6.1 What the Print Command Is

The Print command is a precise text-entry tool in Speaking Access.

It allows users to intentionally place short text, symbols, letters, or numbers at the current cursor location.

Unlike free dictation, Print is controlled and exact. Nothing is typed unless the user explicitly requests it.

6.2 When to Use the Print Command

The Print command is best suited for short or structured input.

• Titles and headings
• Email subject lines
• Individual words or short phrases
• Letters, numbers, and symbols
• Precise punctuation placement

For longer sentences or paragraphs, Post Mode or Dictation Mode is usually more efficient.

6.3 How the Print Command Works

When the user says “Print” followed by content, Speaking Access types the requested text at the cursor position.

Speaking Access then confirms what was printed using spoken feedback.

The Print command does not move the cursor to a new line. The Enter key must be spoken separately if a line break is required.

6.4 Punctuation and Capitalization

Punctuation must be spoken explicitly when using the Print command.

Including punctuation causes Speaking Access to automatically handle capitalization at the beginning of a sentence.

• Speaking punctuation prints the character
• Omitting punctuation prints plain text only
• Capital letters can be requested directly

For example, users can say:

• “print period” to print a .
• “print comma” to print a ,
• “print question mark” to print a ?
• “print open bracket” to print a (

This allows the user to fully control how text appears on screen.

6.5 Numbers and Literals

Numbers are printed as numerals by default.

When a user says the Print command followed by a number between 0 and 9 (for example, “print one”, “print two”, “print three”), Speaking Access types the number as a word.

To force a digit for numbers between 0 and 9, the user must add the word “numeral”, such as “print numeral one”, “print numeral two”, or “print numeral three”.

For any number greater than 9, Speaking Access automatically prints digits without needing the word “number” or “numeral”.

To print a number as words, the user adds the word “literal” before the number.

• Numerals print as digits
• Literals print numbers as words

This makes it easy to control how numbers appear in different contexts.

6.6 Printing Lowercase and Uppercase Letters

The Print command can type both lowercase and uppercase letters without adding a space after the letter.

Lowercase letters with Print

To print a lowercase letter, say “print the letter” followed by the letter you want.

• “print the letter a” prints a
• “print the letter b” prints b
• “print the letter c” prints c

This prints a single lowercase letter with no space after it.

Uppercase letters with Print

To print an uppercase letter, say “print capital” followed by the letter you want.

• “print capital r” prints R
• “print capital d” prints D
• “print capital w” prints W

This prints a single uppercase letter with no space after it.

Using the first letter of a word

If the system has trouble understanding the letter name, you can ask for the first letter of a word instead.

• For a lowercase letter: “print the first letter of cat” prints c with no space.
• For an uppercase letter: “print the first letter of Alberta” prints A with no space.

Using Shift and Keyboard commands for letters

If Print still has trouble recognizing a letter, you can use the Shift or Keyboard commands.

For uppercase letters with Shift, say “shift” followed by the letter:

• “shift k” types an uppercase K

For lowercase letters with Keyboard, say “keyboard” followed by the letter:

• “keyboard g” types a lowercase g
• “keyboard h” types a lowercase h
• “keyboard t” types a lowercase t

You can also use the first letter of a word with Keyboard:

• For an uppercase letter: “keyboard Toronto” types an uppercase T.
• For a lowercase letter: “keyboard time” types a lowercase t.

6.7 Spacing Behavior

Speaking Access automatically manages spacing after printed content.

• A space is added after words and numbers
• No space is added after letters
• No space is added after symbols or punctuation

This spacing behavior helps maintain clean and predictable text layout.