Proofreading Increases Written Accuracy for Court Reporters and Others
Certified court reporters are charged with making an accurate and complete record of every proceeding they attend. The conversations, questions and answers are all recorded on a stenotype machine, then translated into English. Although the technology is wonderful, it occasionally misses details, such as synonyms and other words or numbers that sound similar. As a result, they must become very good proofreaders to make sure that the transcript is accurate and correct.
The following tips work well for court stenographers, but will also work for any student or writer trying to perfect a written piece of work.
Go Slow
Read it slowly and carefully. Make sure everything is spelled correctly. Check an online or hard copy dictionary if there is any doubt.
Hard Copy
Print out the transcript full size on white paper. Use a brightly colored pen, such as red, purple or orange. Black and blue do not stand out. Draw a circle or make a mark in the margin at the beginning of each line that has an error.
This will speed up the correction-making process. While a hard copy may not be the most “green” method, the paper can be recycled by printing something else on the back when it is finished.
Reading “from the screen” is not always effective, and changes must be typed in on the computer as the person reads along. This disrupts the train of thought and increases the number of errors.
Sounds
Read it aloud to make sure it makes sense. Go in a room where no one else is around. This is especially helpful for technical terms or difficult instructions.
Listen to the audio recording of the transcription while reading through it. This catches missing words and misidentification of speakers. If something sounds strange, the tape or audio file can be stopped and repeated.
Repetition
Read it as many times as is necessary. If there are a lot of errors the first time, make the corrections on the computer, then go back and either read it on the screen or reprint it and read it again.
An accurate transcription will give the reader an important comfort level in knowing that the words and information are correct. When there is one mistake, it is human nature to assume there are more. Having confidence in a transcription will prompt a client to call the court stenographer again if the work is free of errors.
Author is a freelance writer. For more information on Certified court reporters please visit http://www.huseby.com/.
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