I85PREP
⌘ K
NV Court Reporter study materials
NV Court Reporter study resources

NV Court Reporter practice questions

One question at a time. Build your NV Court Reporter understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

In Nevada court reporting practice, testimony is commonly recorded at which range of speaking speeds, expressed in words per minute?

  1. 120 to 180 wpm
  2. 40 to 70 wpm
  3. 180 to 260 wpm Correct answer.
  4. 300 to 400 wpm

Explanation

Ordinary witness testimony typically falls in the range of roughly 180 to 260 words per minute, which is why reporters train to write well above conversational speed. Speeds below that range describe deliberate dictation, while speeds far above it describe bursts that require brief marking and interruption.

Question 2Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

When a judge reads a jury charge aloud in a Nevada trial, the reporter should generally expect the delivery pace to be:

  1. slower and more measured than ordinary testimony Correct answer.
  2. unpredictable and impossible to prepare for
  3. faster than ordinary testimony because the text is scripted
  4. identical to the pace of rapid cross-examination

Explanation

A charge is read from a prepared written text, so judges typically deliver it at a measured, deliberate pace that is slower than spontaneous testimony. The reporter still benefits from obtaining the written charge in advance to verify names, citations, and statutory language.

Question 3Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter taking literary dictation at 200 words per minute is primarily being tested on the ability to:

  1. identify the author of the passage
  2. transcribe only short isolated words
  3. capture extended prose passages accurately at a sustained pace Correct answer.
  4. summarize the passage in the reporter's own words

Explanation

Literary dictation uses continuous prose, such as essays or fiction, to test sustained accuracy at a set speed. The task measures endurance and precision across long passages rather than isolated words or summarization.

Question 4Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

During a fast portion of testimony, a witness says a case citation that the reporter cannot verify. What is the most appropriate professional action?

  1. Mark the spot for later verification and continue recording Correct answer.
  2. Omit the citation entirely from the transcript
  3. Interrupt immediately and ask the witness to repeat the citation
  4. Guess the citation from context and move on silently

Explanation

Reporters mark uncertain items, such as citations or unfamiliar names, for later verification rather than interrupting the flow of testimony. Omitting or guessing would compromise the record's accuracy.

Question 5Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter's realtime translation produces an untranslated steno stroke in the middle of a jury charge. The best immediate practice is to:

  1. leave the raw stroke in the final transcript
  2. delete the surrounding sentence to avoid confusion
  3. define the stroke on the fly and verify the intended word later Correct answer.
  4. stop writing until the judge repeats the charge

Explanation

Untranslated strokes should be defined or flagged immediately so realtime viewers see text, then verified against the written charge during scoping. Leaving raw strokes or deleting surrounding text corrupts the record.

Question 6Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which factor most directly determines the difficulty of a jury charge dictation for a court reporter?

  1. The number of jurors seated in the courtroom
  2. The time of day the charge is delivered
  3. The density of legal terminology and statutory phrasing Correct answer.
  4. The length of the judge's robe

Explanation

Jury charges are dense with legal terminology, statutory citations, and formal phrasing that are easy to mistranslate. Familiarity with that vocabulary is the primary determinant of accuracy.

Question 7Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter sustains 225 words per minute on literary dictation but struggles with testimony at the same speed. The most likely explanation is that:

  1. testimony includes spontaneous speech, interruptions, and rapid exchanges Correct answer.
  2. literary material contains no punctuation cues
  3. literary dictation uses longer words on average
  4. testimony is always delivered more slowly than dictation

Explanation

Testimony is spontaneous and includes interruptions, overlapping speech, and rapid exchanges that literary dictation lacks. Even at equal word counts, the unpredictability of live testimony raises difficulty.

Question 8Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

When a witness testifies through an interpreter, the reporter's primary obligation regarding the record is to:

  1. record only the witness's original-language statements
  2. summarize the testimony in English
  3. record only the interpreter's English rendition
  4. record both the original-language statements and the English interpretation Correct answer.

Explanation

The official record should capture both the original-language testimony and the English interpretation so the proceedings are fully documented. Summarizing or capturing only one side would leave the record incomplete.

Question 9Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which practice best supports accuracy when taking a jury charge that contains statutory citations?

