How to Use Text to Speech in Microsoft Word Online
Learn how to use Helperbird's Text to Speech feature in Microsoft Word Online. Have your documents read aloud while you follow along with word highlighting.
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- features
- reading
What is Text to Speech in Word Online?
Text to Speech reads your Microsoft Word Online documents out loud using a computer voice. Instead of reading with your eyes, you can listen to your document being spoken while following along with word highlighting.
Helperbird works directly in Microsoft Word Online. You can have the entire document read aloud, listen to just the text you highlight, or copy and paste text into the Text to Speech panel.
Who is This For?
This feature is helpful for:
- People with dyslexia who find listening easier than reading
- Students who want to proofread their writing by hearing it
- People with visual impairments who use Word Online
- Anyone who learns better by listening
- Educators who want to review student work by listening
Step 1: Open Your Document
Go to Microsoft Word Online and open the document you want to listen to.
You can access Word Online at office.com or through your school's Microsoft 365 account.
Step 2: Open Helperbird
Click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar. It looks like a small owl and is usually in the top-right corner of your browser.
This will open the Helperbird menu.
Step 3: Find Text to Speech
Scroll down to the bottom of the Helperbird menu. You will see a section called All Features.
Click the arrow next to All Features to expand it and show all available features.
Look through the list until you see Text to Speech. Click on it to open it.
A panel will appear with a text area and playback controls.
Step 4: Play the Text
There are several ways to use Text to Speech in Word Online:
Read selected text - Highlight the text you want to hear in your Word document by clicking and dragging your mouse over it. Then click the play button. Helperbird will read the highlighted text.
Read custom text - Copy text from your Word document and paste it into the text box in the panel. Click the play button to hear it read aloud.
To stop the audio, click the pause or stop button.
Step 5: Customize Settings
You can adjust how the text is read directly in the Text to Speech panel:
Voice - Use the voice dropdown at the top of the panel to choose from different voices. You can select male or female voices in various accents.
Speed - Click the speed button (for example, 1x) next to the play controls to cycle through speeds from 0.5x to 2x. A slower speed is good for learning, while a faster speed helps you get through content quickly.
As your text is read aloud, Helperbird highlights each word so you can follow along.
Video Tutorial
Coming soon
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.
