Legal Transcription

Legal Transcription TRANSCRIPTION: Transcription Training for Beginners - Module Three: Correct Use of Punctuation | escribr Transcription

Introduction: Why Punctuation Matters

[zero zero two] Welcome to Module Three: Correct Use of Punctuation.

[zero zero ten] Why is punctuation important in transcription? Punctuation gives meaning to the words. A transcriber needs to type accurately what the speaker wants to convey.

[zero zero twenty] A punctuation error can often completely change the intended meaning of a sentence. Let's take a look at the picture below and read the featured article's subtitle.

[zero zero thirty] Do you think the sentence conveys clearly what it actually means? What's missing? [zero zero thirty-six] If you had a good laugh after reading the sentence, then you totally get what is missing. A simple comma can alter the meaning big time.

[zero zero fifty-one] Read the sentences below and try to differentiate the meaning of one from the other. The first sentence sounds scary-it's like from a horror movie or something.

[zero zero fifty-nine] In the second sentence, we added a comma after the word "eat," and the sentence becomes an invitation from someone.

[one zero six] Do you think that's possible? Can the murderer actually protest his innocence after his death? That sounds impossible, don't you think?

[one zero twenty-three] To correct the sentence, we place a period after the word "innocence" and a comma after the word "after."

[one zero thirty] Now let's take a look at another hilarious example. In this sentence, the punctuation marks are not correctly used.

[one zero thirty-seven] We give the correct meaning to this sentence by using the correct punctuation. So, can you see the big difference now?

[one zero forty-four] If punctuation is not used correctly, it completely changes the meaning of the sentence.

[one zero fifty-two] Sometimes punctuation is taken for granted in transcription, when in fact it plays a huge role.

Section One: The Period

[two zero four] Rule number one: Always place the period inside the quotation mark.

[two zero twenty] Rule number two: Place the period outside a single quote.

[two zero thirty] Rule number three: If single quotation marks are used inside quotation marks, place the period before the final single quotation mark.

[two zero forty-four] Rule number four: If a sentence ends with a question mark or exclamation point, the period is omitted.