The short answer
Add them to your dictionary, or use Fix a word on any dictation in History once. From then on they are spelt your way, on every PC.
Why names are the hard part
A speech engine has heard ordinary words millions of times, so it gets them right. Your colleague's surname, your client's company, the drug you prescribe or the framework you code in may sound like several things at once. Without help, the engine picks the most common one. A few seconds of teaching fixes that for good.
Two ways to teach it
1. Fix a word, straight from History
The quickest way, because you do it the moment you notice a mistake:
- Open History from the tray icon.
- Find the dictation with the wrong word and choose Fix a word.
- Pick the word and type how it should be spelt.
It is added to your dictionary, and the next time you say it, it comes out right.
2. Add words in Settings
Better when you know in advance what you will need, such as a new client's name or a list of terms for a project. Open Settings, go to the Dictionary, and add each word.
What to put in the dictionary
| Kind of word | Examples |
|---|---|
| People | Siobhan, Nguyen, Krzysztof, Chaiwat |
| Companies and products | Siam Mills, HubSpot, PostgreSQL |
| Places | Chatuchak, Llanelli, Worcestershire |
| Medical terms | metoprolol, cholecystectomy |
| Legal terms | estoppel, subrogation, res judicata |
| Your own shorthand | Q3 OKRs, the Henley account |
Capitals count: whatever you type in the dictionary is exactly how it is written, so HubSpot keeps its capital S.
It follows you
Your dictionary syncs to every PC you sign in on, usually within a minute. Teach a word on your office PC and it is right on your laptop too. Your account page shows how many words you have taught it.
How it uses your words
Your dictionary is used twice for every dictation. First, the speech engine is told which words to listen for, so it is more likely to hear them right. Then the clean-up checks the text and corrects any word that still slipped through. That second check is why a dictionary entry works even in a noisy room or a fast sentence.
Related questions
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