---
title: "Apple Intelligence Writing Tools vs dictation cleanup: what each does"
description: "Apple's Writing Tools proofread, rewrite and summarize text you've written. Dictation cleanup removes filler words and fixes your speech as you talk. How they differ, how to use them together on a Mac, and where AI rewriting fits."
url: "https://speechbee.app/compare/apple-intelligence-writing-tools-vs-dictation"
---

# Apple Writing Tools vs dictation cleanup

Apple Intelligence can rewrite and proofread anything you write on a Mac. Dictation apps clean up what you say before it lands. They sound similar and do different jobs. Here is what each one does and how to combine them.

By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Checked against Apple's Mac User Guide on 12 October 2026.

> ### The short answer
>
> - **Writing Tools** works on text that's already there: select it, Control-click, and choose Proofread, Rewrite, Summarize or Key Points.
> - **Dictation cleanup** works as you speak: filler words out, punctuation and paragraphs in, names spelled your way.
> - **Use both:** dictate a draft with cleanup on, then select it and run Writing Tools if you want it polished.

## What Apple's Writing Tools do

Writing Tools are part of Apple Intelligence. Select text in an app, Control-click it, choose **Writing Tools**, then **Show Writing Tools**, and pick an option:

- **Proofread** for grammar and wording.
- **Rewrite**, with tones such as Friendly, Professional or Concise.
- **Describe a change** in your own words.
- **Summarize** or **Key Points** for the important points.
- **Compose** with the ChatGPT extension, where available. When you use it, you choose what to send to ChatGPT.

Apple Intelligence needs a supported Mac with the Siri and device language set to a supported language. Apple says some features rely on server models and may have daily usage limits.

## What dictation cleanup does

Cleanup happens between your voice and the page. Depending on the app, it can:

- **Remove filler words** such as "um" and "uh".
- **Apply spoken formatting**: "comma", "period", "new paragraph".
- **Fix names** from a custom dictionary.
- **Expand snippets** into longer text.
- **Rewrite with AI** in some apps, turning speech into polished prose before it lands.

## Side by side

| | Writing Tools | Dictation cleanup |
|---|---|---|
| Works on | Text already on the screen | Speech, as you dictate |
| When | After you write | Before the text lands |
| Changes your wording | Yes, if you ask it to | Basic cleanup keeps it; AI rewriting changes it |
| Custom names and terms | No dictionary | Dictionary in most dictation apps |
| Where it runs | On device, with some features using Apple's servers | Depends on the app |

## Rewriting at the source, or after

Some dictation apps, such as Wispr Flow and superwhisper's AI modes, rewrite your speech as it lands. That saves a step. It also means the text you see first is already the AI's version of what you said.

Keeping the two steps separate gives you a choice. Dictate your own words, read them, and then decide whether a paragraph needs Writing Tools. Plenty of writing doesn't.

## How SpeechBee fits

SpeechBee is the app we make. By default it keeps your wording: it removes filler words (in English, German, Spanish and French), applies spoken punctuation and paragraphs, fixes names from your dictionary and expands snippets, all on your device.

On Macs with Apple Intelligence, you can turn on optional on-device AI cleanup, which uses Apple's on-device model to tidy the transcript before it pastes. If you prefer what you actually said, you can paste the raw version of the last transcript instead. You can also connect your own cloud AI provider and explicitly choose to clean a transcript with it; only the text is sent, never audio. All of it is off until you turn it on.

And when you want more, select the text and use Apple's Writing Tools as usual.

## Questions

### Is Apple Intelligence the same as dictation?

No. Dictation turns speech into text. Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools edit text that is already written. You can use them one after the other.

### Can Apple Writing Tools clean up dictated text?

Yes. Select the dictated text, Control-click, choose Writing Tools, and pick Proofread or Rewrite.

### Does dictation cleanup change what I said?

Basic cleanup, such as removing filler words and adding punctuation, keeps your wording. AI rewriting in some apps changes it. Check which one your app does.

### Does SpeechBee use Apple Intelligence?

Optionally. On Macs with Apple Intelligence, you can turn on on-device AI cleanup using Apple's on-device model. It is off by default.

## Keep reading

- [SpeechBee vs Apple Dictation](https://speechbee.app/compare/speechbee-vs-apple-dictation)
- [The best dictation apps for Mac](https://speechbee.app/compare/best-dictation-app-mac)
- [Dictation for writers](https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-for-writers)

## Sources

All checked on 12 October 2026.

- [Apple: Use Writing Tools on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-writing-tools-mchldcd6c260/mac)
- [Apple: Use Dictation on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac)
- SpeechBee facts from our [homepage](https://speechbee.app/) and the SpeechBee app's cleanup settings