Chapter 1: The Influence of Voice Dictation

How does speaking to a device transform your writing and thinking? This question has intrigued me lately, especially since I’ve started using voice dictation for a significant portion of my daily writing tasks.

When I’m using my laptop, I type at a decent speed—around 75 words per minute—so I prefer the keyboard for that. However, on my phone, dictating often proves to be the quickest method to input text on a small screen. As a result, I find myself speaking out hundreds, if not thousands, of words daily.

Most of this writing is informal; I don’t use dictation for journalism or essays. Instead, I rely on it for emails and chats through apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, or Discord. When ideas strike, I simply talk out a few sentences. I estimate that about half of all my text entries on my phone are dictated.

This leads me to wonder: How does this method influence the quality of my writing and my thought processes compared to typing?

After some reflection, I’ve identified a few key attributes of voice dictation:

1. Composing Thoughts Like on a Typewriter: Reflect, Then Speak

Typing involves a repetitive cycle of thought and revision. I start with a vague idea, jot down a few words, and continually refine my expressions using the backspace key. Often, I don’t fully understand my thoughts until I see them written out, prompting me to revise.

According to theories by thinkers like Andy Clark, my brain utilizes the screen or paper as an extension of my cognitive abilities. This allows me to engage with complex ideas more effectively.

Conversely, when I dictate, I must formulate my sentences mentally before articulating them. This shifts my cognitive process back to a more traditional model, akin to using an old-fashioned typewriter, which I remember from my high school days in the 1980s.

In those days, I would draft my essays on paper, using typing to create a polished version. Occasionally, I’d realize mid-typing that I needed to refine my sentences, requiring me to think carefully before hitting the keys.

This mental composition can limit the complexity of my spoken thoughts. My cognitive capacity feels constrained without the external prompts of written words, resulting in less intricate dictated prose. Alternatively, it could simply mean that my spoken writing tends to be more straightforward.

This brings us to the next key trait:

2. The Oral Rhythm of Dictated Writing

Given its strengths and weaknesses, dictation is particularly suited for writing that mimics spoken language. This is why I find it easy to dictate casual emails and chat messages. While these are written forms, they retain the rhythm and flow of conversation.

However, the speed at which I can dictate often leads to overly verbose messages. For instance, if someone texts me a simple greeting like "zup," I might respond with an extensive reply.

3. Excellence in Note-Taking

Dictation excels in the realm of note-taking. While reading, I often dictate any emerging thoughts or quotes into my Notes app. If I’m out running errands and a story idea strikes, I’ll voice it out.

The advantage of this method is that I can articulate a more complete idea compared to jotting down quick notes. With dictation, my thoughts can unfold naturally as I speak, similar to the concept of rubber-ducking. I can articulate around 150 coherent words per minute, sometimes even more. Interestingly, this essay originated from about 450 dictated words I recorded in a few minutes while in bed.

Nevertheless, the risk with verbal note-taking is the potential for excessive length. It’s easy to create notes that become overly elaborate, losing the concise clarity of brief point-form entries, which can complicate later reviews.

4. A New Awareness of Punctuation

One of the more peculiar aspects of voice dictation is the heightened consciousness of punctuation. To include punctuation, I must vocalize it, saying things like “semicolon” or “period.” I enjoy using various punctuation marks, even in casual chats, which leads me to articulate my use of em-dashes, semicolons, and commas aloud.

While I’m aware of punctuation when typing, vocalizing it makes me more conscious of its presence, akin to suddenly realizing the position of my tongue in my mouth.

Interestingly, this practice doesn’t appear to alter how often I use punctuation; the frequency remains consistent with my typing habits.

The Potential Future of AI in Voice Dictation

Dictating text isn’t a modern phenomenon. For centuries, thinkers and writers have relied on speaking their ideas aloud to scribes. Historical figures like Michel de Montaigne and Henry James often dictated their works to others.

While human transcribers could enhance spoken prose by correcting grammatical errors and improving style, today’s AI dictation tools tend to be more literal. They capture exactly what’s said without adding refinement.

This raises an intriguing possibility for the evolution of voice-dictation AI. What if future technology could not only transcribe speech but also enhance it, tailoring it to the user's unique writing style? Such an advancement could blend the nuances of spoken and written language, potentially revolutionizing the way we dictate.

If you have insights on this topic, feel free to share in the comments!

This first video, titled "How to Dictate a Book: The ULTIMATE Guide," offers a comprehensive look at the art of dictating your writing effectively.

The second video, "How To Dictate Your Book with Voice Typing Tool in Google Docs," demonstrates how to utilize voice typing for writing in Google Docs.