### Answer This is similar to a known issue where the TTS system pronounces punctuation marks instead of treating them as pauses. Here are the recommended solutions: 1. Enable Speech Normalization Turn on the

normalize_for_speech

setting, which converts text to its spoken form before audio generation. [(1) ]() This helps the TTS system handle punctuation more naturally. [(2) ]() You can enable this via the API:

json
"normalize_for_speech": true

[(1) ]() 2. Add Prompt Instructions Include guidance in your agent's prompt to prevent the LLM from generating problematic punctuation patterns: [(2) ]()

When responding, use natural sentence breaks. Avoid unusual punctuation that might be read aloud.

3. Use the Pronunciation Dictionary You can add entries to guide how specific characters are handled: [(1) ]()

json
"pronunciation_dictionary": [
  {
    "word": ".",
    "alphabet": "ipa",
    "phoneme": ""
  }
]

4. Try a Different Voice Some voice models handle punctuation better than others. Consider testing different voice providers in your agent settings. [(2) ]() The most effective approach is typically combining speech normalization with prompt engineering to prevent the issue at the source.

​ To learn more, see the sources I considered: [[1] Update Voice Agent](https://docs.retellai.com/api-references/update-agent) [[2] My agent is pronouncing em-dashes in responses saying, "A-T" or "O-T" or "OT"](https://community.retellai.com/t/my-agent-is-pronouncing-em-dashes-in-responses-saying-a-t-or-o-t-or-ot/743) ​

Feel free to tag @AI Evy with additional questions. I also appreciate feedback, it helps me improve.