7.1 What Post Mode Is

Post Mode is Speaking Access’s structured dictation workspace.

It’s a different way to dictate than most systems. Instead of typing immediately into whatever program you’re using, Post Mode lets you build, review, and correct text first—then send it out only when you’re ready.

This workflow is unusual, but it’s especially effective for audio users because it makes dictation predictable and fully voice-controlled.

7.2 Why Post Mode Exists

Traditional dictation types immediately—even when recognition is wrong. For audio users, that can be frustrating because mistakes can land in the wrong place without warning.

Post Mode creates a controlled workflow:

• Dictate into the Word Box. The text appears there immediately, clearing out any old text at the same time.
• At the same moment, the female Speaking Access voice repeats back what she thinks you said.
• Approve it into the Paste Box (your draft).
• Post when ready—then get a beep confirmation.

This reduces errors and gives the user confidence that the text is correct before it leaves Speaking Access.

7.3 The Post Mode Layout

When Post Mode is opened by saying “Open Post Mode”, the Speaking Access window expands and displays two text areas:

Word Box (temporary dictation area)

• Holds the most recent dictation
• The Speaking Access recognizer fills this box with what it thinks you said
• The female Speaking Access voice immediately reads that interpretation out loud so you can hear it right away
• You can interrupt the playback at any time by speaking another command
• Replaced each time new dictation comes in
• Can be posted directly if needed

When the Word Box is read out loud automatically, numbers and symbols are spoken in a clear, descriptive way. When proofreading is turned on, capital letters are also announced:

• Numbers are spoken starting with the word “numeral” (example: “numeral 5”)
• Symbols and punctuation are spoken starting with the word “symbol” (example: “symbol period”, “symbol semicolon”)
• With proofreading on, uppercase letters are announced as “uppercase” plus the word (example: “uppercase Canada”)

You can move around inside the Word Box like a small canvas, using word-navigation commands to try to catch mistakes in real time before anything is added to your draft.

Paste Box (draft / composition area)

• Builds sentences and paragraphs over time
• Holds your “final draft” text
• Designed for reviewing text (for example, with Access Read or proofreading commands) before posting

7.4 Building Text in Post Mode

Step 1: Dictate into the Word Box

Each time you dictate, the words land in the Word Box first. At the same time, the female Speaking Access voice speaks that Word Box content out loud so audio users can immediately hear what was recognized.

Helpful Word Box basics:

• Access Repeat — reads the Word Box again
• Access Letters — reads the Word Box one letter at a time, after you have focused on a specific word using the word-navigation commands described in section 7.7
• Access Second Choice — offers a second interpretation
• Access Third Choice — offers a third interpretation

Step 2: Add it to the Paste Box

Once the Word Box sounds right, you add it to the draft:

• Okay — appends Word Box text to the end of the Paste Box
• That’s Right — same as “Okay”

After this happens:

• The text is added to the Paste Box
• The Word Box clears (ready for the next dictation)
• A beep plays to confirm the action for audio users

7.5 Reviewing and Editing Text

Reading tools (Paste Box)

• Access Read — reads the contents of the Paste Box
• Read the Last Sentence
• Read the Last Two Sentences
• Read the Last Three Sentences (and up to six)

Editing tools (Paste Box)

• Access Undo — undoes the last text added to the Paste Box
• Access Clear — clears the Paste Box
• Access No Spaces — removes spaces (helpful for emails and web addresses)
• Remember Paste Box — saves the Paste Box contents to memory
• Remember Word Box — saves the Word Box contents to memory

Adding lines and paragraphs

There are two ways to add line breaks: include the command in your dictation, or use the command alone.

• New Line — adds a new line when used with text
• Access New Line — inserts a blank new line
• New Paragraph — adds a paragraph break when used with text
• Access New Paragraph — inserts a blank paragraph break

7.6 Posting Text Into Other Programs

When you say “Post” or “Access Post”, Speaking Access decides what to send based on what’s currently filled in:

• If the Paste Box contains text: it posts the Paste Box.
• If only the Word Box contains text: it posts the Word Box.
• If both contain text: Speaking Access asks a question like:
  “Do you want me to join the Word Box to the Paste Box before posting?”

After posting, a beep plays to confirm the text was sent.

Posting commands

• Post — posts using the rules above
• Access Post — same action
• Access Post Again — reposts the last posted text

Dictation control

• Mute Post Mode — prevents posting while you dictate (keeps dictation in the Word Box)
• Unmute Post Mode — returns to normal Post Mode behavior

Open / close

• Open Post Mode — turns Post Mode on
• Close Post Mode — exits Post Mode

7.7 Word Navigation and Proofreading

Navigating words in the Word Box

These commands help you inspect the Word Box precisely and focus on the word you want to fix or spell:

• Access Words — numbers the words in the Word Box
• Access Next Word — goes to the next word
• Access Previous Word — goes to the previous word
• Access Word With Number — choose a word by number (example: Access Word Five)

Once the focus is on a specific word, you can then use Access Letters (from section 7.4) to have that word spelled out letter by letter.

Proofreading (punctuation + uppercase + homonyms)

Proofreading mode must be turned on first. When it is on, the female Speaking Access voice includes punctuation, symbols, and capital letters in what she reads, so audio users can hear exactly how text will appear on the page.

• Start Proofreading — turns proofreading on
• Stop Proofreading — turns proofreading off
• Proofread Word Box — reads the Word Box including punctuation, symbols, and uppercase letters
• Proofread Paste Box — reads the Paste Box including punctuation, symbols, and uppercase letters

When proofreading is on, Speaking Access also helps fix certain homonyms automatically as you review text. If it detects a homonym like “to / too / two” or “for / four”, it will:

• Read the sentence up to the point where that word appears
• Pause and let you choose the correct version by voice

Fixing homonyms: “to / too / two”

With proofreading on (either with Proofread Word Box, Proofread Paste Box, or continuous proofreading), you can say:

• Fix The Two — helps correct “to / too / two” by letting the user choose:
• Selection One — “to” (t o)
• Selection Two — “two” (t w o)
• Selection Three — “too” (t o o)
• Ignore All — skips correction

Fixing homonyms: “for / four”

• Fix The Four — helps correct “for / four” by letting the user choose the correct form (F-O-R vs F-O-U-R). This behavior also occurs only while proofreading is active, and is especially useful when dictation is captured in short phrases.