Posted by Anne - Proofreader in I love my role as proofreader for The Transcription People
. Proofreading is one of several key quality control measures that The Transcription People have implemented to ensure their clients are totally happy with the transcription service we provide.
After one of our transcriptionists completes a transcript from a digital audio file it is my role to proofread the transcript whilst listening through the audio, before it is returned to the client. It is my responsibility to ensure the transcript is 100% accurate.
Accuracy means ensuring that the typist’s interpretation of the audio she has transcribed is absolutely spot on and that there are no mishearings. If I am not absolutely certain of a word of phrase in the transcript then it will be noted as a time stamp of the audio time.
Transcript accuracy also means ensuring that any specific information provided by the client has been strictly adhered to. It is also the proofreader’s responsibility to ensure the document is grammatically correct and that it is punctuated correctly.
Anyone typing at high speed will make errors and these errors are generally picked up when a document is proofed or read for a second time. It is impractical to expect 100% accuracy in transcription work and this is why the transcripts are proofed.
Many things will impact on the accuracy of a transcript, such as the quality of the audio, background noise, the clarity of the speakers, speakers muttering and speaking sotto voce, accents of speakers, two or three or more speakers all speaking at the one time, unusual names, place names, use of scientific or medical terms, accurate information provided or not provided by the client.
After the document has been proofed the tracked changed are returned to typists in an endeavour to reduce errors in subsequent transcripts, particularly with regard to format and style, punctuation, sentence construction and common words, names or phrases.
The Transcription People prides itself on producing high quality transcripts for its very valuable clients and the role of proofreader is an integral part of this process.
I would add that using a text-to-speech program to have the text read to you can be helpful as well. The speech engine will read exactly what you’ve written without auto-correcting mistakes that you may subconsciously gloss over. That, coupled with the unfamiliarity of a voice other than your own, tends to make errors pop right out at you.
Absolutely spot on!
Anne, as a proofreader in a transcription company, I too get asked this question often.