Text to Speech in Microsoft Word 2010

Here is a great tip I came across when reading this article “Proofreading by Listening: Text-to-Speech”, by Lynn Gaertner-Johnston. 

She talks about how there are many times when proofing our own writings we can fill in words we may have missed because we know they should be there, but with this tool in Microsoft Word you can have Word read back your document to you exactly as it is.  Here is how you can use this great proof reading tool.

1. First click on the File tab, and then Options in the list on the left of the screen
2. In the new pop up window click on Quick Access Tool Bar; once again in the list on the left of the window
3. In the drop down list under Choose Commands From select All Commands, and scroll all the way down to Speak and then click the Add button
4. Now in your Quick Access Tool Bar (Which is located above the ribbon) you will see a speech balloon with a little play symbol next to it, this is your Speech to Text Button
5. Lastly highlight the text you would like word to read, and then click the Speech to Text Button