Verbatim Transcription Explained

What Is Verbatim Transcription? A Complete Guide

Verbatim transcription means converting spoken words from audio or video into written text, capturing every single detail. This includes filler words, false starts, stutters, slang, repetitions, and even grammatical errors. Verbatim transcription provides a word-for-word record, making it valuable in many fields.

Types of Verbatim Transcription

Full Verbatim Transcription

Full verbatim transcription is the most detailed type of transcription available. It records everything exactly as spoken.

• False starts: "I was going to, uh—well, I thought about—okay, never mind."
• Speech errors: "He brung—brought it yesterday."
• Filler words: "So, like, you know, I mean, that's it."
• Slang terms: "Gonna" for "going to," "wanna" for "want to."
• Repetitions: "I, I really, really like it."
• Stutters: "S-s-sometimes I feel like this."
• Affirmative and negative responses: "Mm-hmm" (yes), "Mm-mm" (no), "Uh-huh" (yes), "Uh-uh" (no)

Full verbatim transcription is time-consuming since every element must be included, which can increase the cost compared to other transcription types (learn more about transcription pricing here).

Clean Verbatim Transcription

Clean verbatim, also known as intelligent verbatim, removes elements that do not add value to the meaning or clarity of the transcript.

• Removes speech errors
• Eliminates false starts (unless important)
• Takes out most stutters
• Edits out extra repetitions (unless needed for emphasis)
• Removes unnecessary filler words unless they change the meaning
• Standardizes slang into formal language (e.g., "kinda" becomes "kind of")

Clean verbatim creates transcripts that are much easier to read, making them ideal for most professional uses, including business and education. For examples, see GoTranscript’s transcription services.

When Do You Need Full Verbatim Transcription?

Full verbatim transcription may be the best choice in the following scenarios:

• Legal transcription: Captures every detail, including false starts and stutters, which may reveal intent or emotion.
• Research interviews: Non-verbal cues can give clues to participants' opinions and honesty.
• Focus groups: Detailed transcripts help reveal group dynamics.
• Media production: Accurately capturing every word helps create authentic captions or subtitles.

Legal proceedings and academic research often require this level of detail because small phrases, hesitations, or repeated words can make a difference in interpretation (GoTranscript’s closed caption services provide this accuracy for video files).

When to Use Clean Verbatim

Clean verbatim is the best option when readability and clarity are more important than capturing every sound or utterance. Typical uses include:

• Business meetings: Team members prefer clear and concise notes.
• Lecture transcription: Students benefit from streamlined text.
• Webinars and podcasts: Written versions are easier to scan for information.
• Professional reports: Reduces confusion and makes content accessible.

Why Verbatim Transcription Takes More Time

Full verbatim transcription often requires more effort and time. Transcribers must focus closely on every word, pause, and sound, making the process slower overall.

• Higher attention to detail: No sound or word is omitted.
• Frequent quality checks: Accuracy must be verified several times.
• Complex formatting: Capturing diverse sounds and speaker nuances increases complexity.

This extra effort usually makes full verbatim transcription more expensive. If you need affordable but accurate results, consider automated transcription services for projects with less strict requirements.

Choosing the Right Type of Transcript

Your choice depends on the purpose of your transcript:

• Legal, academic, or research work: Choose full verbatim.
• Meetings, lectures, or business content: Go for clean verbatim.
• Content for global audiences: Add translation or subtitling services.
• Broadcast or social media videos: Use captioning services.

You should also think about add-ons like timestamps, rush delivery, translation to other languages, or proofreading services for improved accuracy.

Key Takeaways

• Full verbatim captures every utterance, while clean verbatim offers readability.
• Full verbatim is essential for legal, research, or detailed records.
• Clean verbatim fits best for everyday business, lectures, and public content.
• Consider your project’s needs and audience before deciding.

GoTranscript: Your Partner in Verbatim Transcription

GoTranscript offers both full and clean verbatim transcription services, adapted to your needs. With over 15 years of experience and 20,000 transcribers worldwide, GoTranscript delivers accurate, secure, and competitively priced transcription solutions. Whether you require human transcription, AI-powered transcription, audio translation, or high-quality closed captions, GoTranscript can help. Order your transcript today to experience top accuracy and service.