RPR key terms

A situation in which a reporter's personal, financial, or family ties could sway their work or appear to do so. Reporters disclose and avoid such ties so the record stays trustworthy.

Contact between one party in a case and the judge, or with another party, without the opposing side present. Reporters should not help arrange or take part in it.

The duty to keep information learned on assignment private and to release it only when the law, a court order, or the parties permit. It covers sealed files, patient details, and off-record remarks.

Recording proceedings evenly, without favoring any side, changing words, or adding personal opinion. It is the ethical core that keeps a transcript credible to courts and litigants.

A signed statement in which the reporter declares that a transcript accurately and completely records the proceeding. Signing it carries legal weight and is governed by rules and ethics codes.

Behavior that would make a reasonable observer question a reporter's fairness, even if nothing wrong actually happened. Reporters avoid it because trust depends on how things look.

The limits of what a reporter is trained, certified, or legally allowed to do. Giving legal advice or interpreting the law for parties falls outside those limits.

Ongoing training that keeps a reporter current on technology, terminology, and rules, and is often required to renew a credential. It demonstrates a commitment to professional competence.

Doing tasks reserved for licensed attorneys, such as advising parties, explaining rules, or drafting legal papers. Reporters must decline even when a party asks for help.

Sworn testimony taken outside the courtroom before trial, recorded by a reporter and used to gather facts or challenge a witness later. It is a staple assignment for court reporters.

A written statement of facts that the maker swears to be true before an authorized officer. Unlike live testimony, it is prepared in advance and signed.

A statement made outside the courtroom that is offered to prove what it says is true. Courts usually exclude it unless a recognized exception applies, so reporters log objections and rulings.

A legal order telling a person to appear and bring specified documents or records. Reporters may see one when notes, files, or recordings are demanded.

An agreement between opposing parties about a fact, procedure, or the handling of evidence, often stated on the record. Reporters must capture its exact wording because it binds the parties.

The questioning of potential jurors to select a fair panel, or a hearing held outside the jury's presence. Reporters rely on context to record which meaning applies.

The party who starts a civil lawsuit by filing a complaint and asking the court for a remedy. In criminal matters the comparable party is the prosecution, not the plaintiff.

Describing a party who takes part in a case without an attorney. Reporters record such a party's words carefully and never offer legal or procedural advice.

The pretrial stage in which parties exchange information through depositions, written questions, and document requests. Most civil reporting work happens during this phase.

A forecast of how a condition is likely to develop and how well a patient may recover. It differs from diagnosis, which identifies the condition itself.

The identification of a disease or injury based on symptoms, examination, and test results. Testimony often separates it from prognosis, which predicts the likely course.

Describing a growth or tumor that can invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body; cancerous. It contrasts with benign, which is not.

A word that sounds the same as another but is spelled differently and means something else, such as 'cite' and 'site.' Confusing them is a frequent transcript error.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person. Long phrases between subject and verb often cause mistakes in rushed transcript production.

A descriptive phrase placed so it does not clearly attach to the word it describes, creating an unintended meaning. Moving it next to that word usually fixes the sentence.

Two or more independent clauses joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction. Reporters punctuate spoken testimony so it reads clearly while leaving the words untouched.

The comma placed before the final 'and' or 'or' in a list of three or more items. Style preferences vary, so a reporter applies the required style consistently.

A mark of three periods showing that words have been left out of a quotation. In testimony it can also show a speaker trailing off.

Spoken exchange among participants in a proceeding, such as attorneys and the judge, rather than formal question and answer. It is transcribed exactly as spoken.

Word for word, reproducing exactly what was said, including slips, repetitions, and grammar errors. Reporters do not clean up or improve spoken language.

A compact keyboard with few keys that a reporter presses in chords to write syllables phonetically. The output is a coded record translated into English later.

Converting a reporter's keystrokes into readable text instantly for display on screens, captioning, or remote viewers. It depends on a large, accurate dictionary and constant maintenance.

Software that turns stenotype codes into English, lets the reporter edit a personal dictionary, and formats the final transcript. It replaced manual typing from paper notes.

Repeating earlier testimony aloud when a party or judge asks. The reporter finds the passage in notes or on the real-time screen and reads it without summarizing.

A case-specific list of names, technical terms, and phrases added to transcription software so they translate correctly. Building one before a proceeding reduces errors.

The process of identifying documents or objects introduced as evidence, giving each a number or letter and noting when it was offered or admitted.

A duplicate of notes, audio, or transcript files stored apart from the originals. It protects the record if equipment fails, files corrupt, or a disaster strikes.

A simultaneous sound recording made alongside the stenographic record. It helps verify unclear words and supports the reporter if testimony is later disputed.