How Do You Type a Verbatim Transcription

Transcription is taking a video, audio, or live conversation and converting the words that are being spoken into typed text. Verbatim transcription is the more advanced form of transcription where the conversation is transcribed exactly how it was recorded or stated. This means all nuances, fillers, inflections, and pauses are included. This is beneficial in many professional industries, including court reporting and legal transcription.

With the legal transcription market valued at almost $2,000 million in 2021 and the US transcription market projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% for the next five years, verbatim transcription has become an important skill that every transcriptionist must learn. Here, we have discussed everything about verbatim transcription in detail.

Different Types of Verbatim Transcription

There are three types of verbatim transcription. While they all refer to transcribing the spoken word accurately and exactly as was originally stated, a few variations have been developed to accommodate specific situations. Each is unique and serves a specific purpose.

• True Verbatim – True verbatim is the most accurate and detailed version of a recording. This transcript will include all sounds, words, and any form of non-verbal communication. True verbatim is the common choice for most academic researchers who need to have even the smallest detail captured in the final transcript. Even ambient sounds like coughs and clicks are included.
• Verbatim – Verbatim is similar to intelligent verbatim. With this transcript, grammatical errors, false starts, and all spoken words are included. Other small details like repetitions and stutters are not included. Students, journalists, and researchers often use this type of transcription. It is as accurate as needed, without a lot of clutter and distractions that can make the document hard to understand.
• Intelligent Verbatim – Intelligent verbatim transcription produces an easy-to-read document. The transcript includes very detailed and precise editing with a small amount of paraphrasing, so the content is not broken up or disrupted by fillers or awkward pauses. This type of transcript has no errors and can be easily printed and used in business meetings or other corporate environments.

See Also: What Is Verbatim Transcription in Qualitative Research?

Clean Verbatim Vs Full Verbatim

Clean verbatim and full verbatim sit on opposite ends of the spectrum. Clean is essentially the same thing as intelligent verbatim, while full verbatim includes every detail, sound, word, non-verbal communication, and pause, and nothing is edited out or removed.

Uses of Verbatim Transcription

There are several uses for verbatim transcription. They include:

• Legal transcription
• Police investigations
• Court hearings
• Research meetings
• Insurance claims
• Employee disciplinary meetings

Also Read: Verbatim Transcription: Meaning and When It's Needed

Verbatim Transcription Rules

There are a few key rules that should be followed with verbatim transcription. Four primary rules are used to produce verbatim transcripts. The level of detail you need to include in your transcription will determine what rules need to be followed.

1. Every Word Must Be Captured (No Paraphrasing)

Transcriptions may choose to paraphrase certain statements so that the main idea is accurately conveyed. This is known as intelligent transcription and is ideal for podcasts, videos, meetings, and many other types of business or commercial events. These transcripts are easy-to-read and print. However, this form of transcription does not work well for researchers who require exact phrases and statements.

2. Must Include Non-Verbal Communication

Communication includes much more than just spoken words. Ambient noises, fillers, pauses, and even laughter need to be included to ensure the proper context of what is being said is captured within the transcript. For example, a person being questioned by police may show signs of being nervous. All of the noticeable signs would be transcribed by the transcriptionist.

3. Include False Starts and Fillers

False starts and fillers say a lot when included in a transcript. A false start is a sentence that a person starts to say but doesn't finish. Fillers include words like you know, um, hmm, or ah. While these may seem like they are unimportant, they hold value depending on where they may be said or how often a person says them.

4. Take Note of Any External Sounds

Knowing what is going on around a person when they are being interviewed is important to capture the atmosphere. External sounds that should be captured include people walking around, side conversations, and doors opening and closing. External sounds should be noted within the transcripts in brackets. Include a timestamp for accuracy.

Also Read: How to Format a Transcript - An In-depth Guide

Final Words

At GMR Transcription Services, Inc., we offer 100% US-based human transcriptionists that are capable of 99% accuracy. Every transcriptionist we have as part of our team signs a confidentiality agreement to ensure your information is safe and secure.

Whether you need your transcript in customized formats or have any other special instructions, our transcriptionists can fulfill all your wishes. From ‘ums’ to ‘uhs,’ we can transcribe everything with our verbatim transcription services. We can even provide you the transcript the same day or the next day if you need it. Contact us today to get started!