RDR Registered Diplomate Reporter key terms

A compact keyboard device with far fewer keys than a standard typewriter; a reporter presses multiple keys at once to record syllabic sound chunks, producing a shorthand code that is later translated into written English.

Software that converts the raw shorthand code produced on a stenotype into readable English using a stored dictionary, then lets the reporter edit, format, and produce the finished transcript.

The process of converting a reporter's keystrokes into displayed or streamed text almost instantly, letting attorneys, judges, or caption viewers read the words as they are spoken.

An assistant who proofreads and cleans up a reporter's unedited translation, fixing mistranslations, punctuation, and speaker labels so the reporter can review and certify the final transcript more quickly.

A temporary word list built for one assignment, adding unusual names and technical terms as they arise, so the software translates those entries correctly for the rest of that proceeding.

A command that returns an already translated word to its raw shorthand form so the reporter can supply the correct English or build a dictionary entry for it.

Linking a digital audio recording to the text of a transcript so that clicking a line plays the corresponding spoken words, which helps during proofreading and when a transcript is challenged.

Recording a proceeding primarily with multi-channel audio, and often video, rather than a stenotype, with transcription performed later from the recording under a monitor's supervision.

Covering a deposition, hearing, or meeting in which some or all participants attend by video or telephone link, requiring the reporter to manage speaker identification and connectivity as well as the record.

Two independent clauses joined only by a comma, with no coordinating conjunction; the error is repaired by adding a conjunction, using a semicolon, or splitting the sentence.

A descriptive phrase with no logical word to modify in the main clause, so the sentence appears to say something unintended, as in "Having sworn the witness, the question was asked."

The comma placed before the conjunction in a list of three or more items; house style dictates whether it is used, and consistency matters more than the choice itself.

A mark separating two closely related independent clauses or the items of a complex list; it signals a stronger break than a comma but a weaker one than a period.

A long horizontal mark used to set off a sharp interruption or an explanatory aside; in transcripts it often shows a speaker breaking off mid-sentence or being cut off by another speaker.

Three spaced periods marking omitted words in a quotation or a trailing-off of speech; in verbatim testimony it must not be used to disguise uncertainty about what was actually said.

A bracketed Latin word placed after a quoted error to show the mistake was in the original and not introduced by the transcriber; it should be used sparingly and never to mock a speaker.

Square brackets enclosing words the reporter adds for clarity, such as a spelled name, a gesture, or a corrected reference, so readers know the material was not spoken on the record.

One of two or more words that sound alike but are spelled differently and mean different things, such as "their" and "there"; confusing them is a common source of transcription error.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person; it becomes tricky with interrupting phrases, collective nouns, and compound subjects joined by "or" or "nor."

A reporter's note in parentheses describing something nonverbal, such as a pause, an exhibit marked, or a person entering, inserted to explain events that the spoken words alone would not convey.

The person whose sworn out-of-court testimony is taken in a deposition; the deponent answers questions from attorneys and may be questioned further by opposing counsel in the same session.

A voluntary agreement between parties about a fact or procedure, often read into the record at a deposition to settle matters such as objections, document handling, or the length of the session.

Questioning of prospective jurors or of a witness to test competence, bias, or qualifications; in deposition practice it can also mean preliminary questioning about an interpreter's or expert's background.

A court order requiring a person to appear and bring specified documents or objects; reporters may see one when records are produced at a deposition or hearing.

Questioning of a witness by the opposing party after direct examination, generally limited to matters raised earlier and to attacks on credibility; leading questions are permitted.

Latin for "at first sight"; it describes evidence that is sufficient on its face to establish a fact unless the other side produces rebutting evidence.

Death of heart muscle caused by blocked blood flow in a coronary artery, commonly called a heart attack; testimony may describe chest pain, shortness of breath, and enzyme or ECG findings.

A jagged tear of skin or tissue, often caused by blunt force, as distinct from a clean incised cut; the word appears frequently in emergency room and injury testimony.

Swelling caused by fluid collecting in body tissues, a common finding after injury or in heart, kidney, and liver disease; it is usually described by location and degree.

The spread of cancer from its original site to distant organs through blood or lymph channels; its presence generally changes the staging of disease and the outlook discussed with the patient.

A medical forecast of how a condition is likely to develop and how fully the patient may recover; it is distinct from diagnosis, which identifies the condition itself.

The duty to keep proceedings, exhibits, and personal information private and to disclose them only as authorized; it outlasts the assignment and covers assistants the reporter engages.

The obligation to record proceedings neutrally, without favoring any party, altering testimony, or advising a speaker on how a question should be answered.

The reporter's signed statement that the transcript is a true and accurate record of the proceeding, which gives the document official status and makes the reporter accountable for its accuracy.

Contact with a judge or other decision-maker by one side without the other side present; reporters should neither arrange nor take part in such conversations.

A situation in which a personal, financial, or family relationship could bias the reporter's work, or could appear to do so, requiring disclosure and usually declining the assignment.

The documented record of who handled an exhibit or sample from collection to courtroom; a reporter may be asked to describe how marked items were kept and transferred.

The mandated hours of approved instruction a certified reporter must complete each renewal cycle to keep a license or credential current, with attendance records retained for audit.