Proofread by Ear: Use Text‑to‑Speech to Edit Faster

Last updated: December 2025

Your brain is excellent at “autocorrecting” what you meant to write — which is why you can read your own draft and miss obvious mistakes. Text‑to‑speech helps because it turns your writing into something you can listen to like a reader would.

Best for: essays, emails, cover letters, reports, blog posts, resumes, and anything where clarity matters.

Read‑Aloud specifics

Use a neutral voice. “Character” voices (or overly robotic ones) can hide real writing issues.
Voices are device-dependent. If a voice sounds wrong, try another voice (or another browser).
Pro editing tip: slow down slightly (0.85×–0.95×). Your ears catch missing words better when speech is a bit slower.

If your voice list is empty or iOS audio is silent, see Help.

Quick Proofreading Workflow (10 Minutes)

Paste your draft into Read‑Aloud.
Set speed to 0.9× (slightly slow helps catch issues).
Press Start and follow along lightly.
When you hear a problem, Pause, fix it in your original document, then resume.

10-minute proofreading checklist (copy/paste)

☐ 0:00–1:00  Setup
   - Open the original document (where you will edit)
   - Open Read‑Aloud and paste the same text
   - Set speed to 0.9×

☐ 1:00–4:00  Pass 1: “missing & repeated”
   - Missing words (your brain skips them visually)
   - Repeated words ("the the")
   - Wrong small words (a/an, to/too, of/off)

☐ 4:00–7:00  Pass 2: “sentence shape”
   - Run‑ons (too long)
   - Punctuation that doesn’t match the meaning
   - Awkward transitions ("However", "Therefore", etc.)

☐ 7:00–9:00  High‑risk items
   - Names, dates, numbers, measurements, URLs
   - Headings and bullet lists (are they parallel?)

☐ 9:00–10:00 Final
   - Re‑listen to the first paragraph and the last paragraph once more

What TTS Helps You Catch

Missing words: “I went to store” (your eyes may skip it; your ears won’t).
Duplicated words: “the the”
Run-on sentences: you can hear when a sentence never ends.
Awkward phrasing: clunky transitions become obvious when spoken.
Punctuation problems: TTS often “stumbles” where punctuation is confusing.

Two Passes Beat One Pass

If you have time, do two short passes instead of one long one:

Pass 1 (clarity): Does every paragraph have a clear point?
Pass 2 (polish): Grammar, word choice, repetition, and tone.

Choose the Right Voice

A neutral voice is usually best for editing. If the voice is overly dramatic or robotic, it can distract you. Try a couple in the voice picker and pick the one that feels “invisible.”

Editing Prompts (Ask These While Listening)

What is the main point of this paragraph?
Is any sentence doing too many jobs?
Are there repeated words in close proximity?
Would a reader understand this without context?

Common Fixes That Improve Writing Fast

Split long sentences into two.
Replace vague words (“things,” “stuff,” “very”) with specific ones.
Move the main point to the first sentence of the paragraph.
Cut repeated phrases.

Next: How to Use Read‑Aloud · Study with TTS · All Guides