How to Use Chemistry and Physics Voice Typing in Helperbird

What Are Voice Typing Modes?

Use Voice typing to create a draft, write notes beside a PDF, or enter an equation. Four modes change how Helperbird interprets your speech:

• Regular: turn speech into a text draft. Review the words before using them.
• Math: convert spoken equations into math notation (say "x squared plus y squared" → get x² + y²).
• Chemistry: convert spoken chemistry into chemical formulas (say "H two O" → get H₂O).
• Physics: convert spoken physics into notation with units and vectors (say "nine point eight metres per second squared" → get 9.8 m/s²), plus everything Math mode does.

Only one mode is active at a time. Whichever you choose stays set until you change it, and the same setting follows you between the popup and the PDF reader.

How to Switch Modes

1. Open Voice typing in Helperbird. Keep the microphone off while you choose a mode.
2. Open Options beside the microphone.
3. In the Mode dropdown, choose Regular, Math mode, Chemistry mode, or Physics mode. A badge on the Options button shows when a science or math mode is active.
4. Press the microphone and start speaking. Your words are converted as you go.

View full-size image (opens in a new tab)

The screenshot shows Options open in the Voice typing panel. You can choose a mode before starting the microphone.

Switching mode applies to your next dictation, so pick the mode before you start speaking.

Chemistry Mode

Chemistry mode turns spoken chemistry into properly formatted formulas and equations.

Formulas and compounds

• "H two O" → H₂O
• "carbon dioxide" → CO₂
• "sulfuric acid" → H₂SO₄
• "glucose" → C₆H₁₂O₆
• "calcium hydroxide" → Ca(OH)₂

Ions and charges

• "sulfate" → SO₄²⁻
• "ammonium" → NH₄⁺
• "sodium ion" → Na⁺

Balanced equations

• "two H two plus O two yields two H two O" → 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
• "N two plus three H two yields two N H three" → N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃

The number you say before an element stays full-size (it's a coefficient), while a number after an element becomes a subscript, so "two H two O" correctly gives 2H₂O.

Isotopes, hydrates, and more

• "carbon fourteen" → ¹⁴C, "uranium 235" → ²³⁵U, "deuterium" → ²H
• "copper sulfate pentahydrate" → CuSO₄·5H₂O
• "aqueous" → (aq), "yields" → →, "reversible reaction" → ⇌

Chemistry mode also recognises all 118 elements by name, common acids and bases, polyatomic ions, organic groups, and reaction conditions.

Physics Mode

Physics mode does everything Math mode does, and adds units, vectors, and physics constants.

Units

• "ten newtons" → 10 N
• "nine point eight metres per second squared" → 9.8 m/s²
• "kilometres per hour" → km/h
• "fifty joules" → 50 J

Vectors and operators

• "vector F" → F⃗
• "unit vector n" → n̂
• "vector v cross vector B" → v⃗ × B⃗

Constants and equations

• "speed of light" → c
• "energy equals m c squared" → energy = m c²
• "three times ten to the power of eight metres per second" → 3 × 10⁸ m/s

Because physics is mostly maths plus units, anything Math mode understands, including Greek letters, fractions, exponents and integrals, works in Physics mode too.

Math Mode

Math mode converts spoken equations into math notation without the chemistry or physics extras. For a full guide to Math mode, see How to Use Speech to Math in Helperbird.

• "x squared plus three x" → x² + 3x
• "the integral from zero to one of x squared" → ∫₀¹ x²
• "square root of 72" → √72

Tips for Best Results

• Pick the mode before you speak. Mode changes apply to the next dictation session.
• Speak clearly and check the result. Chemistry and Physics modes support science vocabulary. Review formulas, numbers, and units before using them.
• Say compound names when you can. "Sulfuric acid" is more reliable than spelling out "H two S O four".
• For isotopes, say the element name and number ("carbon fourteen"), not the symbol, because that is how Helperbird knows you mean an isotope rather than an atom count.
• Switch back to Regular when you're done writing science so ordinary words aren't converted.

Where It Works

Voice typing modes are available in:

• The popup: dictate into Helperbird's draft box, then copy the result into your work.
• The PDF reader: dictate notes alongside a PDF.
• The Equation Editor: dictate equations directly into the math field.

Voice typing is a Helperbird Pro feature.

Related Guides

• How to Use Speech to Math in Helperbird
• How to Use the Equation Editor in Helperbird
• How to Use the Maths Reader in Helperbird
• How to Use Speech to Text on Any Website

Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you get the most out of Helperbird.