Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) English, Grammar, Punctuation, and Transcript Production Syllabus

What punctuation marks an interruption where one speaker cuts off another?

A double hyphen or em dash at the point of interruption, e.g., 'I was driving down the street when--' followed by the interrupting speaker.

How is trailing off (a speaker's voice fading without finishing) punctuated versus an interruption?

Trailing off is shown with a dash (or ellipsis per style) at the end of an unfinished thought; an abrupt interruption by another speaker uses a dash at the cutoff point. Many reporters use a dash for both, with the context distinguishing them.

How are quotation marks used when a witness reads from or quotes a document?

Enclose the exact quoted words in quotation marks; in American style, commas and periods are placed inside the closing quotation mark.

Where do colons and semicolons go relative to closing quotation marks in American style?

Colons and semicolons are placed outside the closing quotation mark, e.g., She said 'I refuse'; then she left.

What is the rule for question marks and exclamation points with quotation marks?

They go inside the quotes if they belong to the quoted material, and outside if they apply to the whole sentence.

What is the primary function of a colon in a sentence?

A colon introduces a list, explanation, or quotation that follows and is anticipated by an independent clause, e.g., 'He owned three cars: a sedan, a truck, and a van.'

What is the primary function of a semicolon?

A semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, and separates list items that themselves contain commas.

In transcripts, how is a parenthetical (such as a reporter's notation or off-record event) typically shown?

In parentheses, often italicized or capitalized per style, e.g., '(Whereupon, a recess was taken.)' or '(Witness reviewing document.)'

How is the question-and-answer (Q&A) examination format punctuated in a deposition transcript?

Questions are introduced by 'Q' (or 'Q.') and answers by 'A' (or 'A.'), each on its own line, with the speakers' words following; questions end with a question mark and answers with appropriate end punctuation.

How do you punctuate a question phrased as a statement (declarative question) in testimony?

If it functions as a question seeking an answer, it generally ends with a question mark, e.g., 'And you were there that night?'

In Q&A format, how is a question that is actually a series of statements ending in a request for confirmation handled?

It is transcribed verbatim with internal sentence punctuation and ends with a question mark if it calls for an answer, e.g., 'You arrived at noon. You parked outside. Correct?'

What does the Latin phrase 'voir dire' mean in legal proceedings?

Literally 'to speak the truth'; it refers to the preliminary examination of prospective jurors or of a witness's competency/qualifications.

Define the legal Latin term 'subpoena duces tecum.'

A court order commanding a person to appear and bring specified documents or evidence ('under penalty to bring with you').

What does 'in camera' mean in a legal context?

'In chambers'; a proceeding held privately in the judge's chambers or with the public excluded.

Define the Latin phrase 'res ipsa loquitur.'

'The thing speaks for itself'; a doctrine inferring negligence from the mere occurrence of certain types of accidents.

What does 'nolo contendere' mean?

'I do not wish to contend'; a plea in which a defendant neither admits nor disputes the charge but accepts conviction/punishment.

In personal-injury cases, what does the medical term 'myocardial infarction' mean?

A heart attack: death of heart muscle tissue caused by interrupted blood supply (myo = muscle, cardio = heart, infarction = tissue death).

What does the medical suffix '-ectomy' indicate, and '-otomy'?

'-ectomy' means surgical removal of a body part (e.g., appendectomy); '-otomy' means a surgical incision or cutting into (e.g., laparotomy).

In a personal-injury transcript, what is a 'contusion' and a 'laceration'?

A contusion is a bruise (injury without broken skin); a laceration is a torn or jagged cut/wound of the skin or tissue.

What does the medical term 'edema' mean?

Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues.

How should a reporter handle unfamiliar technical, engineering, or financial terms during proceedings?

Take them down phonetically/verbatim, research correct spelling, and verify (e.g., via spelling on the record, exhibits, or counsel) before the final transcript; consistency and accuracy of spelling are essential.

How are proper nouns, place names, and brand names treated in a transcript?

They are capitalized and spelled exactly/correctly; reporters confirm spellings (asking witnesses to spell names) and preserve brand-name capitalization (e.g., iPhone, FedEx).

What information appears on the title (caption) page of a transcript?

The court/jurisdiction, case caption (parties) and case number, type of proceeding, date, location, witness name, and the reporter's name/certification details.

What is the 'appearances' page in a transcript and what does it list?

A page listing all attorneys present and whom they represent (and other appearing parties), so the record shows who attended the proceeding.

What is the purpose of the reporter's certificate page?

It is the reporter's signed statement certifying that the transcript is a true, accurate, and complete record of the proceedings taken by the reporter, including the date and reporter's credentials/signature (often notarized).

What is 'colloquy' in transcript formatting?

On-the-record discussion or dialogue between attorneys and the court (or among counsel) that is not Q&A testimony; speakers are identified by name/title (e.g., 'MR. SMITH:', 'THE COURT:').

What are the standard page-format requirements for a transcript page regarding lines per page?

Most jurisdictions require 25 lines of testimony per page (typically 24-26), double-spaced, with consistent line numbering down the left margin.

What are typical margin and indentation standards for transcript pages?

Conventional standards: roughly a 1.75-inch left margin (for line numbers) and 3/8-inch right margin, with Q&A indented and colloquy/quoted material set with prescribed tab indents per jurisdiction/NCRA guidelines.

How are pages and lines numbered for citation in a transcript?

Pages are numbered consecutively, and each line is numbered (1-25) on every page, allowing precise citation by page and line (e.g., 'page 42, line 17').

What is a word index (concordance) in a transcript?

An alphabetical index, usually computer-generated, listing words/names used in the testimony with their page and line locations for quick reference.

What is an exhibit list (exhibit index) and what does it record?

A list identifying each exhibit by number/letter, a brief description, and the page where it was marked, identified, offered, or admitted into evidence.

What is 'scoping' in the court reporting workflow?

The process of editing a reporter's raw steno/CAT transcript—correcting untranslates, verifying spellings, punctuation, and formatting—performed by the reporter or a trained scopist before final proofreading.

What is the difference between scoping and proofreading in transcript production?

Scoping involves substantive editing against the audio/notes (fixing translation errors, speaker IDs, punctuation); proofreading is the final read for residual errors in spelling, grammar, and format before certification.

What is the final step that makes a transcript an official record after proofreading and scoping?

Final certification: the reporter reviews, signs, and dates the certificate page attesting that the transcript is a true and accurate record, after which it is delivered as the official transcript.

Why must a court reporter distinguish restrictive from nonrestrictive clauses when punctuating testimony?

Because commas around a nonrestrictive (nonessential) clause versus none around a restrictive (essential) clause can change the legal meaning of testimony, e.g., 'the witness who lied' vs. 'the witness, who lied,'.

How should a reporter punctuate a sentence containing a verbatim 'um,' stammer, or false start?

Per accepted practice, true non-substantive verbal artifacts may be omitted, but a deliberate self-correction or false start that affects meaning is transcribed and marked with a dash, e.g., 'I went to the--I drove to the store.'