AT Quick Guide – “Speak” Text in MS Word10 11/2012 www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/hiat
“Speak” Text in Microsoft Word 2010
Did you know that MS Word offers the “Speak Command” which allows students to have the computer read the
text in a Word document? Text to speech is an invaluable UDL feature for any student, but may be imperative for
students who struggle with reading and writing. “Speak” allows you listen to text while you read. Hearing text
read aloud can help students revise and edit their work independently.
This is what the “Quick Access Tool Bar” looks like with the “Speak” button already added
How to add the “Speak Command” to your “Quick Access Tool Bar”
Step 1: Locate the “Quick Access Tool Bar”. You will find it at the very top of your Word document,
above the “Ribbon.”
Step 2:
a) Click on the down arrow, at the end of the Quick Access Tool
Bar
b) Choose “More Commands”
Step 3: In the drop down menu, select “All Commands”
Step 4:
a) Scroll through the menu (in
alphabetical order) until you find, “Speak”.
b) Click on “Speak”.
c) Then click on “Add”.
d) Then click on “OK”.
Step 5: Ready to Use
a) Highlight the text you want to read.
b) Click the “Speak” button in “Quick Access Tool Bar”