  1. Relying on phonetic guesses for case names
  2. Obtaining the written charge in advance for reference Correct answer.
  3. Recording only the statutory section numbers
  4. Asking the judge to skip citations

Explanation

Advance access to the written charge lets the reporter verify case names, section numbers, and formal phrasing during scoping. Phonetic guessing and omissions undermine accuracy.

Question 10Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

In steno theory, a reporter's 'brief' is best described as:

  1. a single stroke or short combination representing a longer word or phrase Correct answer.
  2. a notation for an untranslatable word
  3. a summary of the day's testimony
  4. a short pause taken between testimony segments

Explanation

Briefs are abbreviated strokes that represent longer words or phrases, allowing higher speed with fewer keystrokes. They must be memorized and consistently applied to remain accurate.

Question 11Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

The reporter hears a witness say a name that sounds like two different spellings. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Ask the witness to spell the name for the record Correct answer.
  2. Omit the name from the transcript
  3. Insert a phonetic placeholder and never verify
  4. Choose the more common spelling and proceed

Explanation

When a name's spelling is uncertain and material to the record, asking the witness to spell it on the record is the standard practice. Guessing or omitting risks an inaccurate transcript.

Question 12Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which transcription practice most directly improves accuracy when scoping a transcript of rapid testimony?

  1. Reading the transcript silently once and submitting it
  2. Relying solely on realtime output without review
  3. Comparing the steno notes against the audio while correcting translation errors Correct answer.
  4. Deleting unclear passages

Explanation

Scoping requires comparing the steno notes and audio to correct mistranslations, punctuation, and speaker attribution. This verification step is where most accuracy is recovered after fast testimony.

Question 13Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A jury charge includes the phrase 'preponderance of the evidence.' In transcription, this phrase should be:

  1. paraphrased as 'more likely than not'
  2. abbreviated to 'POE'
  3. omitted if repeated
  4. transcribed verbatim as spoken Correct answer.

Explanation

Jury charges must be transcribed verbatim because the exact legal phrasing carries operative meaning. Paraphrasing, abbreviating, or omitting standard phrases would alter the official record.

Question 14Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which statement best describes the relationship between dictation speed and transcription accuracy in court reporting training?

  1. Accuracy is independent of speed
  2. Accuracy generally declines as speed increases, so reporters train both speed and precision Correct answer.
  3. Speed is irrelevant once a reporter is certified
  4. Accuracy improves automatically at higher speeds

Explanation

As dictation speed rises, the margin for error narrows, so reporters must train speed and precision together. Certification standards typically require both a speed threshold and an accuracy percentage.

Question 15Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

During a fast cross-examination, two attorneys begin speaking at once. The reporter's best practice is to:

  1. Pause and wait for the exchange to end
  2. Record only the louder speaker
  3. Guess the content of the quieter speaker
  4. Ask the court to resolve the overlap for the record Correct answer.

Explanation

Overlapping speech cannot be reliably transcribed, so the reporter should request that the overlap be resolved on the record. Guessing or omitting would compromise accuracy.

Question 16Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which is the most accurate description of the purpose of realtime transcription in Nevada courtrooms?

  1. To record only the judge's rulings
  2. To provide immediate text access while the official transcript is later produced Correct answer.
  3. To replace the official transcript entirely
  4. To summarize testimony for the jury

Explanation

Realtime provides immediate text to participants while the certified official transcript is later scoped and produced. It supplements rather than replaces the official record.

Question 17Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter encounters a technical medical term during expert testimony and is unsure of its spelling. The most appropriate action is to:

  1. Ask the expert to avoid technical terms
  2. Replace it with a generic description
  3. Spell it phonetically and submit without review
  4. Note the term for later verification against a dictionary or the expert's report Correct answer.

Explanation

Technical terms should be flagged during the proceeding and verified later against authoritative sources such as the expert's report or a medical dictionary. This preserves accuracy without disrupting testimony.

Question 18Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which factor is most likely to cause a transcription error during a jury charge?

  1. The judge reading a written text slowly
  2. Homophones and similar-sounding legal terms Correct answer.
  3. The presence of a court clerk
  4. The length of the courtroom

Explanation

Charges contain many similar-sounding legal terms, such as 'principal' and 'principle,' that are easy to mistranslate. Careful scoping against the written charge is essential.

