Tip for the day - Dictation and text reading

Word has been able to accept dictation for a while now but how do you get it to work effectively. Both Apple and windows machines have dictation systems built in. Word has its own dictation feature that seems only to work with Office 365 and word Online. Simply look for the microphone icon on the ribbon at the end of the home menu.

If you have other versions of office

For Windows 10

Simply open a Word document and place the cursor where you wish to add your text and then use the key combination Windows Key+H to start the dictation service, your device must have a microphone of course! 

To stop dictation say the command 'stop dictation'

Word can also read back text, look for the read aloud icon in the review menu or use ALT+Ctrl+SPACE 

For Mac

Setting up Dictation is easy. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, then click Dictation. Turn on Dictation by selecting dictation ON. To start dictating, position the cursor in your document, press the fn key twice, to finish press the fn key once.

Tips

Add punctuation as you speak e.g. enter, comma, full stop.

Keep your dictation short to less than a minute at a time.

TIP for the day: Draw a line in your document the easy way

 I often see people struggling to add lines to their documents in Word so this tip should be a goody if you are one of those

In the sample text below we will add a variety of lines. Each of them is added by simply typing the character three times and pressing the Enter Key

Paragraph panel recap +

 Today we will recap on some skills with the paragraph tool and extend to cover the last remaining options

There is a PowerPoint for you to download for reference in both teams and on the resources part of the blog

Click here to pick up the PowerPoint resource Download it to your computer to gain access to all its features.

Sample Word files

Easy

Tough

Paragraph panel options breakdown

 I hope that this cheat sheet of the paragraph panel options helps everyone. This panel really is one of the backbones of using Word effectively and came long before the more sophisticated styles, themes and tables features. 

However, if you are compiling minutes and reports the features are very important to understand particularly when compiling bulleted or nested multilayer lists. In the sessions on this topic we also deal with quick ways to apply formatting techniques.

Click the panel below to view the document

New video post - using the clipboard panel, cut copy and paste + clipboard history and format painter

 Hi wordies,

I hope that the latest video that I have posted helps you get to grip with the clipboard panel in the home menu. I know that this is all about word but of course the same panel is also found in PowerPoint, Publisher and Excel.

It is always worth reminding you all that the panel is a useful tool but cut, copy and paste have easy to use universal keyboard shortcuts

Select what you want to cut or copy, hold down the Ctrl key on PC ( command on Mac)

Tap X for cut

Tap C for copy 

To paste simply position the cursor in the text then hold down the Ctrl key on PC ( command on Mac) and tap V.

Here is the link to the video

bullets and lists with Microsft Word

Watch the YouTube video above to see how to deal with Bullets. It is not a full version of the tutorial but will deal with some of the more difficult points. Here is a direct link https://youtu.be/LEiCDlFclOk

Wordies tutorials this week and todays tasks

 Hi All,

I am pleased to say that the first part of the Wordies course is progressing well. 

After the tutorial sessions for Word Skills are completed we move on to practical lessons. I will be offering three sessions this week comprising practical word skills. I hope that you are able to take advantage of this opportunity. I you wish to join us please email teachitsussex@gmail.com

Today we deal with the thorny issue of paragraph formatting, bullet lists, tables and line spacing. These techniques should be easy but it is surprisingly common for formatting to go horribly wrong!