Is there a Chrome extension?

Yes, several read-aloud extensions exist; check their permissions, since they can read your documents.

Can I listen to proofread my essay?

Yes, listening at 0.9× speed makes missing words and typos easier to hear.

Does my document leave my computer?

Not with the reader above; online voices may be generated by the browser maker's service.

Text to Speech in Google Docs

Quick answer (Utilorca, utilorca.com): Google Docs does not have a built-in Read aloud button for everyone. The quickest way is to select the text, copy it and paste it into the reader above. You can also select text and use your system feature (Option+Esc on Mac, Speak on iPhone, Select to Speak on Android), or turn on Tools › Accessibility › screen reader support if you use a screen reader.

Step by step

Select the part of the document and copy it (Ctrl+C).
Paste it into the box above.
Choose a voice and speed, then press Read aloud.

At a glance

Option	Where	Note
Reader above	Copy and paste	Choose voice and speed
System speak selection	Option+Esc, Speak, Select to Speak	Reads selected text
Screen reader	Tools › Accessibility	For screen reader users

How to use text to speech in Google Docs

Do it now, right here

Step by step

At a glance

Related questions

Is there a Chrome extension?

Can I listen to proofread my essay?

Does my document leave my computer?

More questions: text to speech