Dictation issue with English when using Siri

Help! I am a Voice Dictation Failure! Siri must think I speak another language, when I dictate in English--my native language. However, my French dictation is much more accurate. Quand Même! When I say versus what Siri hears and then types are hilarious, except the fact that I depend on it and it's so inaccurate.


Is there any way to improve dictation accuracy?


Example:

I said this: For my family, attending church was about helping others—especially the underdogs. Social justice was very important.


Siri heard and typed this (Siri heard in Texas)

And my family, adventures, especially underdogs in Portland


AND SHE PREFERS FRENCH!


My native language is English. I also speak French & Italian.


My French dictation is significantly more accurate and its predictive qualities are more intuitive and accurate despite the plethora of homonyms. It uses context far better in French than in English.


Example:

I write Sophie a letter....


SIRI frequently produces it with "right," as in, "I right Sophie a letter."


In French, I rarely have problems with dictation:

Example: French homophones 

  • Mais: Means "but"
  • Mes: Means "my"
  • Met(s): Means "dish"


Does anyone know why?



[Edited by Moderator]


Posted on Feb 19, 2025 9:30 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 20, 2025 7:57 PM

Hi Saralitta

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community!


Re: "Speech to Text: "Is there any way to improve dictation accuracy?"


We do not know which Mac computer or Apple device you are using , or which OS version is installed..

If you use an iPhone with iOS 18 and if you aren't using commands:

See: Commands for dictating text on iPhone - Apple Support

Eg: Scroll to:

Change, insert, and delete text


or, if you use a Mac computer : For accuracy: Choose the MacOS version at the top of the article (link below)

Commands for dictating text on Mac - Apple Support


____________________________________________________________________________________________

Re: Thank you for your excellent "Example"


If you aren't using it already: Wondering if using Voice Control for dictation may be a better method for you.

__________

For iPhone:

Eg: See: Apple support's Video: How to use dictation and edit text with Voice Control on your iPhone


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ykg3jZ9_k


_______________________

Else: If you use a Mac computer:

Apple Support provides lots of tips in this article: Dictate messages and documents on Mac - Apple Support


Also: This Third Party (non-Apple) video has lots of tips for Mac Dictation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWx64HznFiU

__________________________________________________________________

Re: :In French, I rarely have problems with dictation: Does anyone know why?"


Am no expert in this area: It may (or may not) have something to do with the particular voice(s) you have chosen to use. ie: Likely some voices come with better capabilities and vocabularies, especially with languages, than do others. Some voices may be more "adept" in a different area / app, where they are more tailored to suit,


Eg: Apple's linked article above says: "Dictation is not available in all languages or regions, and features may vary. See the macOS Feature Availability page to see which languages you can dictate in and which languages include support for additional Dictation features".


You may want to experiment with using a different voice


Customize Siri on Mac - Apple Support (for MacOS 15 / choose an earlier OS version at top of article if needed.)

Eg: says:

Choose the language and voice Siri uses

You can further customise Siri by choosing the language and voice Siri uses.

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Apple Intelligence & Siri (or Siri ) in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
  2. Click the pop-up menu next to Language, then choose a language.
  3. Click the Select button next to Voice, then make the following choices in the pop-up menu that appears:
    • Variations
    • Voices


All the best :-)

Similar questions

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 20, 2025 7:57 PM in response to Saralitta

Hi Saralitta

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community!


Re: "Speech to Text: "Is there any way to improve dictation accuracy?"


We do not know which Mac computer or Apple device you are using , or which OS version is installed..

If you use an iPhone with iOS 18 and if you aren't using commands:

See: Commands for dictating text on iPhone - Apple Support

Eg: Scroll to:

Change, insert, and delete text


or, if you use a Mac computer : For accuracy: Choose the MacOS version at the top of the article (link below)

Commands for dictating text on Mac - Apple Support


____________________________________________________________________________________________

Re: Thank you for your excellent "Example"


If you aren't using it already: Wondering if using Voice Control for dictation may be a better method for you.

__________

For iPhone:

Eg: See: Apple support's Video: How to use dictation and edit text with Voice Control on your iPhone


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ykg3jZ9_k


_______________________

Else: If you use a Mac computer:

Apple Support provides lots of tips in this article: Dictate messages and documents on Mac - Apple Support


Also: This Third Party (non-Apple) video has lots of tips for Mac Dictation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWx64HznFiU

__________________________________________________________________

Re: :In French, I rarely have problems with dictation: Does anyone know why?"


Am no expert in this area: It may (or may not) have something to do with the particular voice(s) you have chosen to use. ie: Likely some voices come with better capabilities and vocabularies, especially with languages, than do others. Some voices may be more "adept" in a different area / app, where they are more tailored to suit,


Eg: Apple's linked article above says: "Dictation is not available in all languages or regions, and features may vary. See the macOS Feature Availability page to see which languages you can dictate in and which languages include support for additional Dictation features".


You may want to experiment with using a different voice


Customize Siri on Mac - Apple Support (for MacOS 15 / choose an earlier OS version at top of article if needed.)

Eg: says:

Choose the language and voice Siri uses

You can further customise Siri by choosing the language and voice Siri uses.

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Apple Intelligence & Siri (or Siri ) in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
  2. Click the pop-up menu next to Language, then choose a language.
  3. Click the Select button next to Voice, then make the following choices in the pop-up menu that appears:
    • Variations
    • Voices


All the best :-)

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Dictation issue with English when using Siri

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