How To: Properly Transcribe for ClariTrans

ClariTrans is a requester on MTurk (www.mturk.com) they pay very well for transcribing short snippets of audio. Here is how you can transcribe their audio snippets properly to ensure your text will be approved and you will be paid: 

ClariTrans Transcription Formatting Guide

1. Situations You'll Encounter
2. Spelling
3. Numbers
4. Currency
5. Web
6. Homophones
7. Notations

Situations You'll Encounter Rules to Follow Correct Example Beginning of a Snippet Always capitalize the 1st letter of the 1st word, even if it's not the start of a sentence. To send the report. I need it tomorrow. End of a Snippet Always close a snippet with a period, even if it's in the middle of a sentence. Sometimes, I'll try to get. Blank Audio Type bbb   Speaker Change If there is only one person talking, there should be no reference to "Speaker: ". If there are multiple speakers, "Speaker: " should be placed at the start of the transcript and at each point where a new person begins talking. If more than one person is talking at the same time, use your best judgement as to where to put the "Speaker: ". break. Speaker: Hey Charlie.
Speaker: Hello Amy, how are you?
Speaker: Just fine Charlie. Beginning of a Sentence Always capitalize the 1st letter of the 1st word.   Between Sentences Separate sentences with a period. Never use a dash.   Sentence Spacing Use a single space between sentences.   Nonsense Words Attempt to spell out nonsense words. If too difficult, type iii. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Repeated Words When a word is repeated twice in a sentence, insert a comma between them. And, and that way he, he can go as soon as possible. Speaker Pauses Mid-Sentence Insert a comma where the pause occurs.   Run-On Sentence Attempt to break up a run-on sentence by inserting a period during a pause or change in subject, even if it creates incomplete sentences.   Audio Cuts Off Mid-Word If the cut off word is obvious based on the portion of it you heard and the context of the sentence, then complete the word. If you cannot discern the cut off word, type iii. If the word is cut off at the beginning and you can't hear it, do not type anything.   Speaker Says He Said/She Said Do not put what they said in quotations. I was talking to him and he said, yeah, I'd love to go. Expletives (Swearing) Transcribe the expletive exactly as it is said. If uncomfortable, either skip the task or type iii.   Static in Audio Ignore it. Don't type sss to denote sound.   You Know If said after a long pause, use question mark to denote end of sentence. If rushed through, use comma to assume sentence is continuing. And then he left, you know? But, you know, I was about to. Spell Check Marks Word Wrong If you use the Mozilla FireFox browser (recommended), words with a red underline are misspelled. Right click on the word to correct it.
If you are 90% sure you typed the word correctly, ignore it.
If you are unsure and all available alternatives are incorrect, Google it.
If still unsure, type in iii for master to review. Cuz, etcetera are common words that are correct but marked as misspelled.

Spelling Correct Format Incorrect Formats Other Rules Correct Example   Yeah Ya; Yea     Cuz 'Cuz; Cause; 'Cause     Yep Yip; Yeap     Okay OK If Okay is spoken, do not abbreviate as 'Kay.   'Kay K If 'Kay is spoken, do not change to Okay.   Um Umm; Ummm Always follow with a comma. Do not precede with a comma. I um, was thinking about it. Ah Ahh; Ahhh Always follow with a comma. Do not precede with a comma. I'm ah, not sure. Uh Uhh; Uhhh Always follow with a comma. Do not precede with a comma. Do you uh, know what I'm saying? Mm-hm Mmm hmm; Mhmm; Mmhumm; Mm hm Always follow with a comma when part of a sentence. If spoken alone or followed by a long pause, it can stand on its own as a sentence. Mm hm, I agree. Mm hm. Uh-huh Uh huh; Uhuh Always follow with a comma when part of a sentence. If spoken alone or followed by a long pause, it can stand on its own as a sentence. Uh-huh, I understand. Uh-huh. Hm Hmm; Hmmm Always follow with a comma when part of a sentence. If spoken alone or followed by a long pause, it can stand on its own as a sentence. Hm, I'm don't know. Hm. Gonna Going to If Gonna is spoken, do not expand the word.   Kinda Kind of If Kinda is spoken, do not expand the word.   Sorta Sort of If Sorta is spoken, do not expand the word.   Slash / Unless used as part of a web address. It's a horror slash mystery movie. At @ Unless used as part of a web address.   And &    

Numbers Correct Format Incorrect Formats Other Rules Correct Example   5 Five     437 Four hundred thirty seven     250,000 Two hundred fifty thousand; 250 thousand     First, Second, Third, etc. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.     57% Fifty seven percent; 57 percent     Percent (when spoken without a number associated) % Do not use the % symbol if percent is spoken without a number associated. What percent correct do I need to get an A in this class? Number (when spoken as a word) # Do not use the # symbol in place of the word number. What's your favorite number?

Currency Correct Format Incorrect Formats Other Rules Correct Example   $12 Twelve dollars; $12 dollars     $.50 50 cents or fifty cents     25 bucks Twenty five bucks; $25 If they say bucks instead of dollars, type out bucks.   100 Euro   When transcribing foreign currency, type out the word for it rather than use a special symbol. I just visited England and have 100 Pounds leftover from the trip.

Web Correct Format Incorrect Formats Other Rules Correct Example   www.google.com w w w dot google dot com; Transcribe the final web address even if the speaker has completely spelled it out.   www.google.com/help W w w dot google got com slash help; www.google.com slash help Transcribe the final web address even if the speaker has completely spelled it out.   John.doe@google.com John dot doe at google dot com; J.O.H.N dot D.O.E at G.O.O.G.L.E dot C.O.M Transcribe the final email address even if the speaker has completely spelled it out.  

Homophones   When To Use It Correct Example Words that are pronounced
the same way but have
different spellings. There Use there when referring to a place, whether concrete ("over there by the building") or more abstract ("it must be difficult to live there"). I know where he lives, but don't know how to get there. Their Use their to indicate possession. It is a possessive adjective and indicates that a particular noun belongs to them. I accidentally crashed into their car. They're They're is a contraction, or a combination of, the words they and are. They're going to be happy to hear the good news. Your The word your is the possessive form of you, referring to something that a person has, or something that belongs to the person in discussion (or, the person being spoken to). Your dog is so playful. You're You're is a contraction, or a combination of, the words you and are. You're going to the airport. To To indicates direction or action. Please go to the store. Too Too means also, very or excessively.
Then Then refers to time. He was about to leave, but then got distracted. Than Than is usually used to indicate comparisons. She is more helpful than you.

Notations Correct Format Incorrect Formats Other Rules Replaced With in Transcript Indiscernible Audio;
Not Sure What Was Said iii iii iii; [iii], (iii) Notation can be used to replace 1 word, or an entire sentence. [indiscernible] Laugh lll lll lll; [lll], (lll)   [laugh] Sound;
Heard Phone Beep or Any Sort of Music sss sss sss; [sss], (sss) Use for distinct noises. Do not use for static. [sound] Cough ccc ccc ccc; [ccc], (ccc)   [cough] Foreign Language fff fff fff; [fff], (fff) Use in place of any language other than English, even if you are able to understand the foreign language. [foreign language] Blank Audio bbb bbb bbb; [bbb], (bbb) Use when there is no audio. [blank]

© 2010 ClariTrans, Inc., all rights reserved.