Reading and writing are fundamental, no matter your background or profession. Whether you are a student or a professional, you engage in these tasks regularly, though the specific requirements might differ.
However, some folks need additional support with these activities. This could be due to learning differences, limited literacy, or navigating a second language. Thankfully, tools like Read&Write can provide that extra bit of assistance.
what is Read&Write?
Read&Write is a tool designed to aid both students and professionals in their everyday reading and writing tasks. It offers features beneficial for both educational and professional settings.
How exactly does it help? It comes packed with tools such as Text-to-Speech, Text and Picture Dictionaries, Audio Maker, Voice Notes, and Screen Masking, all geared toward making reading and writing easier for everyone.
Users can have text read out loud or get support in understanding complex words. It can also assist with researching assignments and proofreading before submission. Professionals can use it to compose emails and reports efficiently.
Tools such as highlighters, voice notes, and audio makers enhance the experience of reading digital documents, whether for school or work. There are also tools like text prediction and a proofreader that checks grammar, spelling, and can read the entire text out loud. Plus, there’s a talk-to-type option for folks who think faster when speaking. Students can also access vocabulary and definition resources to improve their literacy skills.
Read&Write is available for various platforms including Windows, Macs, Chromebooks, iPads, tablets, and Google Chrome.
When used as a Chrome extension, it works on web pages, PDFs, ePUBs, Google Docs, Slides, Forms, Drive, and Microsoft Office. For students, it integrates with most Learning Management Systems like Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, and Brightspace.
Read&Write Features
Here’s a rundown of some of the most helpful tools in Read&Write:
-
Text-to-Speech: Listening to text can sometimes be more effective than reading it. This tool reads aloud any on-screen text, including webpages and your own writing. It also uses dual-color highlighting which makes it easy to track the text being spoken. A screenshot reader is also available that grabs text from images and reads it aloud, but it requires a separate extension install.
-
Text & Picture Dictionaries: This is super helpful for understanding tricky words. The dictionary tool allows you to look up definitions and also has a picture dictionary to visually illustrate the meaning of new words.
-
Screen Masking: A reading pane that helps increase focus and reduce visual stress and distractions.
-
Vocabulary List: When you find a new word, you can quickly add it to a vocabulary list. It stores your word lists along with definitions and visual aids.
-
Check It: A proofreading tool to check your writing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation issues.
-
Word Prediction: This writing aid predicts what you’re typing so you can write uninterrupted.
-
Highlight: You can color-code important information on the page and also have the tool create a separate document containing just your highlighted points.
-
Voice Notes: Perfect for users who prefer verbal communication, voice notes let you leave audio comments on Google Docs that others can listen to.
There are other tools, but those are the main ones. Most premium features are only available with a subscription. Subscription pricing differs a little for those in education and other industries. Read&Write for Education is about $150, while the work version is about $270.
Good news! Read&Write is completely free for teachers. If you’re looking to deploy the tool for a whole school or workplace, they have different pricing options available.
Get Read&Write for Google Chrome
You can get a 30-day free trial when you install Read&Write for Google Chrome, giving you access to all premium features. After the trial, you’ll still get Text-to-Speech and Translator, but other features require a subscription.
To add Read&Write to Chrome, you can search for the extension in the Chrome web store or you can directly use this link Read&Write. This also means you can also use it on Microsoft Edge.
Then, click the “Add to Chrome” button to add it to your browser.
A pop-up will appear outlining the access that the extension will request, asking if you want to add it. Read the info and then click “Add extension”.
The extension will be installed, showing up either in your address bar or in the extensions menu which you can find using the puzzle-shaped icon.
Click the purple, puzzle-shaped Read&Write icon from the address bar or extensions menu to open the toolbar. It’ll usually hover on the browser but its position might be fixed in certain cases.
Using Read&Write on a Webpage
You can make it easier to read and understand text on any webpage using Read&Write. To use it, navigate to a web page and click the extension’s icon.
When you do this, it’ll prompt you to log in using a Google account. You can do this or just click “Close” on the prompt. However, closing it means you’ll get the login prompt each time you go to use the extension.
The extension’s toolbar will appear at the top. When used on a webpage, you can move it using the “Move” icon on the far left.
Using Text-to-Speech Tools
To use Text-to-Speech, select the text you want to start with and then click the “Play” icon on the toolbar.
The tool will read the selected text aloud, continuing beyond the selection. Click the “Pause” or “Stop” buttons to pause or completely stop the speech.
To change the voice or adjust the playback speed, click the three-dot menu at the right and select “Settings”.
