Scribd
Upload
234 views7 pages

Rev Transcription Style Guide

The document provides guidelines for transcribers on how to accurately and professionally transcribe audio documents into written transcripts in 3 sentences or less: The Rev Transcription Style Guide outlines best practices for transcribers to follow, such as accurately preserving speech while editing for readability, properly handling difficult words and unclear audio, distinguishing speakers, and correctly using punctuation. Transcribers are instructed to refer to this guide for sample transcriptions and to apply the formatting rules listed to ensure their work is customer-ready. Adhering to the guidelines will result in transcripts that are both accurate to the source audio and easy for readers to understand.

Uploaded by

Rithvik Bandari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
234 views7 pages

Rev Transcription Style Guide

The document provides guidelines for transcribers on how to accurately and professionally transcribe audio documents into written transcripts in 3 sentences or less: The Rev Transcription Style Guide outlines best practices for transcribers to follow, such as accurately preserving speech while editing for readability, properly handling difficult words and unclear audio, distinguishing speakers, and correctly using punctuation. Transcribers are instructed to refer to this guide for sample transcriptions and to apply the formatting rules listed to ensure their work is customer-ready. Adhering to the guidelines will result in transcripts that are both accurate to the source audio and easy for readers to understand.

Uploaded by

Rithvik Bandari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 7

Rev Transcription Style Guide

Welcome
We’re excited you’re interested in freelancing with Rev!

Accuracy Whether you are a seasoned transcriptionist or a newbie, you’ll be referring to the
following guide to learn how to create accurate and professionally formatted
Readability
transcripts.

As you proceed, please remember:


Proper Nouns

● You can refer to this guide at any point while completing the sample
Difficult ● Please follow the guidelines listed on the following pages for your sample
Audio Tags
● Use your best judgment to apply these rules
● Your job as a transcriptionist is to ensure that the end result is customer-ready.
Speakers

Click on this slide to begin. >>


Punctuation
Editing for Accuracy
Welcome

To edit for accuracy, listen carefully to the audio sample and correct the
Accuracy transcript as needed.

The spoken word is not always grammatically correct. Your transcript should
Readability
preserve the original speech. Please do not write what you think the
speaker meant to say.
Proper Nouns
- Don’t paraphrase or substitute words
Difficult - Don’t rearrange the order of speech
Audio Tags
- Don’t correct a speaker’s grammar
- Don’t correct pronunciation unless it distracts from readability
Speakers

Punctuation
Editing for Readability
Welcome
The examples you are given are a non-verbatim files. This means you should edit for
readability by omitting content that distracts a reader but leave all core content present.
Accuracy
- Omit filler words such as ‘um’, ‘uh’, ‘you know’, and ‘like’
- Remove false starts, stutters, and repetitions. (I was… I was going to the store. → I was
Readability going to the store.)
- Omit quick interjections, such as someone saying "mm-hmm", unless it is a direct
response to a question.
Proper Nouns
- Change informal contractions to formal speech (gonna, wanna → going to, want to), but
never change formal contractions (don’t, can’t → do not, can not)
Difficult
Audio Tags
Remember, never change the story being told.
Speakers - Don’t edit or omit special words, entire sentences, or expletives.
- When in doubt, leave it in.
Punctuation
How to handle proper nouns and capitalization
Welcome

As you transcribe, part of your responsibility is to research proper spellings and


Accuracy capitalizations for important words, phrases, and terminology that you may not
be familiar with.
Readability
- Always Google proper spelling of proper nouns and topic-specific vocab
(e.g., Instructables, DIY, soldering iron).
Proper Nouns - If a spelling is not easily researchable, make your best guess using a
common or phonetic spelling of the word.
Difficult - Spell words consistently throughout the transcript.
Audio Tags

Speakers

Punctuation
How to handle difficult audio
Welcome

Always try your best to decipher difficult audio. When you cannot confidently
Accuracy hear or understand a word or phrase, however, do not guess the word. Insert the
relevant tag using the timestamp tool in your toolbar.
Readability
- An “inaudible” tag should be used when the speaker mumbles or the audio
is unclear (e.g. [inaudible 00:00:03]).
Proper Nouns - A “crosstalk” tag should be used when another speaker talks over the
primary speaker (e.g. [crosstalk 00:00:08]).
Difficult - A “phonetic” tag may be used as a best effort guess of a proper noun or
Audio Tags
topic terminology (e.g. [Sysco 00:00:12]).
Speakers
Do not leave words blank or add your own notation (e.g. **unclear audio**)

Punctuation
Labeling Speakers
Welcome

A reasonable effort must be made to distinguish speakers using the rules


Accuracy below:
- Never create your own descriptive speaker labels (e.g. “Old man” or “Blue
shirt guy”). This is extremely unprofessional.
Readability

Speaker Label Type When to use Example


Proper Nouns

- If the speaker’s name can be reasonably John Smith, Professor Lee


Speaker’s name
Difficult
inferred from the audio or video
Audio Tags
- Default and most common way of labeling Speaker 1, Speaker 2
Speaker + number speakers when the speaker’s name cannot be
Speakers (sequentially) reasonably inferred from the audio or video

Punctuation
A guide on proper punctuation use
Welcome
Guidelines Example

Accuracy - Use where appropriate. Do not use in excess to the point I was going to go to the store,
Commas where it inhibits readability. probably by train, but decided not
- For significant pauses, use an ellipsis (“...”) to.

Readability - Use to indicate a speaker has trailed off or paused He wanted to speak… We all
significantly in the middle of a statement. listened expectantly, not knowing
Ellipses - An ellipsis should be followed by a space. what would come next.
- Capitalize the word after an ellipsis if it starts a new thought.
Proper Nouns
- Use to indicate abrupt interruptions and cutoffs. Speaker 1: I couldn’t wai-
Hyphens - If a speaker pauses while speaking or changes topics without Speaker 2: Wait for what?
being interrupted, use an ellipses “…“ instead
Difficult
Audio Tags
Quotation - Use when a quote is directly stated or implied. Then I told him, “I don’t think I
Marks - Make sure to capitalize the first word of the quote. can,” and he said, “Okay then.”

Speakers

Punctuation

You might also like