Question 19Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

When testimony includes a rapid series of numbers, such as dates and dollar amounts, the reporter should prioritize:

  1. Recording approximate figures
  2. Accurate capture of each figure with verification Correct answer.
  3. Omitting figures to save time
  4. Rounding figures to the nearest ten

Explanation

Numbers in testimony, especially in damages or financial matters, must be captured exactly and verified. Approximating or rounding would misstate the evidence.

Question 20Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

The distinction between 'literary' and 'testimony' dictation in court reporting training is best described as:

  1. testimony dictation never includes punctuation
  2. literary uses prose passages while testimony simulates question-and-answer exchanges Correct answer.
  3. literary dictation is always faster
  4. literary dictation is not scored for accuracy

Explanation

Literary dictation uses continuous prose to build speed and endurance, while testimony dictation simulates the question-and-answer format of live proceedings. Both are scored for accuracy.

Question 21Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter's accuracy on a 225 wpm testimony test is 94 percent, below the required 95 percent. The most appropriate response is to:

  1. Switch to literary dictation exclusively
  2. Focus on precision drills at the current speed before advancing Correct answer.
  3. Accept the score as final
  4. Increase speed to 250 wpm to build margin

Explanation

When accuracy falls below threshold, the reporter should build precision at the current speed before increasing it. Advancing speed prematurely tends to compound errors.

Question 22Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which transcription convention is most appropriate for indicating an inaudible portion of testimony?

  1. Deleting the surrounding sentence
  2. Guessing the content from context
  3. Leaving a blank space
  4. Using a bracketed notation such as '(inaudible)' Correct answer.

Explanation

Inaudible portions are indicated with a bracketed notation so the record transparently shows what could not be captured. Blanks, guesses, or deletions would misrepresent the record.

Question 23Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter is assigned to a hearing with heavy Spanish-language testimony through an interpreter. Which preparation step most improves transcription accuracy?

  1. Reviewing common legal terminology in both languages Correct answer.
  2. Avoiding advance preparation
  3. Practicing only English dictation drills
  4. Memorizing the interpreter's name only

Explanation

Familiarity with legal terminology in both languages helps the reporter recognize equivalent terms and verify the interpretation. Preparation specific to the proceeding reduces errors.

Question 24Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which scenario best illustrates the concept of 'carrying' in court reporting?

  1. Transferring files between computers
  2. Reading the transcript aloud to the court
  3. Holding a stroke's meaning in memory while continuing to write at speed Correct answer.
  4. Pausing the steno machine between witnesses

Explanation

Carrying refers to retaining the meaning or context of a stroke or phrase while continuing to write, which is essential during rapid testimony. It is a cognitive skill distinct from equipment or file handling.

Question 25Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

In a Nevada proceeding, the reporter notes that a witness's rapid speech caused several untranslated strokes. The most defensible approach during scoping is to:

  1. Submit the transcript with raw strokes intact
  2. Resolve each stroke against the audio and context, then verify ambiguous terms Correct answer.
  3. Replace unresolved strokes with '(unclear)' without review
  4. Discard the affected pages

Explanation

Each untranslated stroke should be resolved against the audio and surrounding context, with ambiguous terms verified before finalizing. Submitting raw strokes, blanket '(unclear)' labels, or discarding pages would undermine the transcript.

Question 26Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

In court reporting practice, jury charge dictation is typically delivered at which pace relative to ordinary testimony?

  1. Faster, because the judge reads the entire charge without pausing
  2. Variable, because the judge may read at any speed and reporters may not request pauses
  3. Slower, because the charge is read into the record and may be repeated on request Correct answer.
  4. Identical, because all dictation in a proceeding is delivered at 225 wpm

Explanation

Jury charges are read aloud for the record, and the reading pace is generally measured and deliberate, often at literary speeds near 140 to 180 wpm rather than full testimony speed. The judge can also be asked to slow down or repeat a passage so the record is complete.

Question 27Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter is certified at 95 percent accuracy on testimony dictation. Which factor most directly affects whether that reporter meets the standard on a given day?

