When you dictate text on iPhone, you can use commands for punctuation, formatting, capitalization, and more. In some languages, you can insert emoji using your voice while dictating. The commands listed below are always available while you’re dictating text.
They’re easy to remember. Say “period” or “comma,” and you get the punctuation mark, or say “new paragraph” to start a new paragraph. You can also change, insert, and delete text with your voice.
Note: Dictation may not be available in all languages or in all countries or regions, and features may vary.
When using Dictation, cellular data charges may apply.
Punctuation
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| Period | . |
| Comma | , |
| Exclamation point | ! |
| Question mark | ? |
| Dollar sign | \$ |
| Open parenthesis | ( |
| Close parenthesis | ) |
| Quote | “ |
| End quote | “ |
| Colon | : |
| Semicolon | ; |
| Hashtag | # |
As you dictate text in some languages, Dictation adds certain punctuation automatically.
Format text
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| Cap | Capitalize the next word |
| Caps on … caps off | Capitalize the first character of each enclosed word |
| All caps | Make the next word all uppercase |
| All caps on … all caps off | Make the enclosed words all uppercase |
| No caps on … no caps off | Make the enclosed words all lowercase |
| No space | Eliminate the space between two words (not available for all languages) |
| No space on … no space off | Run a series of words together (not available for all languages) |
| New paragraph | Start a new paragraph |
| New line | Start a new line |
Change, insert, and delete text
In U.S. English, you can use Dictation commands to edit text on iPhone 12 and later, except iPhone SE.
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| Change … to … | Replace existing text with new text |
| Insert … before … | Insert new text before existing text |
| Insert … after … | Insert new text after existing text |
| Select … | Select text |
| Delete … | Delete text |
| Delete all | Delete all text |
| Undo | Undo the action |
| Redo | Redo the action |
Insert emoji
In certain languages, you can insert emoji while dictating. Say “heart emoji” to get the heart emoji, for example, or “car emoji” for the car emoji. You’ll find more examples of emoji commands and the results they produce below.
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| Smiley emoji |  |
| Halo emoji |  |
| Laugh out loud emoji |  |
| Heart eyes emoji |  |
| Amazing emoji |  |
| Yum emoji |  |
| Congrats emoji |  |
| Goofy emoji |  |
| Sick emoji |  |
| Scream emoji |  |
| Hug emoji |  |
| Fingers crossed emoji |  |
| Purple heart emoji |  |
| Cheers emoji |  |
| Celebrate emoji |  |
| Speech balloon emoji |  |
| Puppy emoji |  |
| Music emoji |  |
| Rainbow emoji |  |
| Present emoji |  |
