What Does “Dictate” Mean?
The verb dictate means to say or read aloud words for someone else to write down, or to command or prescribe something authoritatively.
Examples:
- The manager dictated a memo to her assistant.
- Circumstances often dictate our choices.
What Is “Dictation”?
Dictation is the noun form. It refers to the act of speaking words for someone to write down, or the written record produced from such an activity. In education, dictation exercises are commonly used to improve listening and spelling skills.
Examples:
- The teacher gave the class a short dictation exercise.
- She transcribed the doctor’s dictation into a patient report.
Key Differences
While both terms relate to spoken instructions or text, dictate is primarily a verb (action), whereas dictation is a noun (the result or process).
- Dictate: action of speaking for transcription or commanding.
- Dictation: the spoken content itself or the practice of transcribing it.