  1. The reporter's familiarity with the subject matter and speaker accents Correct answer.
  2. The physical size of the courtroom
  3. The length of the judge's opening remarks
  4. The number of exhibits marked in the proceeding

Explanation

Accuracy on dictation depends heavily on familiarity with vocabulary, names, and accents, because unfamiliar terms force hesitation and increase misstrokes. Courtroom logistics such as exhibit counts or room size do not change the reporter's transcription accuracy.

Question 28Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which transcription choice correctly renders a witness's verbatim statement that trails off without completion during testimony?

  1. Delete the fragment because it carries no meaning
  2. Paraphrase the statement so it reads as a complete sentence
  3. Insert a dash or ellipsis to show the unfinished thought Correct answer.
  4. Close the sentence with a period and no indication of the break

Explanation

Testimony transcripts must reproduce the spoken record, so an unfinished utterance is marked with a dash or ellipsis rather than smoothed into a complete sentence. Paraphrasing or deleting the fragment alters the record and is improper.

Question 29Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

When a judge dictates a jury charge containing a Latin legal phrase, the reporter's most reliable approach is to:

  1. Write it in full or with a defined brief and verify the spelling against the written charge Correct answer.
  2. Substitute a plain-English equivalent for clarity
  3. Omit the phrase and note that it was inaudible
  4. Sound it out phonetically and correct it later without verification

Explanation

Judges usually provide the written charge, so the reporter can verify Latin terms and statutory language against that text. Defined briefs for recurring phrases speed the stroke while verification keeps the spelling exact.

Question 30Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which practice most improves a reporter's endurance and accuracy across a long day of testimony dictation?

  1. Scoping the transcript during breaks rather than after the proceeding
  2. Building a personal dictionary of case-specific names and terms before the proceeding Correct answer.
  3. Relying on audio backup instead of writing cleanly
  4. Increasing speed beyond the certification requirement during practice

Explanation

Pre-building case-specific entries reduces hesitation and misstrokes when unfamiliar names and technical terms appear. Endurance comes from consistent practice and preparation, not from exceeding required speed or deferring cleanup.

Question 31Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter hears a witness use the phrase 'notwithstanding the foregoing' during testimony. The most accurate transcription treats the phrase as:

  1. Two separate sentences requiring a period
  2. A colloquialism to be replaced with 'however'
  3. An objectionable phrase to be struck from the record
  4. A single verbatim phrase transcribed exactly as spoken Correct answer.

Explanation

The transcript reproduces the witness's actual words, and 'notwithstanding the foregoing' is a standard legal phrase written exactly as spoken. Reporters do not edit testimony for style or substitute synonyms.

Question 32Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

During a jury charge, the judge reads a list of statutory section numbers rapidly. The reporter's best immediate strategy is to:

  1. Substitute generic placeholders for all numbers
  2. Skip the citations and note that they were read too quickly
  3. Ask the judge to slow down or repeat the citations for the record Correct answer.
  4. Write the numbers phonetically and hope the context clarifies them

Explanation

Numbers and citations are high-risk elements, and the reporter is entitled to ask for a repeat or slower delivery so the record is exact. Guessing or omitting citations creates errors that cannot be reliably corrected later.

Question 33Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

The term 'literary' dictation in court reporting training refers to material that is:

  1. Delivered exclusively in a courtroom setting
  2. Spoken spontaneously by multiple overlapping speakers
  3. Restricted to statutory and case-law quotations
  4. Read from a prepared text with standard punctuation and sentence structure Correct answer.

Explanation

Literary dictation uses prepared prose read aloud with normal punctuation, which lets the reporter practice paragraphing and capitalization decisions. Testimony dictation, by contrast, is spontaneous and often disfluent.

Question 34Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter scoping a transcript of fast testimony encounters a passage where a witness said 'he was, uh, gonna go, you know, to the store.' The most faithful transcription is:

  1. He was-going to the store.
  2. He was, uh, going to go, you know, to the store. Correct answer.
  3. He was [inaudible] to the store.
  4. He was going to the store.

Explanation

Verbatim transcription preserves filler words and disfluencies unless the court orders them stricken, because they can bear on credibility and meaning. Cleaning up the sentence changes the record.

Question 35Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which element of a jury charge most often causes transcription errors even for experienced reporters?

