Use Immersive Reader In Word Desktop
Open your Word document.
Select the View tab, then select Immersive Reader . Immersive Reader will launch a full screen experience.
Choose the Immersive Reader options that work for you from the ribbon.
Once you click in your Word document to read or edit, the Immersive Reader ribbon will minimize. To make the ribbon visible so you can change Immersive Reader settings or close Immersive Reader, select the … at the top of the screen.
Column Width changes line length to improve focus and comprehension.
Page Color can make text easy to scan with less eye strain.
Line Focus removes distractions so that you can move through a document line by line. Adjust the focus to put one, three, or five lines in view at a time.
Text Spacing increases the spacing between words, characters, and lines.
Syllables shows breaks between syllables, to improve word recognition and pronunciation.
Read Aloud highlights each word as it reads your document to you.
-
Select the Settings icon, then:
-
Drag the Reading speed control to adjust reading speed. Move to the right to increase speed and to the left to decrease it. Press Play to hear the different speeds.
-
Use the Voice Selection dropdown menu to choose different voices for the reader. Select a voice and then press Play to hear it.
Select X to close Read Aloud
Tip: Get directly to Read Aloud by right clicking anywhere in your document and selecting Read Aloud.
How To Make Word Speak A Document
You can supervise your employees, provide technical support to your customers and manage your business while you listen to your business documents. Microsoft Office Word’s Text-to-speech — or TTS — feature enables you to listen to your documents by simply selecting the text and clicking the “Speak” button. TTS is a built-in feature of Word, so you don’t need to install additional plug-ins or third-party software. The TTS engine uses the language of your Office installation.
1.
Open the document you want to listen to in Microsoft Word. To open a document, press “Ctrl-O” or double-click it, select the document and click “Open.”
4.
Select the “Speak” command and click the “Add” button to add it to the Quick Access toolbar. Click “OK” to close the Word Options window.
5.
Select the text you want to listen to. If you want to listen to the entire document, press “Ctrl-A” to select everything.
References
- To stop Word from speaking the document, click the “Speak” button again.
Warnings
- Information in this article applies to Microsoft Office Word 2013. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.
Writer Bio
How Do You Make Microsoft Word Read Aloud
There is an option in the Review tab to enable Read Aloud. There, you will find all controls necessary to use the feature. This includes play, pause, and the ability to move from one paragraph to the other. You can also use third-party apps like the internationally popular TTS app Speechify to read your Word documents to you out loud in natural-sounding voices.
Also Check: English Hard Language To Learn
How To Use The Read Aloud Feature In Microsoft Word
Using Microsoft Word’s read aloud feature, you can listen to your document in real-time, highlighting text as it is read. Here’s how to use it.
Do you enjoy having your favorite passage of scripture, novel, recipe, or the latest news read aloud to you while you are doing other things? With the help of text-to-speech technology, this can easily be done.
In fact, you can have Microsoft Edge read aloud to you in male, female, American, or British accents, among others.
In this article, you’ll learn how to use the Microsoft Word read aloud feature to read Word Documents, PDFs, and even website content.
How You Can Use Text Aloud Feature

Before using the Microsoft word speech to text feature, you need to add word speech to text in the toolbar.
Step #1: On the MS- word review tab. Click âRead Aloudâ
Step #2: Once you select “Read Aloud,” it will give you the option to “Play.”
Step #3: Click on the âSpeak” button, and it will start reading your text.
Step #4: If you donât see the Read Aloud button, you need to access the Quick Access Toolbar from your settings.
Step #5: Search for Speak and add it to your ribbon
Recommended Reading: Tips For Teaching English Language Learners
Add The Speak Button To The Quick Access Toolbar
1. Click the Customize arrow on the Quick Access Toolbar.
2. From the dropdown menu, select More Commands.
3. Go to Word Options > Customize the Quick Access Toolbar and locate the Choose Commands From box. Scroll down to the Speak command.
4. Select the Speak command, click the Add button in the middle of the screen, then click OK.
5. Word adds the Speak command to the Quick Access Toolbar at the end, and youre ready to go.
JD Sartain / IDG Worldwide
Add Speak button to Quick Access Toolbar
Select The Read Aloud Command
1. Another way to have your text read aloud in Word is to select the Review tab > Read Aloud button.
The greatest benefit of Read Aloud as opposed to the Speak command is
You dont have to highlight the text. Just position your cursor where you want the reading aloud to begin and click the Read Aloud button.
