Why talking can help
When writing takes effort, part of your attention goes to spelling and typing instead of the thought itself. Speech recognition has long been used as a writing aid by people who find typing or spelling hard, including many people with dyslexia. Talking lets the thought come out at the speed you think it. No speech recognition is perfect, so a few words will come out wrong.
Set up your phone for less reading
These are built into iPhone and work in any app.
- Larger text: Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Text
- Speak Screen: turn it on in Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content, then swipe down with two fingers from the top to hear the screen read aloud
- Bold text in the same Display & Text Size menu, if it's easier on your eyes
- Dark mode, if a bright page tires you
What to do about wrong words
Leave most of them. You'll know what you meant when you read it back, and the recording is there if you don't. Fix only names and words you'll want to search for later, such as a person or a place.
Reading back with less strain
- Keep entries short, so each one is quick to read
- Play the recording instead of reading the text
- Read one entry at a time, not a whole month
- Use Speak Screen to hear an entry read aloud
Journaling with dyslexia in Dawn Light
Tap the sun and talk, and your words appear on screen as you speak. Turn on Keep recordings in Settings so every entry has your voice to play back. Dawn Light doesn't rewrite what you say, so the transcript is exactly what was heard. With Plus, each entry opens on a few short points, and the Your words row opens the full text.
Questions about journaling with dyslexia
Will the transcript have mistakes?
Sometimes. Names, unusual words and noisy rooms trip up any speech recognition. Speak at your normal pace in a quiet spot and fix only the words you'll want to search for.
Can I listen to my journal instead of reading it?
Yes. Keep the recording with each entry and play it back, or use Speak Screen to have the text read aloud.
Does Dawn Light correct my spelling or grammar?
It writes down what you say, so there's no spelling for you to do. It doesn't tidy your sentences. The transcript stays exactly as you said it.
Keep a journal without writing
Tap the sun and talk. Dawn Light writes your words on screen as you speak and keeps the recording so you can listen back.
Get Dawn Light freeUnlimited entries, transcripts, search and iCloud sync. For iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Works with iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 or later.