  1. Long embedded clauses quoting statutory language Correct answer.
  2. Short transitional phrases such as 'and then'
  3. The reading of the verdict form
  4. The judge's opening greeting to the jury

Explanation

Long embedded statutory clauses combine unusual vocabulary, nested structure, and sustained reading without natural pauses, which strains the reporter's ability to paragraph and punctuate accurately. Short transitions and greetings are low-risk.

Question 36Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter is assigned to a hearing expected to include rapid expert testimony on pharmacology. The most effective preparation is to:

  1. Ask the court to limit the expert's speaking rate in advance
  2. Practice testimony dictation at 200 wpm the night before
  3. Review the case file and build dictionary entries for drug names and dosages Correct answer.
  4. Plan to rely on the audio recording for the technical portions

Explanation

Technical vocabulary and proper names are the primary source of errors in expert testimony, so pre-loading the dictionary with drug names and dosage formats directly reduces misstrokes. Speed practice and audio reliance do not address term recognition.

Question 37Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

When a witness testifies in short bursts separated by long pauses, the reporter's paragraphing should generally:

  1. Begin a new paragraph at natural shifts in topic or speaker Correct answer.
  2. Combine all bursts into one paragraph regardless of pauses
  3. Avoid paragraph breaks entirely in testimony transcripts
  4. Insert a paragraph break after every pause longer than one second

Explanation

Paragraphing in testimony follows meaning and speaker changes rather than the mechanical length of pauses. Over-paragraphing on every pause fragments the transcript and obscures the flow of questioning.

Question 38Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter realizes mid-testimony that a brief was stroked for the wrong word and the error affects meaning. The best practice is to:

  1. Flag the stroke for immediate review and verify against the audio before scoping Correct answer.
  2. Ignore the error if the surrounding sentence still makes sense
  3. Continue and correct the error during scoping using context
  4. Stop immediately and ask the witness to repeat the answer

Explanation

Meaning-changing errors should be flagged as they occur and verified against the audio so the correction is grounded in the actual record. Deferring entirely to context-based scoping risks a plausible but wrong correction.

Question 39Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which statement best describes how reporters handle the transition between literary and testimony dictation during certification testing?

  1. Testimony dictation is tested only in a live courtroom setting
  2. Literary dictation is optional for certification in most jurisdictions
  3. Literary dictation is tested at a lower speed than testimony dictation Correct answer.
  4. Both are tested at the same speed with the same accuracy standard

Explanation

Certification typically tests literary dictation at a slower rate than testimony, reflecting the greater difficulty of spontaneous multi-speaker speech. Both categories carry accuracy standards, but the speed thresholds differ.

Question 40Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

During a charge, the judge says 'the plaintiff has the burden of proving negligence by a preponderance of the evidence.' The reporter's most accurate handling of 'preponderance' is to:

  1. Write it with a brief and verify the spelling against the written charge Correct answer.
  2. Transcribe it as 'predominance' because the words sound alike
  3. Mark it inaudible and continue with the next sentence
  4. Replace it with 'majority' for jury readability

Explanation

'Preponderance' is a fixed legal term that must appear exactly, and the written charge provides the authoritative spelling. Using a brief for the term speeds capture while verification prevents a sound-alike error.

Question 41Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter's testimony dictation accuracy is 96 percent overall but only 90 percent on proper names. The most targeted remediation is to:

  1. Build and drill a dictionary of surnames and place names Correct answer.
  2. Reduce the number of briefs used during testimony
  3. Increase audio backup recording quality
  4. Practice general literary dictation at higher speeds

Explanation

The deficit is concentrated in proper names, so the effective remedy is targeted dictionary building and drilling of name patterns. General speed practice and equipment changes do not address the specific error class.

Question 42Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

When a witness's answer is interrupted by an attorney's objection, the transcript should:

  1. Omit the partial answer and record only the objection
  2. Complete the witness's sentence as if no interruption occurred
  3. Show the interruption with a dash and then the objection Correct answer.
  4. Merge the partial answer and the objection into one sentence

Explanation

An interruption is marked with a dash, followed by the interrupting speaker's words, preserving the sequence of the record. Completing the sentence invents testimony the witness never gave.

Question 43Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which factor makes testimony dictation inherently harder to transcribe than literary dictation at the same words-per-minute rate?

