Full or Clean Verbatim?

AAS recommends using a type of transcript known as clean verbatim. This type of transcription does not change the text’s meaning or paraphrase it. Content (verbal and non-verbal) that does not add value to the transcript is left out, including but not limited to stammering, “um” or “ah”, background noises, verbal pauses, coughs, etc.

Below, we will be comparing clean and full verbatim transcripts so you can see the difference.

Full Verbatim:

Max Taylor: Real quick, uh, Max Taylor of Sports Direct here talking to, uh, Jamal Hadid. Let’s discuss your strong finish this afternoon, man. Congratulations, Jamal.

Jamal Hadid: Oh, thank you very much. [coughs]

Max: What brought you back to, um, this track? I understand you stayed away for a while.

Jamal: Oh, it was just-- [laughs] It’s-- If you love racing and it’s in your bones, you can’t really, like, stay away. Uh, it’s true that I haven’t been back, um, for a few years. I was on a roll trying to discover new places. But-but now I’m back. You know, it’s been incredible. The fans are-- Well, uh, nothing beats the fans, right?

Clean Verbatim:

Max Taylor: Real quick, Max Taylor of Sports Direct here talking to Jamal Hadid. Let’s discuss your strong finish this afternoon, man. Congratulations, Jamal.

Jamal Hadid: Thank you very much.

Max: What brought you back to this track? I understand you stayed away for a while.

Jamal: [laughs] If you love racing and it’s in your bones, you can’t really stay away. It’s true that I haven’t been back for a few years. I was on a roll trying to discover new places, but now I’m back. You know, it’s been incredible. The fans are-- Well, nothing beats the fans, right?

Notice the clean verbatim shows a smoother flow and is more concise.

Again, when content is not relevant for the purposes of the transcription, these elements can be removed to create a clean verbatim transcription. The goal of this mode of transcription is to achieve a balance between readability and completeness.