Another method - more complex, but more flexible - is to attach each syllable/word to to its own note in Layer 2. the hide the Layer 2 notes and enter your reciting note in Layer 1. In order to accommodate the varying number of notes in each 'bar', you can either count 'em and change the time signature accordingly (then hide it using Staff Attributes) or turn off checking for extra notes, as per this entry from the Finale manual:
Check for Extra Notes. If you try to add too many notes to a measure, or extend the duration of an existing note beyond the maximum number of beats per measure when Check for Extra Notes is selected, Finale displays the “There are too many beats†dialog box when you leave the measure. If you want to override Finale, choose Check for Extra Notes from the Speedy Menu to remove the checkmark, then enter the note. When this option is not selected, you can enter as many notes as you’d like in each measure, and Finale will not display the “There are too many beats†dialog box. Remember that any extra notes you enter will extend past the barline of the measure, unless you choose Position Notes Evenly Across Measure in the Measure Attributes dialog box.
NB. That last sentence is important.
This seems like a lot of work, but if you do a lot of this reciting note stuff (and I did when I typeset
Psalm Songs), you will find it worthwhile. The problem with the CTRL-SPACE approach is that everything under the reciting note effectively becomes one syllable, which can be tricky from the layout point of view (but fine for the odd isolated occasion).
I hope this helps.
