Smart formatting

Why use it

Smart Formatting lets you control text structure with your voice. Drop in punctuation, create lists, break lines, and fix yourself mid-thought — all without touching the keyboard.

How it works

Punctuation

Say any of these to insert the corresponding punctuation:

Lists

Start with a cue word, then use numbered items to create bullet points:

Cue words: "list", "bullet", "bullets", "dash list", "unordered list", "ordered list", or "task list"

Item triggers:

• Numbers: "one", "two", "three" … through "ten"
• Ordinals: "first", "second", "third" … through "tenth"

Each item becomes a bullet point.

Line breaks

• "new line" — inserts a single line break
• "new paragraph" — inserts a blank line between thoughts

Quick fixes

• "actually", "scratch that", or "undo" — replaces the last clause with what follows
• "as a <phrase>" — swaps just the final noun phrase

Examples

Creating a list:

You say: "Agenda for today list one status updates two decisions three next steps."

Epilude writes:

Agenda for today:
- Status updates
- Decisions
- Next steps

Inline punctuation:

You say: "I can't wait to see you exclamation point let's meet at seven period."

Epilude writes:

I can't wait to see you! Let's meet at 7.

Quick correction:

You say: "Let's do coffee at 2 actually 3."

Epilude writes:

Let's do coffee at 3.

Dictating an email:

You say: "Hi Sarah comma new paragraph thanks for sending over the report period I had a few questions about the timeline em dash specifically the launch date period new paragraph Can we schedule a call this week question mark"

Epilude writes:

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for sending over the report. I had a few questions about the timeline — specifically the launch date.

Can we schedule a call this week?

Using line breaks:

You say: "Meeting notes new line project status is on track new line next review is Friday period"

Epilude writes:

Meeting notes
Project status is on track
Next review is Friday.

Tips

• Start lists with a cue word like "list" or "bullet", then pause briefly before items
• "quotation mark" is more reliable than "end quote"
• If a cue is missed, add a small pause before the trigger word
• Smart Formatting also removes common filler words like "um" and "uh"

Turning it on or off

1. Open Epilude → Settings → Dictation
2. Toggle Smart Formatting on or off

Changes apply immediately — no restart needed.

Frequently asked questions

Does Smart Formatting work in all languages?

Voice cues like "comma", "new line", and "list" currently work in English only. For other languages, punctuation is handled by your transcription provider's built-in punctuation model.

What's the difference between Smart Formatting and Auto-Edits?

Smart Formatting is local and rule-based — it only acts on specific voice cues you say. Auto-Edits uses AI to add punctuation and fix capitalization automatically, even when you don't say the cues. You can use both together for the best results.

Troubleshooting

• Unexpected formatting? Toggle off to confirm the issue, then back on
• Accidental bullets? Only lists spoken after cue words like "list" or "bullet" will format — skip the cue to keep plain text
• Missed cue? Add a small pause before the trigger word
• Still stuck? Get help with "Smart Formatting" noted in your report