What are the JAWS Reading Commands

Question

What are the JAWS reading commands?:

 

Answer

The commands listed in the following document lists the commands that can be used to read content on the screen.  These commands are available in most applications. 

Many of the commands use the format “Insert plus key”.  When performing these commands, press and hold the Insert key then press the key following the plus sign.  For example, to read all text (Insert + Down arrow), press and hold the Insert key then press the down arrow key, then let up on both when JAWS starts reading. 

Some of the commands use the term “Num Pad” to refer to the number pad on the right side of the keyboard.  In these commands press the key on the number pad that follows the phrase “Num pad”. For example, to get Jaws to say the word the cursor is on, the command is “Insert Num pad 5”.  The command can be interpreted as “press and hold the Insert key then tap the number 5 on the number pad”. 

Note: To use the num pad with JAWS, the number lock must be turned off.

In the list below, the commands that begin with “Say”, do not move the cursor.  The commands that start with “Read” will move the cursor to the beginning of the text that is read.

Character Navigation

  • Say Current Character: Num Pad 5 - Reads the current character.
  • Say Current Character Phonetically: Num Pad 5 twice quickly.
  • Read Prior Character: Left Arrow 
  • Read Next Character: Right Arrow 

Line Navigation

  • Say from start of line to cursor: Insert + Num Pag Home
  • Read Prior Line: Up Arrow 
  • Read Next Line: Down Arrow

Word Navigation

  • Spell Current Word: Insert + Num Pad 5 (twice quickly)
  • Read Prior Word: Control + Left Arrow 
  • Read Next Word: Control + Right Arrow 

Sentence

  • say current sentence: Alt + Num Pad 5
  • Say Prior Sentence: Alt + Num Pad Minus
  • say next sentence: Alt + Num Pad Plus

Paragraph Navigation

  • Say Current Paragraph: Control + Num Pad 5
  • Read Prior Paragraph: Control + Up Arrow 
  • Read Next Paragraph: Control + Down Arrow 

Additional Reading Commands

  • Say All: Insert + Down Arrow. Press Control to pause reading.
  • Say Window Title: Insert + T 
  • Say Date and Time: Insert + F12 

 

For Additional Assistance

For more information, please contact the IT Accessibility Center at itaccessibilitycenter@missouri.edu or call (573) 884-2828.

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