System-wide dictation

System-wide dictation means you can speak and have your words typed wherever your cursor is, in your email, a chat app, a document or a web form. It is not limited to a notes window inside the tool. MacWhisper is an example of a tool that offers dictation across applications on a Mac, so you can reply to an email by voice and then do the same in a project tool.

Speaking is usually faster than typing, and dictation can reduce strain for people who write a lot. A feature limited to one window forces you to copy and paste, which removes much of the time saving. It matters if you write long emails, notes or reports every day. If you mostly write short messages, or work in an open office where speaking aloud is awkward, you may use it rarely.

• Test dictation in the three or four applications you use most, including a web browser.
• Check how you start and stop dictation, such as a keyboard shortcut.
• Ask whether it handles punctuation, names and industry terms, and whether you can add custom words.
• Find out which languages are supported if you dictate in more than one.