And , when you click the Read Aloud button a second time, it stops. Click the button again to continue from that point on. So, essentially, you have a Pause feature with Read Aloud that is not available with Speak.
Don’t Miss: Creepy Text To Speech Voice
How To Use Microsoft Word’s Read Aloud Feature On Desktop
Related: How to Use Spoken Content to Make Your MAc Read Out Loud to You
How Do I Convert Speech To Text In Word
Speech-to-text conversion, also known as speech recognition, is the process of transforming spoken words into text. This can be done manually, by typing out the words as they are spoken, or automatically, by using speech recognition software.
In Microsoft Word, you can use the built-in speech recognition feature to convert speech to text. This feature is available on Windows PCs and Macs. To use it, you first need to install the Microsoft Speech Recognition software.
Once the software is installed, you can open a document in Word and start speaking. The speech recognition software will convert your speech into text, and will automatically insert the text into the document.
The speech recognition feature in Word can be used to type out text, to dictate text, and to control the cursor. It can also be used to insert punctuation, words, and phrases.
The speech recognition feature in Word is not perfect, and it may not be able to interpret all of your speech. If the software has trouble recognizing a word or phrase, you can type it in manually.
Also Check: Best Second Language To Learn
Some Ideas Of How You Could Use Text
TTS tools can be quite helpful and bring so many improvements in your everyday life. One of the main reasons people use text-to-speech is that it can help them multitask. You can use it on emails, documents, or even social media, you are free to do anything else while listening.
At the same time, text-to-speech tools are designed to improve accessibility. If someone has a learning disability like dyslexia, visual impairments, or anything else that can make reading difficult, using TTS software can make a world of difference by being able to hear text spoken out loud to you in a natural voice instead of needing to read it.
Even if you just prefer listening to texts instead of reading them, Speechify can easily help. The app will convert any type of text into audio in just a couple of clicks. Text-to-speech tools can often read alt texts as well, which is more than helpful.
How Can I Convert Speech
There are a few different ways that you can convert speech to text for free. Lets take a look at some of the most popular methods.
One way to convert speech to text is to use a speech recognition tool online. There are a number of these tools available, and most of them are free to use. Simply open the tool, speak into your microphone, and the tool will convert the speech to text.
Another way to convert speech to text is to use a speech recognition app on your smartphone. There are a number of these apps available, and most of them are free to use. Simply open the app, speak into your microphone, and the app will convert the speech to text.
Finally, you can also use a dictation tool to convert speech to text. These tools are typically installed on your computer, and they allow you to speak into your microphone and have the text converted to text. Dictation tools are typically not free to use, but they offer a more accurate conversion than the online and smartphone tools.
Read Also: What Languages Did Jesus Speak
Listen To Your Documents With Speak
Speak is a built-in feature of Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Speak reads aloud only the text you select. Read Aloud reads the entire document starting from your cursor location like an audiobook.
To use Speak:
Select a word or block of text in your document.
In the Quick Access Toolbar, select the Speak selected text icon.
Tip: For instructions about how to add the Speak icon to your Quick Access Toolbar, see the help article Use the Speak text-to-speech feature to read text aloud.
Imyfone Voxbox Powerful Text Speech Software On Pc

iMyFone VoxBox is the most powerful AI tool that gives life to your text and speech. iMyFone VoxBox is best for using word text to speech for reading various documents and text, but also it can be very effective for doing text voiceovers and word speech to text.
If you are looking for an artist who can do speech to text in Word or can read your text in the tone according to its precise nature, then iMyFone is the best option for you.
Tips
-
You will see no ad pop-ups.
-
You edit, cut, and even trim.
- All audio out formats are supported.
- All you need to do is copy the text or the script you want to hear.
- You can select different languages depending on what you want to speak.
Pros:
It is safe to use. Your privacy is kept safe.
Easy to use as you need to copy the text.
Streamers can use this TTS function to enhance their content.
Cons:
Recommended Reading: Transcript Of Martin Luther King Speech
Do More With Microsoft Word Read Aloud Feature
The read aloud feature can be especially useful as a hands-off way of keeping tabs on your favorite content. The dyslexic, visually impaired, and visual and auditory learners will love this nifty little trick in Microsoft Word.