You can choose a different voice or language from the dropdown menu and use the slider to adjust the speed.
There are more settings you can change such as whether it reads continuously or speaks as you type. Click “Save” after you make changes.
To have the text under your cursor read out loud, click the “Hover Speech” option, then hover over the text.
If you want to read text from a picture, click the option for “Screenshot Reader.”
It will redirect you to the “Screenshot Reader” extension on the Chrome web store. Click “Add to Chrome” to install it.
A confirmation will appear. Click “Add” to install the extension.
Then, click the Screenshot Reader icon again and select the image with the text you want to listen to.
You can also convert text to an MP3 file with the audio maker. Select the text and click the “Audio Maker” button. The file will download to your computer’s default downloads folder.
Using Dictionary
To look up the definition of a word, select it and click the “Dictionary” option on the toolbar.
The definition will appear in a pop-up. If you want to hear the definition, click the “Play” button.
For a visual meaning of the word, click “Picture Dictionary” while the word is selected. Not every word will have a visual.
Using Screen Masking
Click the “Screen Masking” button to use it.
This tool masks most of the screen, leaving only a portion in focus. You can change the background color and opacity of the reading area. Click “Settings” or access Settings directly from the main menu to change these.
Change the background or reading area color by selecting the color options underneath the main color button.
Use the sliders under “Background Opacity” and “Reading Light Opacity” to adjust how transparent the background and focused area are. More opacity on the background will be less distracting.
Adjust the reading area height with the slider and click “Save”.
Click the “Screen Masking” button again to turn it off.
Highlighting a Text
To highlight a text, select it and click the color you want to highlight it with on the toolbar.
To remove a highlight, select it and click “Clear Highlights”.
Click “Collect Highlights” to save all of your highlighted text into its own document. You can sort the highlights in the document by color or their position on the page.
A pop-up will appear. Choose the colors you want to collect and click “OK”. You will need to be logged in with your Google account for this feature.
If you want to add a word to your vocabulary list, highlight the word and click the “Vocabulary List” icon. The list is a separate Google Doc that the extension creates.
A pop-up will appear asking which highlight colors to collect. Select them and click “Ok”. You need to be logged into your Google account to use this. A login dialog will appear if you’re not logged in.
Tip: Use a single color for highlighting vocabulary words to avoid mixing it with your other highlights.
Other Features
If you need to translate text, select it and click the “Translator” button on the toolbar. Once it’s active, the pop-up will keep changing the translation as you select new words. Click “Close” on the pop-up to stop translating.
To change the translation language, open settings. Then, click the dropdown under “Translation” and select the language. Click “Save” after you’re done.
If a webpage has too many distractions, like ads, click “Simplify Page”. This will open the page content in a separate tab without any of the distractions.
Using Read&Write in Google Docs or Microsoft Word
When using Read&Write in writing tools like Google Docs, Microsoft Word Online, and other compatible tools like Slides or Powerpoint, the set of tools is a bit different than when using it on a webpage. You get tools like Check It, Prediction, talk&type, and voice notes to help with writing. Let’s look at how to use them.
When you open a compatible document, the Read&Write icon will automatically appear. Click on it to activate the toolbar.
The toolbar will appear at the top of the page, and unlike on a web page, you can’t move it around.
To check the grammar, spelling, and more, click the “Check It” button on the left side.
To use the “Prediction” feature while writing, click the icon on the toolbar. As long as it’s active, you’ll get word predictions while typing.
To type with your voice, click the “Talk&Type” button.
If the site does not already have microphone access, a permission prompt will show up. Click “Allow”.
The microphone will activate and you can start speaking. It automatically adds some punctuation but you can say “Period” to insert a period or say “New Line”. You can also type while using Talk&Type, as it will not automatically deactivate the microphone. To stop using it, click the “Microphone” icon.
Then, click the “Close” button on the Talk&Type pop-up.
In Google Docs, you can also leave voice notes as comments. This is only for Google Docs, not elsewhere. Click the “Voice Note” button on the toolbar.
Then, click the “Microphone” icon to start recording.
Click “Stop” to end recording. If you don’t stop it manually, the recording will end automatically after 60 seconds.
Click “Play” to listen to the note before posting. If it’s good, click “Comment”, otherwise, click “Cancel” to rerecord.
The rest of the tools, such as Text-to-Speech, Translator, Highlighter, and Vocabulary List, function the same way as when used in any other compatible application.
Read&Write is a really useful tool for anyone needing that extra support to level the playing field. The Chrome extension makes the service even more accessible in today’s browser-centric world.