NVRA Realtime Verbatim Reporter flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Literary dictation punctuation cues

Words such as 'comma,' 'period,' 'new paragraph,' and 'quote/unquote' are formatting instructions; transcribe the surrounding prose but omit the cue words unless they are clearly part of the sentence.

Comma inside quotation marks

American style places commas and periods inside closing quotation marks, even when the punctuation is not part of the original quotation; semicolons and colons go outside.

Its versus it's

'Its' is the possessive form; 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.' Substitute the expansion into the sentence; if it reads correctly, use 'it's'; otherwise use 'its.'

Dialogue new speaker rule

Each new speaker begins a new paragraph. Do not run two speakers' dialogue together in one paragraph, even when the dictation pause is short or the speaker change is signaled only by tone.

Em dash interrupted speech

Use an em dash to mark a sentence or utterance broken off by interruption or abrupt change; use an ellipsis for speech that trails away. Do not use a hyphen for either function.

Compound modifier hyphenation

Hyphenate a compound modifier before the noun it modifies, as in 'a well-known author' or 'a two-car garage'; omit the hyphen when the same words follow the noun, as in 'the author is well known.'

Colon after independent clause

Use a colon to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation only after an independent clause. Do not place a colon between a verb and its object or between a preposition and its object.

Literary number style

In general literary prose, spell out whole numbers zero through nine and use numerals for 10 and above; keep one style throughout unless the dictation or publisher's sheet specifies another convention.

Paragraph cue versus pause

A pause in literary dictation may be rhetorical, not structural. Insert a paragraph break only when the dictation explicitly says 'new paragraph' or when a new speaker begins dialogue.

Realtime untranslated stroke error

In a no-edit realtime test, any stroke not translated by the stenotype dictionary appears in the final text as an error; a brief or outline must already be defined to produce the intended word.

Homophone syntax test

Choose among sound-alike words by substituting the candidate into the sentence and checking grammar: 'they're' must equal 'they are,' 'your' must be possessive, and 'to' must mark infinitive or direction.

May versus shall

In jury instructions, 'may' grants permission or discretion, while 'shall' or 'must' imposes a mandatory duty. Transcribe the judge's choice exactly; do not interchange the words.

Preponderance of the evidence

The civil burden meaning more likely true than not true. In a jury charge, preserve the full phrase; do not reduce it to 'preponderance' when the full standard is dictated.

Beyond a reasonable doubt

The criminal burden requiring proof so convincing that no reasonable doubt remains. Preserve the article 'a' and the full phrase; do not substitute 'reasonable doubt' alone when the complete standard is dictated.

Clear and convincing evidence

An intermediate burden stricter than preponderance but less than beyond a reasonable doubt. Retain 'clear and convincing' as spoken; do not replace 'convincing' with 'convicted' or 'conclusive.'

Voir dire spelling

Voir dire is the examination of prospective jurors. The phrase is two words, pronounced 'vwar deer'; preserve the conventional spelling rather than a phonetic misspelling.

Res ipsa loquitur

Latin phrase meaning 'the thing speaks for itself'; it permits an inference of negligence. Preserve the three-word spelling and do not translate it in a jury charge.

Party designations consistency

Use the same labels the court uses: plaintiff, defendant, appellant, appellee, petitioner, respondent. Do not abbreviate to P or D unless the dictation explicitly says so.

Instruction numbering preserved

When the judge says 'Instruction No. 5' or 'element 2,' keep that number and label. Do not renumber instructions or subparts to make the charge look sequential.

Readback direction omission

A judge's procedural direction such as 'read that back' or 'next instruction' is not part of the charge text. Omit it from the charge body unless the judge dictates it as quoted content.

And/or legal connector

In legal writing, 'and/or' means either or both. Transcribe it as the single connector 'and/or' when dictated; do not expand it to 'and or' or choose one alternative.

Q and A labels

In deposition or trial Q&A, the examiner's turn begins with 'Q.' and the witness's turn begins with 'A.'; the period follows the letter, and the label is separated from the text.

New speaker new paragraph

Each change of speaker in Q&A begins a new paragraph with the appropriate Q. or A. label. Do not combine a question and its answer in one paragraph.

Parenthetical non-verbal events

Non-verbal events such as laughter, pauses, or a witness pointing are enclosed in parentheses, for example '(Laughter)' or '(Witness nods).' Parentheticals are not spoken words and do not receive Q. or A. labels.

Colloquy speaker labels

When attorneys address each other or the judge rather than examining a witness, use speaker labels such as 'MR. SMITH:' instead of Q. and A.; Q&A labels apply only to examiner-witness turns.

Question mark in answer

If an answer quotes a direct question, keep the question mark inside the quotation marks. Do not add a question mark to an answer merely because the answer discusses a question.

Exhibit reference format

Write 'Exhibit 12' with a capital E and a numeral when the exhibit is identified by number; retain a possessive such as 'Plaintiff's Exhibit 12' when dictated. Avoid 'Ex. 12' unless that abbreviation is dictated.

Two-voice turn detection

In two-voice Q&A, a new speaker turn is marked by a change in voice, not by every pause. Keep the current Q. or A. paragraph open across pauses within the same speaker's turn.

Q&A punctuation terminal marks

End a question with a question mark and an answer with a period. If the speaker's grammar is a fragment, punctuate the fragment according to its function, not by adding words.

Same speaker continuation

When the same speaker continues after a parenthetical or a short interruption, do not insert a new Q. or A. label; continue the same paragraph unless the speaker actually changes.

Speaker label first mention

At the first turn of a witness or attorney, use the full designation dictated, such as 'MR. JONES.'; thereafter keep the same label. Do not alternate between 'Q.' and the attorney's name within one examination.

Interruption in Q&A

When one speaker interrupts another, mark the break with an em dash at the end of the interrupted text and begin the interrupting speaker's turn with the proper Q. or A. label.