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Custom Dictionary

Your Custom Dictionary teaches TalkWriter to recognize words it does not already know. Names, brand terms, technical jargon, and any unusual vocabulary can be added so your dictations come out right the first time.

Why a Custom Dictionary Matters​

Speech recognition models are trained on billions of words of general language. They handle everyday words well, but they have never heard your coworker's name, your company's product names, or your industry's specialized terminology. Without a custom dictionary, TalkWriter has to guess -- and it often guesses wrong.

Adding a word to your dictionary gives TalkWriter a recognition boost for that specific word. Instead of guessing "Cooper net ease" when you say "Kubernetes," it knows exactly what you mean. The more domain-specific your vocabulary, the more value the dictionary provides.

Before and After​

ScenarioWithout DictionaryWith Dictionary
Your name "Reduanul""red you all""Reduanul"
Brand "TalkWriter""talk writer""TalkWriter"
Medical term "Omeprazole""oh me pra zol""Omeprazole"
Tech term "Kubernetes""Cooper net ease""Kubernetes"
Client "Bjornsson""be your son""Bjornsson"

Adding a New Word​

  1. Click the TalkWriter menu bar icon and select Settings.
  2. Navigate to the Dictionary tab on the left.
  3. Click the + Add Word button.
  4. Type the word exactly as you want it transcribed (capitalization matters -- "TalkWriter" is different from "talkwriter").
  5. (Optional) Add a pronunciation hint -- write the word phonetically so TalkWriter knows how you say it (e.g., "red-oo-ah-nool" for "Reduanul").
  6. Click Save.
tip

If a word is consistently misheard, add both the correct spelling and the common misheard version as a pronunciation hint. This gives the engine multiple paths to the right output.

Editing a Word​

  1. Go to Settings > Dictionary.
  2. Find the word using the search bar or by scrolling.
  3. Click the pencil icon next to the word.
  4. Update the spelling or pronunciation hint.
  5. Click Save.

Deleting a Word​

  1. Go to Settings > Dictionary.
  2. Locate the word you want to remove.
  3. Click the trash icon next to it.
  4. Confirm the deletion in the dialog that appears.
warning

Deleting a word is immediate and cannot be undone. Double-check before confirming.

Building a Domain-Specific Dictionary​

The most valuable use of the custom dictionary is building it out for your specific field. Here are starter word lists for common professions:

Software Development​

  • Framework names: React, NextJS, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis
  • Tools: Terraform, Docker, GitHub, CircleCI, Vercel, Supabase
  • Concepts: microservices, CI/CD, webhook, middleware, ORM

Medical​

  • Drug names: Omeprazole, Lisinopril, Metformin, Amoxicillin
  • Procedures: colonoscopy, echocardiogram, arthroscopy
  • Conditions: hypertension, tachycardia, neuropathy
  • Terms: indemnification, subpoena, tort, fiduciary, arbitration
  • Latin: habeas corpus, pro bono, prima facie, de facto

Finance​

  • Terms: amortization, EBITDA, hedge, derivative, liquidity
  • Ratios: price-to-earnings, debt-to-equity, return on assets

Practical Example: Setting Up for a New Job​

Scenario: You just started a new job at a tech company called "Nimbus Cloud" and need to dictate about their products daily.

  1. Open Settings > Dictionary.
  2. Add these words:
    • "Nimbus Cloud" (company name)
    • "NimbusDB" (their database product)
    • "CloudSync" (their sync feature)
    • Names of your team members (especially unusual names)
    • Any internal acronyms (e.g., "NCRM" for their CRM system)
  3. Add pronunciation hints for anything tricky.
  4. Start dictating. TalkWriter now recognizes all your company-specific terms from day one.
Pro Tip

Add words to your dictionary as you encounter misrecognitions. Every time TalkWriter gets a word wrong, add the correct version. Within a week, your dictionary covers 95% of your daily vocabulary and misrecognitions become rare.

How It Works Behind the Scenes​

When you dictate, TalkWriter checks your custom dictionary alongside its built-in vocabulary. Custom words receive a recognition boost, so the engine is far more likely to choose your intended word over a similar-sounding alternative. The more context you provide (via pronunciation hints), the better it performs. New words take effect immediately -- no restart required.

FAQ​

How many words can I add? There is no hard limit. Users with thousands of entries report smooth performance.

Do dictionary words sync across my devices? Yes. Your dictionary syncs automatically when you are signed in to your TalkWriter account.

Can I add multi-word phrases? Yes. You can add full phrases like "machine learning" or "New York City" as a single dictionary entry.

Do I need to restart the app after adding a word? No. New words take effect immediately on your next dictation.

Can I import or export my dictionary? Import and export functionality is coming soon. For now, words are added manually through the Settings panel.

Was this helpful? Let us know at support@talkwriter.ai

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