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Timeless Advantage : stop writing. Start talking.
We speak at 150 words perminute vs 50 when we write.
Franck Nussbaumer
January 23, 2026
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by Franck Nussbaumer
Hi everyone
Today we explore speech-to-text tools.
If you’ve felt weird talking to your phone or computer, don’t. The maths tells you you are right.
You write at 50 words per minute. You speak at 150. So, if you are still typing every single email, report, or LinkedIn message manually, you are working at 30% of your potential speed.
Voice Dictation Tools
You might not know this, but the word flow when you speak is about 150 words per minute. Whereas for writing, it's more around 50 words per minute, if you count the corrections we make along the way.
For example, I found this site, Ratatype, which allows you to measure how fast you type.
So, the conclusion is simple. It is better to speak than to write.
Yet, how much time do we spend writing? Emails, messages, reports, articles, etc.
That's why, generally, I try to prioritise voice dictation tools for writing my emails and messages.
I wanted to introduce three of them to you today:
Simple dictation with Apple. To activate it, just double-click "Command".
BetterDictation, which allows you to transcribe your speech using artificial intelligence. The tool is available in several languages.
SuperWhisper, which offers the same features, but is more oriented towards the types of messages you want to write between emails, SMS, etc.
Right now, I use BetterDictation a lot for its ease of use and configuration.
When I am on my phone, I mainly use Apple dictation. Where it works best is in native Apple applications, like Messages for example. The result is a bit more hit-or-miss when used on the Mac, or on applications that are not directly native to Apple (WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Gmail). That will require staying quite attentive to corrections.
Finally, SuperWhisper, which I had abandoned because it was a bit more complex to use at the time. Despite that, it offers greater customisation. You can choose transcription models, as well as output formats (emails, messages, etc.).
All that's left is to proofread and format. So in any case, it allows you to reach a written production capacity that is three times higher.
Dictation Battle Example:
Note: The following transcripts reflect the raw output of the tools in French, translated into English to show the difference in punctuation handling.
Transcript with BetterDictation so the tool I use the most remains better dictation simply because I find it ultra simple to configure it is also very effective in transcription the second one I mainly use is apple dictation especially on my phone which works better in native apple applications like messages for example and which is a bit more hit-or-miss when it is used either on the mac or on applications that are not directly native to apple for example on whatsapp where you will still have to remain quite attentive to correction finally super whisper I am retesting it again it is more customizable I feel like you can choose these different models these different languages and also the different formats that you want for output so emails messages in any case it allows us to reach a written production capacity three times higher and that is still pretty nice | Transcript with SuperWhisper I use BetterDictation the most, simply because I find it ultra-simple to configure and also very effective in transcription. The second one I use mainly is Apple dictation, especially on my phone, which works better in native Apple applications, like Messages for example, and which is a bit more hit-or-miss when used either on the Mac or on applications that are not directly native to Apple, for example on WhatsApp. So there, you will still have to remain quite attentive to the correction. Finally, SuperWhisper, I am retesting it again. It is more customizable, I feel, because you can choose its different models, different languages and also the different formats that you want for output, so emails, messages, etc. In any case, it allows us to reach a written production capacity three times higher, and that is still pretty nice. Thank you. |
Comparative Overview:
Features | Apple Dictation | Better Dictation | SuperWhisper |
Spelling | ⭑⭑✩✩✩ | ⭑⭑⭑✩✩ | ⭑⭑⭑⭑✩ |
Punctuation | ⭑⭑⭑✩✩ | ⭑⭑⭑✩✩ | ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ |
Format | ⭑⭑⭑⭑✩ (you must dictate it) | ⭑⭑✩✩✩ | ⭑⭑⭑✩✩ |
Mobile | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Happy talking!
See you soon for upcoming explorations!
Franck ⟁