This is WHY 90% FAIL Transcription Tests & Transcription Jobs

Tess Ogamba
19 Oct 202108:42

TLDRThe video script discusses common mistakes made in transcription jobs and offers advice on how to avoid them to succeed in the field. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding atomic typos, homophones, spelling errors, and mishearing words. The script also cautions against relying solely on automatic transcription software without thorough editing. To improve transcription skills, the video suggests investing in quality headphones, enhancing listening skills, conducting extensive research for accurate names and terms, improving grammar and punctuation, and rigorously proofreading and editing the final transcript. These practices are crucial for achieving high ratings and acquiring direct clients in transcription work.

Takeaways

  • ✅ Invest in good earphones or headsets to improve the transcription process.
  • 🔍 Improve listening skills by practicing with various types of audios and adjusting playback speed.
  • 🔑 Conduct extensive research when transcribing to ensure accurate spelling of names and terms.
  • ✍️ Enhance grammar and punctuation skills to produce neat and readable transcripts.
  • 👂 Avoid atomic typos by being mindful of one-letter mistakes that can change the meaning of words.
  • 🚫 Be cautious with homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.
  • 🧐 Double-check the spelling of names of people, places, companies, and organizations to maintain accuracy.
  • 🛠️ Utilize tools like MS Word spellchecker and Grammarly to assist with spelling and grammar.
  • 🙅‍♀️ Avoid relying solely on automatic transcription software; always proofread and edit the output.
  • 🔄 Play the audio file multiple times or adjust the speed to capture what is being said accurately.
  • ✅ Proofreading and editing the transcript at least three times is crucial to catch and correct errors.

Q & A

  • What is the main reason for failure in transcription tests and jobs according to the video?

    -The main reason for failure in transcription tests and jobs is making mistakes such as atomic typos, homophones, spelling errors, mishearing words, and over-reliance on automatic transcription software without proper editing and proofreading.

  • What are 'atomic typos' and why are they significant in transcription?

    -Atomic typos are one-letter mistakes that are very easy to miss but can significantly affect the finished transcript. They occur when a real word is typed that is different from the word in the audio or video file, often changing the meaning of the sentence entirely because they don't fit the context.

  • How can homophones affect the accuracy of a transcription?

    -Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Mistaking homophones during transcription can change the meaning of a statement, leading to inaccuracies in the final transcript.

  • Why is it important to research names and terms when transcribing?

    -Researching names and terms is important to ensure accuracy in transcription. Different names can have various spellings, and without proper research, the wrong spelling may be used, leading to inaccuracies in the transcript.

  • What tools can help in correcting general spelling and grammar mistakes during transcription?

    -Tools like MS Word spellchecker and Grammarly can help in correcting general spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as style mistakes, word choice, and more during transcription.

  • How can one avoid mishearing words during transcription?

    -To avoid mishearing words, one should improve their listening skills. This can be achieved by practicing attentive listening to various audio/video files, playing the file multiple times, adjusting the speed, and using good earphones or headsets.

  • Why is it not advisable to solely rely on automatic transcription software?

    -Automatic transcription software, while helpful, is not perfect and is prone to errors. Relying solely on it without editing and proofreading can lead to inaccuracies in the transcript, as the software may misinterpret words or phrases.

  • What are some tips to improve listening skills for transcription?

    -To improve listening skills, one should practice transcribing different types of audios, use good quality earphones or headsets, and apply attentive listening to capture every detail despite challenges like heavy accents or background noises.

  • How can extensive research help in transcription accuracy?

    -Extensive research helps in ensuring that every word or phrase is spelled correctly and in line with the context of the file. It involves looking up names, companies, organizations, brands, and indiscernible words to get the correct spelling.

  • Why is proofreading and editing crucial after transcribing?

    -Proofreading and editing are crucial as they help in correcting any mishears, spelling mistakes, additions, and omissions. It is an important stage that ensures the transcript is accurate and fits within the context of the audio.

  • What is the role of grammar and punctuation in transcription?

