Replacements allow you to substitute words, terms, or phrases in your script with a different spoken output.
They are useful when the written text should be spoken differently, such as:
- numbers
- abbreviations
- IDs or codes
- URLs
- shorthand or symbols
Once saved to your Pronunciation Library, replacements can be reused across projects to ensure consistent pronunciation.
Replacements can also include phonetic respellings, which allow you to control how a word is pronounced.
For detailed instructions on creating phonetic respellings, see the Guide to Respellings.
What are Replacements?
A Replacement rule tells Studio to speak text differently from how it appears in the script.
For example:
Original text: 1099-MISC
Spoken output: ten ninety-nine miscellaneous
When a replacement is saved, Studio automatically applies the rule whenever that text appears.
You can store multiple replacements for the same text and toggle between them depending on the context.
When to Use Replacements
Verbalization Guidance
Replacements help ensure your voices consistently deliver content accurately when the pronunciation of a word, term, or phrase would otherwise be ambiguous.
Names and Branding
Some brand names include numbers or symbols that the voice model cannot interpret correctly.
Original text: 6ix9ine
Spoken output: six nine
Without a replacement, avatars may attempt to read this as:
“six ix nine ine”
Original text: P!nk
Spoken output: Pink
Without a replacement, avatars may attempt to read this as:
“P nk”
Reference Numbers
Numbers may be interpreted as mathematical values rather than identifiers.
Original text: 101
Spoken output: one oh one
Without a replacement, avatars may pronounce this as:
“one hundred and one”
Original text: 1601
Spoken output: one six zero one
Without a replacement, avatars may assume the intended pronunciation is:
“sixteen oh one”
Simplified URLs
Most URLs should vocalize correctly, but a Replacement can be particularly helpful if the URL domain (“ourproduct”) is difficult to parse.
URLs often contain characters that are unnecessary or distracting when spoken aloud.
Original text: http://www.ourproduct.com
Spoken output: our product dot com
Without a replacement, avatars may read the full URL as:
“H T T P colon slash slash W W W dot ourproduct dot com”
Shorthand
Some shorthand terms should be spoken as full phrases.
Original text: e.g.
Spoken output: for example
Without a replacement, avatars may pronounce this as:
“E G”
Original text: 1099-MISC
Spoken output: ten ninety-nine miscellaneous
Without a replacement, avatars may read this as:
“ten ninety-nine M I S C”
How Replacements and Respellings Work Together
Replacements and respellings solve different problems but are often used together.
- Replacements change what text is spoken.
- Respellings control how a word is pronounced.
A replacement rule can optionally include a phonetic respelling when you want precise control over pronunciation.
Example:
Original text: La Jolla
Replacement: lah-HOY-uh
For more details on phonetic pronunciation rules, see the Guide to Respellings.
Pronunciation Guidance
In some cases, a replacement may include a phonetic respelling to guide pronunciation.
This is useful when the voice needs help pronouncing:
- acronyms
- proper names
- borrowed words
- heteronyms (words spelled the same but pronounced differently)
Examples:
CAASD → KAZ-dee
La Jolla → lah-HOY-uh
Beyoncé → bee-YAHN-say
Without a replacement, avatars may read this as:
For detailed pronunciation rules and phonetic guidance, see the Guide to Respellings and Respellings Reference Charts.
How to Add Replacements
There are two ways to use Replacements in your Studio editor.
From the Smart Toolbar
- Highlight the word in the editor to display the Smart Toolbar.
- Select + New Replacement.
- The Replacements panel opens in the right sidebar.
- The Original text field is filled automatically.
- Enter the spoken text or respelling (phonetic respelling toggle on) in the Replacement field.
- Preview the pronunciation.
- Click Save to Library.
From the Pronunciation Library
- Open the Replacements panel in the right sidebar.
- Click + New Replacement.
- Enter the Original text.
- Enter the Replacement text.
- Preview the pronunciation.
- Click Save to Library.
Switching Between Replacements
When a replacement is applied, the word appears bolded in the editor.
Highlight the word to open the Smart Toolbar.
From the dropdown, you can:
• switch to another replacement
• preview alternatives
• disable replacements for that word
Editing and Deleting Replacements
Delete a Replacement
- Highlight the word in the editor.
- Open the Smart Toolbar dropdown.
- Select the replacement you want to remove.
- Click the trash icon.
- Confirm deletion.
The replacement will be removed from your Pronunciation Library.
Edit a Replacement
- Open Libraries in the left navigation.
- Locate the replacement entry.
- Select the replacement you want to update.
- Edit the original text or replacement value.
- Save your changes.
Tips for Using Replacements
- Use replacements when the spoken output should differ from the written text.
- Store commonly used replacements in your Pronunciation Library.
- If the issue is pronunciation rather than text substitution, use a respelling instead.
- Check Respelling Suggestions before creating a custom phonetic spelling.