Source: https://quietmachines.fyi/wisp/guides/dictation
Content coverage: article. HTML at the source URL is the canonical page.

# Find your way to talk.

Hands-free, hold-to-talk, review-first, and copy-only: choose how your words reach the page.

## Tap to keep a session going

The default dictation shortcut is Control–Option–O. Tap it once, then speak. Each pause inserts a finished sentence while Wisp keeps listening. It stops after twenty seconds of silence, or when you press the shortcut again.

## Hold for a short burst

Hold the same shortcut while you speak, then release it to insert. This is useful for a quick reply or a search. Change the shortcut in Settings if another combination suits you better.

## Tune the pause

The pause length is adjustable from one to four seconds. Use a longer pause if you think between phrases. The notch shows live words and a progress ring as an insertion approaches.

## Review or copy instead

Review before inserting waits for you to confirm the text in the notch. Copy-only mode leaves placement to you. These modes handle one dictation at a time instead of continuously inserting sentences.

## Undo and recover

Escape discards the sentence in progress. Say “scratch that” on its own to remove the last inserted sentence, when Wisp can confirm it is still the same text. If a field will not accept an insertion, use Copy text in the notch.

## Related guides

- [Teach Wisp the words you use.](https://quietmachines.fyi/wisp/guides/dictionary-and-snippets)
- [When the words do not land.](https://quietmachines.fyi/wisp/guides/troubleshooting)