diff --git a/source/appModules/kindle.py b/source/appModules/kindle.py
index 5c3241663b1..6b9ef327634 100644
--- a/source/appModules/kindle.py
+++ b/source/appModules/kindle.py
@@ -137,8 +137,7 @@ def script_showSelectionOptions(self, gesture):
 		# so retrieve and report the selection from Kindle.
 		# we can't just use self.makeTextInfo, as that will use our fake selection.
 		realSel = self.rootNVDAObject.makeTextInfo(textInfos.POSITION_SELECTION)
-		# Translators: Announces selected text. %s is replaced with the text.
-		speech.speakSelectionMessage(_("selected %s"), realSel.text)
+		speech.speakSelectedText(realSel.text)
 		# Remove our virtual selection and move the caret to the active end.
 		fakeSel.innerTextInfo = realSel
 		fakeSel.collapse(end=not self._lastSelectionMovedStart)
diff --git a/source/appModules/powerpnt.py b/source/appModules/powerpnt.py
index 9d169bc65ff..373148524af 100644
--- a/source/appModules/powerpnt.py
+++ b/source/appModules/powerpnt.py
@@ -1081,7 +1081,7 @@ def event_treeInterceptor_gainFocus(self):
 		else:
 			info = self.selection
 			if not info.isCollapsed:
-				speech.speakSelectionMessage(_("selected %s"), info.text)
+				speech.speakSelectedText(info.text)
 			else:
 				info.expand(textInfos.UNIT_LINE)
 				speech.speakTextInfo(info, reason=controlTypes.REASON_CARET, unit=textInfos.UNIT_LINE)
diff --git a/source/browseMode.py b/source/browseMode.py
index ae969d34a13..0d789d21482 100644
--- a/source/browseMode.py
+++ b/source/browseMode.py
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@ def event_treeInterceptor_gainFocus(self):
 						speech.speakObject(self.rootNVDAObject, reason=controlTypes.REASON_FOCUS)
 				info = self.selection
 				if not info.isCollapsed:
-					speech.speakSelectionMessage(_("selected %s"), info.text)
+					speech.speakSelectedText(info.text)
 				else:
 					info.expand(textInfos.UNIT_LINE)
 					speech.speakTextInfo(info, reason=controlTypes.REASON_CARET, unit=textInfos.UNIT_LINE)
diff --git a/source/compoundDocuments.py b/source/compoundDocuments.py
index 360609c5fc7..1bceece602b 100644
--- a/source/compoundDocuments.py
+++ b/source/compoundDocuments.py
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ def event_treeInterceptor_gainFocus(self):
 				info.expand(textInfos.UNIT_LINE)
 				speech.speakTextInfo(info, unit=textInfos.UNIT_LINE, reason=controlTypes.REASON_CARET)
 			else:
-				speech.speakSelectionMessage(_("selected %s"), info.text)
+				speech.speakSelectedText(info.text)
 			braille.handler.handleGainFocus(self)
 			self.initAutoSelectDetection()
 
diff --git a/source/globalCommands.py b/source/globalCommands.py
index c311d2cb6ea..b17d8b9ff0c 100755
--- a/source/globalCommands.py
+++ b/source/globalCommands.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ def script_reportCurrentSelection(self,gesture):
 		if not info or info.isCollapsed:
 			speech.speakMessage(_("No selection"))
 		else:
-			speech.speakMessage(_("Selected %s")%info.text)
+			speech.speakSelectedText(info.text)
 	# Translators: Input help mode message for report current selection command.
 	script_reportCurrentSelection.__doc__=_("Announces the current selection in edit controls and documents. If there is no selection it says so.")
 	script_reportCurrentSelection.category=SCRCAT_SYSTEMCARET
diff --git a/source/speech.py b/source/speech.py
index 856e21439bb..87a5312b2e2 100755
--- a/source/speech.py
+++ b/source/speech.py
@@ -421,8 +421,7 @@ def speakObject(obj,reason=controlTypes.REASON_QUERY,index=None):
 			info=obj.makeTextInfo(textInfos.POSITION_SELECTION)
 			if not info.isCollapsed:
 				# if there is selected text, then there is a value and we do not report placeholder
-				# Translators: This is spoken to indicate what has been selected. for example 'selected hello world'
-				speakSelectionMessage(_("selected %s"),info.text)
+				speakSelectedText(info.text)
 			else:
 				info.expand(textInfos.UNIT_LINE)
 				_speakPlaceholderIfEmpty(info, obj, reason)
@@ -587,6 +586,13 @@ def speak(speechSequence,symbolLevel=None):
 				speechSequence[index]+=CHUNK_SEPARATOR
 	getSynth().speak(speechSequence)
 
+def speakSelectedText(text):
+	""" Helper method to speak the provided text with the word "selected" appended.
+	Implemented using L{speakSelectionMessage}, which allows for speaking text with an arbitrary attached message.
+	"""
+	# Translators: This is spoken to indicate what has been selected. for example 'hello world selected'
+	speakSelectionMessage(_("%s selected"),text)
+
 def speakSelectionMessage(message,text):
 	if len(text) < 512:
 		speakMessage(message % text)
@@ -644,14 +650,12 @@ def speakSelectionChange(oldInfo,newInfo,speakSelected=True,speakUnselected=True
 			for text in selectedTextList:
 				if  len(text)==1:
 					text=characterProcessing.processSpeechSymbol(locale,text)
-				# Translators: This is spoken while the user is in the process of selecting something, For example: "hello selected"
-				speakSelectionMessage(_("%s selected"),text)
+				speakSelectedText(text)
 		elif len(selectedTextList)>0:
 			text=newInfo.text
 			if len(text)==1:
 				text=characterProcessing.processSpeechSymbol(locale,text)
-			# Translators: This is spoken to indicate what has been selected. for example 'selected hello world'
-			speakSelectionMessage(_("selected %s"),text)
+			speakSelectedText(text)
 	if speakUnselected:
 		if not generalize:
 			for text in unselectedTextList: