Mac dictation commands: the full Apple Dictation list

Published 18 October 2026

Apple Dictation understands a fixed set of spoken commands for punctuation, symbols and formatting. Here are all the Mac dictation commands from Apple's own guide, grouped so you can find one quickly, plus what changes when you switch to Voice Control.

Before you start

Turn Dictation on in Apple menu → System Settings → Keyboard, under Dictation. Start it with the Microphone key if your keyboard has one, with your Dictation shortcut, or with Edit → Start Dictation, and stop it with Escape or the same key. Apple says the commands below work anywhere you dictate text.

In supported languages Dictation also adds commas, periods and question marks by itself. That's the Auto-punctuation switch in the same settings section. If you'd rather say every mark yourself, turn it off. Punctuation when dictating on a Mac goes deeper into how the two approaches compare. This page is the broader list.

Punctuation and brackets

• "period", "point", "dot" or "full stop": .
• "comma", "colon", "semicolon": , : ;
• "question mark", "exclamation mark": ? !
• "apostrophe": '
• "hyphen": - and "dash": –
• "ellipsis": …
• "quote" … "end quote": curly double quotes
• "begin single quote" … "end single quote": curly single quotes
• "open parenthesis" / "close parenthesis": ( )
• "open square bracket" / "close square bracket": [ ]
• "open brace" / "close brace": { }
• "open angle bracket" / "close angle bracket": < >

Formatting and capitals

• "new line" starts a new line, "new paragraph" starts a new paragraph.
• "tab key" moves the cursor to the next tab stop.
• "numeral" writes the next phrase as a number, "roman numeral" as a Roman numeral.
• "no space on" writes the next phrase without spaces, "no space off" goes back to normal.
• "caps on" puts the next phrase in Title Case, "caps off" stops it.
• "all caps" capitalizes the next word. "all caps on" capitalizes the next phrase, and "all caps off" goes back to normal.

Symbols, math and currency

• Typography: "ampersand" (&), "asterisk" (*), "at sign" (@), "backslash" (\), "forward slash" (/), "caret" (^), "degree sign" (°), "hashtag" or "pound sign" (#), "percent sign" (%), "underscore" (_), "vertical bar" (|), "center dot" and "large center dot".
• Math: "equal sign", "plus sign", "minus sign", "multiplication sign", "greater than sign", "less than sign".
• Currency: "dollar sign", "cent sign", "pound sterling sign", "euro sign", "yen sign".
• Legal marks: "copyright sign" (©), "registered sign" (®), "trademark sign" (™).

Emoji and emoticons

In supported languages, say a name followed by "emoji": "heart emoji", "car emoji". Apple's list also has four text emoticons: "smiley face" :-) , "frowny face" :-( , "winky face" ;-) and "cross-eyed laughing face" XD.

Voice Control commands are a different system

Search results often mix the two, but Voice Control is a separate accessibility feature in System Settings → Accessibility → Voice Control. Apple notes that while it's on, Voice Control handles all dictation and standard Dictation isn't available. What it adds is control: "Open Mail", "Scroll down", "Click Done", and editing commands such as "Replace cat with dog".

It also has modes you switch by voice. Dictation mode, the default, types anything that isn't a command. Spelling mode enters text character by character, which Apple suggests for passwords and web addresses. Command mode ignores everything that isn't a command. Swift mode writes Swift code. Say "Show commands" to see what works in the current app, or open Voice Control → Commands in System Settings for the full list. Apple recommends pausing about half a second between commands.

If you only want to turn speech into text, stay with Dictation. If you want to click and edit by voice, Voice Control is the tool, and the Dictation commands above stop applying. Voice typing on a Mac compares the two in more detail.

When commands don't do anything

A command that types itself out as words usually means the phrasing differs from Apple's list for your language or macOS version, so check the guide for your version. If Dictation doesn't start at all, this checklist for when Mac dictation isn't working covers permissions, the shortcut and the microphone.

Dictating without commands

Some people never get used to saying "comma" mid-thought. Whisper-based dictation apps take the other route: the model writes punctuation and capitals from the way you speak. Saypad works like that. Hold fn, talk in normal sentences, let go, and the text arrives at the cursor already punctuated. Recognition runs on your Mac, and it's free with no word limit.

The trade-off is control. Saypad has no spoken commands, so "new paragraph" or "open brace" are typed as words rather than acted on. You add line breaks and symbols with the keyboard, and Whisper decides where a comma goes. For names it keeps getting wrong, Settings → Vocabulary takes spelling hints and fixed replacements. If you want the two approaches side by side, see a free alternative to Apple Dictation.

Questions

Do Mac dictation commands work in every app?

Apple says the commands work anywhere you dictate text, and Dictation itself works in any app where you can type. A command can still behave differently in an app that handles Return or Tab in its own way.

How do I insert an emoji with Apple Dictation?

In supported languages, say the emoji's name followed by "emoji", for example "heart emoji" or "car emoji".

Can I select or delete text with Apple Dictation commands?

Not with Dictation. Commands like "Replace cat with dog" and selecting numbered words belong to Voice Control, which you turn on in System Settings → Accessibility → Voice Control.

Why does "dash" give me a short dash?

In Apple's list, "dash" inserts an en dash (–) and "hyphen" inserts a hyphen (-). Apple's list has no separate command for a longer dash.