<aside> đź“Ž Pro tip: just need a refresher? Refer to (1-11) Formatting summary for a short overview of how to write each verbatim element.
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Full verbatim (or simply “verbatim”) is a different kind of transcription from clean verbatim, or as we call it: clean read (our standard service level). While clean read aims to filter some elements of the speech for easier readability, verbatim captures the exact spoken words as they are heard including any verbal cues, thus providing a more completive and faithful account of the recorded speech.
Typically, legal and medical documents as well as qualitative research interviews are transcribed verbatim. It can also be used to improve AI transcription models.
These guidelines offer all you need to know to transcribe verbatim at Happy Scribe.
Please note that these guidelines are an addition to the Happy Scribe guidelines when it comes to transcription formatting, symbols, italics, etc.
Here’s a rough example of verbatim vs. clean-read:
| Verbatim | Clean-read |
|---|---|
| Uh, I think-- I think, like, the most important factor to c-consider is mental… yeah, mental health. | I think the most important factor to consider is mental health. |
There’s a variety of verbal cues that verbatim should capture. On the whole, you will need to transcribe everything that’s being said, the way it’s being said. That means you should pay extra attention to filler words, crutch words, feedback words, informal contractions, stutters, repetitions, false starts, speakers’ sounds and instances of trailing off, as well as fully written symbols and numbers.
And the following things are already included in the standard Transcription and Subtitles Guidelines, but should not be omitted.
Below is a synopsis of each of these verbal cues as well as the required formatting. If there are any additions or simplifications in order, a disclaimer or admin will inform you about this.