Google Docs Dictation: A Simple Guide for iPad Users

If you’ve never used dictation, this is a short introduction to how you can use dictation in Google Docs. By the end of this post, you’ll know what dictation is, how to use it, how to set it up, and that it’s not as complicated as it might seem at first glance.

What Is Dictation?

First of all, what is dictation? Dictation is when you speak and let a computer or other digital device transcribe what you say. It’s like having your secretary! This is also something that has been around for a while; in fact, the dictaphone was invented as far back as 1881. Of course, back then, you could record audio, but you still needed to do the transcription manually or have someone else listen and do the typing for you.

Nowadays, the last part is done for you by software on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Something which used to be primarily used in business settings of different kinds is now part of everyone’s digital arsenal. While this post focuses on Google Docs, you can also harness the power of your voice in other popular applications like Microsoft Word, which I covered here.

When Can Using Dictation Help You?

Dictation can be a useful tool in different cases. It can be used both professionally and when you work on your hobbies.

When I worked as a teacher, I sometimes used dictation with students. Some students are excellent speakers, but have problems getting started making their first draft. In these cases, this could be a useful technique to get things out of their head onto a piece of paper or, in this case, into a document.

Was it perfect? No, but it was a start, and that’s all a first draft needs to be! Once they could see that they had made visible progress, it was easier to flesh out ideas, move things around, and edit where necessary.

When blogging, I find that it’s often faster for me to talk things out. I first create a few bullet points and then talk using some kind of dictation. This makes the process easier, faster, and more efficient. It’s also a lot easier to produce a larger volume of text in a shorter amount of time.

How to Start Using Google Docs Dictation on Your iPad

Let’s dive into how simple it is to use dictation in Google Docs. I’m writing this very section using dictation as an experiment, though I’ve refined it with edits for clarity.

Getting started with dictation in Google Docs is very simple. What you need is some kind of microphone and a blank document. This works for both PC and mobile apps.

Create a document and give it a name. The next thing you need to do is to set up the input language. On a mobile app, this usually mimics the setting for your keyboard. For example, when I’m using my iPad, I need to make sure that I have set up the keyboard to be in English and not in Swedish for this to work optimally. Once you set it up, what you need to look for is a microphone icon. This can be found in different places depending on whether you’re using a desktop or mobile app. Once you find it, press it, and just start talking.

If you’re using the iPad version of Google Docs, you can find dictation by clicking the microphone right where your keyboard is displayed.

Some Tips When Getting Started

When you first start, don’t censor yourself. Just talk and try to get your thoughts down. You can always go back later and make adjustments, and you will need to! While dictation has become better, it still misses words sometimes. Other times, your device misinterprets what you just said. You will also need to go back to your document to correct grammar mistakes, some spelling errors, as well as add things that the computer might’ve missed.

So, how fast is it? Well, that depends. How fast do you talk? As a reference, right now I have spoken for about six minutes, and I’m up to about 400 words or so. This usually takes me a bit longer when I just type it. This also depends on the topic and if I know what I’m about to write.

One thing to be aware of is that taking longer pauses will pause the dictation itself. Sometimes the dictation also stops automatically, and I’m not sure why. Just be aware that it might stop, and if you continue to talk, it won’t be recorded.

If you have the time, it is a good thing to go back and correct mistakes shortly after you’ve made your dictation. The reason is that then you still have everything fresh in mind. It’s much harder to go back to something when it’s been a couple of days, and maybe you don’t remember exactly what you said. If the computer caught something strange, you might not be able to make sense of what you said, based on what you can see in the document.

Ready to Speak Your Mind?

By now, you’ve seen that dictation in Google Docs isn’t just a niche tool for professionals; it’s a powerful way for anyone—from students to bloggers—to transform their ideas into text with greater speed and less friction. With just your Google account, a microphone, and an idea, you have everything you need to begin.

Ready to unlock your writing flow? Open a new Google Doc on your iPad (or desktop!) and give dictation a try today. You might be surprised at how much easier it makes getting your first draft down!