  1. Testimony contains fewer punctuation cues
  2. Testimony includes false starts, interruptions, and irregular phrasing Correct answer.
  3. Testimony is always delivered at a higher volume
  4. Testimony uses longer words on average

Explanation

Spontaneous speech is disfluent, with false starts, overlaps, and unpredictable phrasing that force the reporter to make rapid structural decisions. Literary material is prepared and follows conventional syntax.

Question 44Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter notices that a repeated phrase in the judge's charge is being stroked inconsistently, sometimes as a brief and sometimes in full. The best practice is to:

  1. Standardize on one form and note the brief in the job dictionary Correct answer.
  2. Alternate freely, since consistency does not affect accuracy
  3. Transcribe the phrase in full every time regardless of speed
  4. Stop using briefs for the remainder of the charge

Explanation

Consistent stroking of a recurring phrase prevents hesitation and makes scoping predictable, so standardizing on one form and recording it in the job dictionary is the sound approach. Inconsistency creates translation ambiguity later.

Question 45Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

Which transcription decision best preserves the record when a witness uses a profane word during testimony?

  1. Substitute a dash for the word
  2. Omit the word and note that it was stricken
  3. Transcribe the word exactly as spoken Correct answer.
  4. Replace it with a bracketed euphemism

Explanation

Verbatim transcription requires recording the witness's actual words, including profanity, unless the court orders otherwise. Substituting euphemisms or dashes alters the record without authority.

Question 46Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter is transcribing a charge that includes the phrase 'res ipsa loquitur' spoken quickly and blended with surrounding words. The most reliable handling is to:

  1. Ask the judge to spell the phrase into the record
  2. Use a defined brief for the phrase and verify against the written charge Correct answer.
  3. Transcribe it as 'the thing speaks for itself'
  4. Stroke it phonetically and resolve it during scoping from context alone

Explanation

Recurring Latin phrases are ideal candidates for defined briefs, and the written charge supplies the authoritative spelling for verification. Context-only resolution of a blended phrase is unreliable, and translating the phrase is improper.

Question 47Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter's realtime feed shows a high rate of untranslates during rapid cross-examination. The most effective immediate response is to:

  1. Slow the writing and ask for a brief pause at the next natural break Correct answer.
  2. Continue and correct all untranslates at the end of the day
  3. Increase writing speed and accept more untranslates
  4. Disable realtime so the errors are not visible

Explanation

Untranslates during rapid speech usually signal that the reporter is writing beyond a sustainable rate, so easing pace and requesting a pause at a natural break restores clean writing. Accumulating errors for later correction undermines the realtime feed's purpose.

Question 48Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A witness gives a long, grammatically tangled answer containing several parenthetical asides. The reporter's paragraphing and punctuation should primarily:

  1. Convey the meaning and structure of the answer while remaining verbatim Correct answer.
  2. Reflect the speaker's pauses exactly as timed
  3. Break the answer into one-sentence paragraphs for readability
  4. Impose a clean grammatical structure the speaker did not use

Explanation

Punctuation in a verbatim transcript serves meaning, using commas, dashes, and paragraph breaks to convey how the answer was structured without rewriting it. Imposing grammar the speaker did not use crosses into editing.

Question 49Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

During a jury charge, the judge departs from the written text and adds an impromptu explanatory sentence. The reporter should:

  1. Transcribe the addition verbatim and note that it departed from the written charge Correct answer.
  2. Paraphrase the addition to match the written charge's style
  3. Transcribe only the written charge and ignore the addition
  4. Ask the judge to strike the addition from the record

Explanation

The spoken record controls, so an impromptu addition must be transcribed verbatim, and a note flagging the departure helps the parties and any reviewing court. Ignoring or paraphrasing the addition misstates what the jury heard.

Question 50Dictation and Transcription Accuracy (literary, jury charge, and testimony speeds)

A reporter must choose between writing a rapid numeric series in full or using numeric briefs during expert testimony. The soundest practice is to:

  1. Record approximate values and refine them later
  2. Write every digit in full regardless of pace
  3. Use numeric briefs consistently and verify the figures against exhibits Correct answer.
  4. Ask the witness to repeat every number twice

Explanation

Consistent numeric briefs maintain pace, and exhibits provide an independent source to verify figures during scoping. Writing every digit in full invites dropped strokes, and approximate recording is unacceptable in a verbatim record.