Since the read aloud feature doesn’t require you to sit and stare at a screen, it can also help to prevent eye strain. So, if you love reading but hate the eye strain that follows it, here’s your remedy.
If you use Microsoft Edge as your preferred browser, we’ve also covered how to use the read aloud feature in Edge, so you can enjoy being read aloud to when working in Microsoft Word or on the web.
Microsoft Word Reads To You: How To Use The Speak And Read Aloud Commands
Can Microsoft Word read to me? Yes, it can. There are three ways to accomplish this task: The Speak and Read Aloud features in Word, or the Narrator feature in Windows.
The Speak feature was incorporated into Microsoft Office back in version 2003. It was called Text to Speech then, and it functioned much the same as it does now. Fortunately, its a very simple procedure to set up and use, so you can get started immediately.
Recommended Reading: Windows 10 Text To Speech
How To Voice Type In Speechtexter:
- Open this website and click the Start Dictating button which will open editing section.
- Now, press the Start button and allow access to your microphone.
- After that, you can start dictating word document using your mic.
- You can further customize text with various formatting options.
- Finally, save the document in supported format using its option. Or, you can also directly print your document.
How To Use Read Aloud Feature With Microsoft Office Online
What if you don’t have an active Microsoft Office license key or Microsoft 365 subscription? You can still use Microsoft Word’s read aloud feature online for free. Here’s how.
Related: The Best Voice-to-Text Browser Extensions
Read Also: Father’s Speech At Son’s Wedding
Using Windows 10 Narrator In Word And Beyond
Windows 10 Narrator is an accessibility feature designed for vision-impaired users, however, anyone can use it. It reads everything onscreen: documents, websites, comments, page instructions, commands, and more. Its also not restricted to Word, as the Speak feature is.
Using Narrator is really easy, though learning all the commands may take some time. See Microsofts Complete guide to Windows Narrator for full information.
There are two keyboard layouts available: Standard and Legacy. The default is Standard. Follow these instructions to change the keyboard . For more information, go to Microsofts support page about Narrator keyboard layouts.
1. Right-click the Windows Start button and select Settings.
2. Select Ease of Access.
3. Click Narrator in the left panel.
4. Browse to Choose Keyboard Setting.
5. From the Select Keyboard Layout field box, choose Standard or Legacy.
6. Next, select your Narrator Modifier key . Options include Caps Lock, Insert, or Caps Lock and Insert. I chose the Caps Lock key, because its location on the keyboard is more efficient.
7. Once you have chosen the Narrator Modifier key, the instructions here and on the web will refer to that key as the Narrator key .
8. Exit the Settings menu.
JD Sartain / IDG
The basics for using Narrator are this:
1. Press Windows logo key + Ctrl +Enter to access or exit Narrator.
3. Most important: For a list of all the Narrator commands, press Narrator + F1.
5. For the next paragraph, press Narrator + Ctrl + L.
On Macos: Microsoft Word And Apple Pages
As with Windows, macOS includes an integrated voice dictation system that works with any program, including Microsoft Word and the proprietary Apple Pages word processor.
To set it up, click on the Apple menu, select System Preferences, then choose Keyboard and Dictation. Turn dictation on, and also tick the Enhanced Dictation box, which lets you use the feature when youre offline. Next, open up a document in either Microsoft Word or Apple Pages. Either choose Start Dictation from the Edit menu or press the shortcut button. By default, this shortcut is set to be two taps on the Function key, but you can change it in the Dictation pane of System Preferences.
Then simply say what you want to type. To add punctuation, say the name of the character you want to use. While youre dictating, you can also use commands like new line and caps on. For a full list, review the Apple support page. To stop dictating, click Done or press the Function key once.
If youre not happy with this integrated solution, you can switch to a third-party alternative. While we still like the Dragon software mentioned previously, Dragon for Mac is only available in a $300 professional version. As powerful as it isit includes deep learning smarts that let it grow more accurate over timethats a lot of money. Still, you get a lot of bang for your buck, including options to transcribe text from audio recordings and set up custom words in the softwares dictionary.
Don’t Miss: Speech Language Pathology Vs Audiology