Dictation modes

Three ways to start talking, plus two ways to make the text shorter to say. Pick whatever fits your hands and your habits.

Ways to trigger

Hold Fn — push to talk

Hold the Fn key while you speak, release to insert. The most direct mode: it's only listening while you hold, so there's nothing to remember to turn off. This is the default.

Click the widget — toggle

Click the floating pill to start, click again to stop. Good for longer passages where holding a key gets tiring, or when your hands are already on the trackpad.

A custom hotkey

Prefer a key combination? Set your own in Settings → Controls. Press it once to start, again to stop. The default is ⌥Space.

Snippets — say less, insert more

Save a phrase you type all the time — a greeting, a signature, a standard reply — and give it a short trigger word. Say the trigger while dictating and the full phrase is inserted in its place.

Add and edit snippets in the Snippets section of the main window.

Dictionary — teach it your words

If a name, a technical term, or a brand keeps coming out wrong, add it to your Dictionary: tell it what you say and what to write instead. From then on, that word lands correctly every time.

History — find it again

Every dictation is kept on your Mac, grouped by day and searchable. Copy any past result back out, or delete what you don't want to keep. It never leaves your machine — see Privacy.

Questions about a mode? Email support@sayinplace.com.