Top 3 ways to have Microsoft read aloud to you
With the rapid advancement of technology, we now have access to a plethora of tools that can make our daily tasks easier and more efficient. One such tool is text to speech (TTS) software, which can read out any text on your device and is especially useful for those who prefer to listen rather than read, or for people who have visual impairments or reading difficulties. In this article, we will explore the top three ways to have Microsoft read aloud to you, including built-in Windows options and third-party software.
Benefits of having Microsoft read aloud to you
There are many benefits to having Microsoft read out loud entire documents to you. It can improve reading comprehension, help with proofreading, and reduce eye strain. Additionally, it can be helpful for individuals with visual impairments or learning disabilities and allow you to easily multitask.
Everything you need to know about Immersive Reader
Immersive Reader is a built-in free Microsoft tool that uses advanced technology to improve reading comprehension and fluency for individuals of all ages and abilities. It is a part of Microsoft's Learning Tools, a set of features designed to help students with diverse learning needs, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, and visual impairments. Immersive Reader allows users to customize the text appearance, font size, spacing, and background color, making it easier to read and understand.
It also includes features such as focus mode, which highlights individual sentences or lines to make it easier to follow along, and the text to speech tool Read Aloud, which reads the selected text aloud.
Compatibility
Immersive Reader can be used in various Microsoft applications such as OneNote, Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Edge, making it a versatile tool for individuals who want to improve their reading skills.
How to access Immersive Reader
To access Immersive Reader, select the text you want to read and right-click to bring up the drop-down menu. Then click on "Immersive Reader." For example, if you want to have Microsoft Word read aloud, open the Word document you want to read, select the text you want to hear, click on the "View" tab in the Word ribbon menu, and click on "Immersive Reader" in the "Learning Tools" section of the menu. This will open the Immersive Reader window, where you can click on the “Play” button located at the bottom of the screen. This will begin reading the selected text aloud using the default voice, or you can customize the reading experience by selecting the "Voice Options" button and choosing a different voice, adjusting the reading speed, and more.
Keyboard shortcuts for Read Aloud
You can also make use of keyboard shortcuts to control the Read Aloud feature quickly by taking advantage of the following Read Aloud controls:
- Start or exit Read Aloud — Ctrl+Alt+Space
- Pause or play Read Aloud — Ctrl+Space
- Speed up reading speed — Alt+Right
- Slow down reading speed — Alt+Left
- Read the previous paragraph — Ctrl+Right
- Read the next paragraph — Ctrl+Left
You can also add the Read Aloud feature to the Quick Access Toolbar in Word and Outlook for easy access. To do this, right-click the Read Aloud button and select "Add to Quick Access Toolbar." This will allow you to access the feature with a single click rather than having to navigate through the Review tab.
Everything you need to know about Speak
The Speak command is a built-in feature in Windows 10 that allows the computer to read selected text aloud. It is part of the Speech API (SAPI), which is a set of Windows programming interfaces that enable software developers to add speech recognition and text to speech functionality to their applications.
Compatibility
The Speak command is a built-in feature in Windows, and it can be used with most text-based applications that allow text selection, including applications such as Microsoft Office, web browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, email clients like Microsoft Outlook, and many more.
How to access Speak
To use Speak, you first need to select the text you want to hear spoken aloud. You can do this in any application, such as a Word document, a web browser, or an email client. Once you have selected the text, you can then use the Speak command to have it read aloud by the computer.
To use the Speak command, select the text you want to be read aloud. Then, press the Windows key + H to activate the command. You may need to enable this feature first in Settings under the "Speech" section. Once the command is activated, the text will be read aloud, and you can adjust the voice settings and voice speed by clicking the left arrow icon.
Keyboard shortcuts for Speak
In Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote, you can add the Speak command to your Quick Access Toolbar by carrying out the steps below:
- Next to the Quick Access Toolbar, click Customize Quick Access Toolbar.
- Click “More Commands.”
- In the Choose commands from list, select “All Commands.”
- Scroll down to the Speak command, select it, and then click “Add.”
- Click “OK.”
Everything you need to know about Speechify
Speechify is a third-party text to speech software that integrates with Microsoft applications and uses advanced algorithms to convert written text into spoken words. It is designed to make reading easier and more accessible for people who have difficulty reading or who prefer to listen to content instead of reading it. The app is known for having more humanlike narrator options than other text to speech options. In fact, Speechify offers a wide range of voice selections, including male and female voices in various accents and languages.
Compatibility
Not only does Speechify read Microsoft text aloud, but it works with any digital or physical text, including but not limited to emails, web pages, social media posts, news articles, and study materials. The app even has a feature that allows you to scan physical documents into the app so you can easily have any text read aloud to you.
How to access Speechify
To access Speechify, you can use the desktop version via the Speechify website, install the Google Chrome extension or download the Android or IOS app. Once you have installed the app, you can use it to read any text that is displayed on your screen, including Microsoft text, by following the steps below:
- Copy the text you want to read in Microsoft.
- Open the Speechify app and click the "Import" button.
- Speechify will automatically detect the copied text and begin reading it aloud in a clear, natural-sounding voice.
- You can adjust the reading speed, pause by tapping the “Play” button, rewind, or skip forward using the app's left and right arrows.
- Speechify also offers a variety of voices to choose from and lets you save the audio output for later listening.
Keyboard shortcuts for Speechify
Some common keyboard shortcuts for Speechify include:
- Play/Pause — Spacebar
- Skip forward/backward — Right/Left Arrow keys
- Increase/decrease reading speed — Up/Down Arrow keys
- Jump to next sentence — Ctrl + Right Arrow
- Jump to previous sentence — Ctrl + Left Arrow
- Rewind/Forward — Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right Arrow keys
- Increase/decrease volume — Up/Down Arrow keys while holding Shift
- Quit Speechify — Esc key
You can also customize and create your own Speechify keyboard shortcuts by clicking settings or the gear icon and selecting keyboard shortcuts,
Speechify - Try it today
Speechify is available for all computers, including Mac (IOS) and Microsoft devices, tablets, and Android and iPhones. Try Speechify for free today and see how it can transform your reading experience.
FAQ
What is the difference between listening to a person and listening to a computer?
The main difference between listening to a person and listening to a computer is that people are capable of conveying emotions, nuance, and context in their communication, while computers typically rely on programmed responses and lack the ability to express emotions or understand the broader context of a conversation.
What is the Microsoft audio player?
Microsoft has several audio players that it has developed over the years. The most well-known of these is likely Windows Media Player, which is a media player application that is included with Windows operating systems.
