Let Your Phone Do the Typing

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Typing on a smartphone can be surprisingly tiring, particularly when you have a longer message to write. Small keyboards, autocorrect and having to tap each letter can turn a simple email into a tedious job. Fortunately, your phone can do much of the typing for you.

Voice typing allows you to speak your message while your phone turns your words into text. Most modern smartphones have the feature built into their keyboard, so you don’t necessarily need to download another app or learn anything complicated.

The next time you’re writing a text message or email, look for the small microphone symbol on your keyboard. Tap it, start speaking naturally and watch your words appear on the screen. When you’re finished, you can read through the message and correct any mistakes before sending it.

It can be particularly useful for longer messages. Instead of spending several minutes tapping away at your phone, you can explain what you want to say in your own words. It’s also handy for making shopping lists, writing reminders or getting a quick thought down before you forget it.

You don’t have to speak unnaturally slowly or pronounce every word perfectly. Your phone’s speech recognition is designed to handle ordinary conversation. Pausing occasionally can help, particularly when you’re changing subjects or want to start a new sentence.

As with any automated tool, it’s worth checking what appears on the screen. Names, unusual words and place names can sometimes be transcribed incorrectly. A quick read-through is especially important before sending an email or message.

If you’ve never tried voice typing, start with something simple. Open your phone’s notes app and dictate a short shopping list or reminder. Once you’re comfortable with it, you may find yourself using it for messages and emails as well.

Your smartphone doesn’t have to be something you constantly tap and swipe. Sometimes the easiest way to get it to do something is simply to tell it what you want.