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Note: this is the global style guide for non-verbatim transcription. If you’re looking for the style guide for verbatim, please go here:

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Language style-guides: French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese, Russian.

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1. What is a non-verbatim transcription?

Non-verbatim transcription, also called clean or intelligent verbatim, focuses on clarity and readability. Unlike full verbatim transcription, it removes unnecessary elements like filler words, stutters, and irrelevant sounds while preserving the speaker’s message.

2. What should I leave out in non-verbatim transcripts?

Filler words and verbal tics like “um,” “like,” “you know,” or “I mean”
Repetitions including intentional and unintentional (e.g. stuttering)
Slang or incorrect grammar (e.g. you should correct ‘ain’t’ → ‘is not’)

🔴 Important Clarification: Non-Verbatim ≠ Rewriting or Over-Correcting

Non-verbatim transcription is not a rewrite. The goal is to deliver a clean and professional transcript while maintaining the speaker’s original intent, tone, and natural delivery — even if the speaker is a non-native English speaker, or if their sentence structure is informal or grammatically awkward.

⚠️ Please avoid these common overcorrections:

Over-cleaning: Removing too much character from the speaker’s original phrasing, tone, or emotion.
Over-correcting grammar: Not all grammatical mistakes need correction. If the sentence is understandable and reflects how the speaker naturally communicates, leave it as is.
Rephrasing entire sentences: You should never rewrite the speaker’s thoughts in your own words or change the meaning for the sake of fluency.
Injecting assumptions: Do not "complete" a speaker's thoughts or intentions unless clearly implied and missing only due to a false start or audio issue.

✅ Keep in mind:

A person may use informal, incorrect, or non-standard English. That does not mean their sentence must be reworded or replaced.
We correct only when clarity is clearly compromised, and not when the speaker’s tone or linguistic style simply doesn't match standard written English.
If it sounds a bit off but preserves the speaker’s meaning and matches their tone, it's probably fine.