    -Grammar and punctuation are essential in transcription to ensure that the transcript is neat, readable, and captures the original thoughts of the speaker. A good transcriber must understand the English language and know where to place periods, commas, quotations, etc.

  • How can one make more money and get high ratings in transcription jobs?

    -To make more money and get high ratings in transcription jobs, one should avoid common mistakes, invest in good earphones or headsets, improve listening skills, conduct extensive research, enhance grammar and punctuation skills, and always proofread and edit the transcription thoroughly.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Common Transcription Mistakes to Avoid

This paragraph discusses the importance of avoiding common mistakes in transcription work to earn more money, receive high ratings, and secure direct clients. It emphasizes avoiding atomic typos, which are one-letter mistakes that change the meaning of a sentence, and homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings. The paragraph also touches on the third mistake, which is spelling errors, with a focus on misspelling names and general spelling and grammar issues.

05:03

🎧 Enhancing Transcription Skills and Accuracy

The second paragraph provides solutions to the problems identified in the first. It suggests investing in good earphones or headsets to improve the transcription process. It also stresses the need to enhance listening skills to accurately transcribe conversations, even when they present challenges like heavy accents or background noise. The paragraph advises doing extensive research when transcribing to ensure accuracy in spelling names and using context-appropriate terms. Additionally, it highlights the importance of improving grammar and punctuation skills to produce neat and readable transcripts. Lastly, the paragraph emphasizes the crucial step of proofreading and editing to catch and correct errors before submission.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Transcription Tests

Transcription tests are evaluations used to measure a person's ability to accurately convert spoken language into written form. In the video, it's mentioned that many people fail these tests due to common mistakes. The script emphasizes the importance of avoiding such errors to succeed in transcription jobs.

💡Atomic Typos

Atomic typos refer to one-letter mistakes that are easy to overlook but can significantly alter the meaning of a word. The video script provides examples such as typing 'county' instead of 'country', which are real words but incorrect in context, leading to errors in the transcript.

💡Homophones

Homophones are words that sound identical but have different meanings and spellings. The script identifies homophones as a common source of transcription errors, especially for words like 'there', 'they're', 'their', and others, which can drastically change the meaning of a sentence if transcribed incorrectly.

💡Spelling Errors

Spelling errors encompass mistakes in writing names of people, places, companies, and general spelling and grammar. The video script points out that these errors are common and can be mitigated by researching the correct spellings and using tools like MS Word spellchecker or Grammarly.

💡Mishearing

Mishearing occurs when a transcriber incorrectly interprets a word or phrase from the audio, leading to inaccuracies in the transcript. The video script warns that mishearing can be a critical mistake, as it can render the entire transcript unreliable.

💡Automatic Transcription Software

Automatic transcription software like Otter.ai, Temi, and Trint are tools that convert speech to text. The script mentions that while these tools are improving, they are not infallible and can introduce errors. It advises transcribers to proofread and edit the output of such software extensively.

💡Listening Skills

Listening skills are crucial for transcriptionists to accurately capture conversations, even amidst challenges like heavy accents or background noise. The video script suggests that practicing transcribing different types of audios can help improve these skills.

💡Research

In the context of transcription, research is vital for ensuring accuracy. The script advises looking up names, companies, and brands to verify correct spellings and contextual relevance, emphasizing the importance of using tools like Google to aid in this process.

💡Grammar and Punctuation

A good understanding of grammar and punctuation is essential for producing high-quality transcripts. The video script highlights the need for transcribers to know where to place periods, commas, and other punctuation marks to maintain the clarity and readability of the transcript.

💡Proofreading and Editing

Proofreading and editing are the final checks a transcriber should perform on their work to catch and correct any errors. The script describes this process as going through the transcript multiple times to ensure that every word fits within the context of the audio.

Highlights

Avoiding common mistakes is crucial for success in transcription jobs.

Atomic typos, which are one-letter mistakes, can significantly affect the transcript's meaning.

Homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings, are a common source of errors in transcription.

Spelling errors, especially of names, can be avoided by conducting thorough research.

General spelling and grammar mistakes can be corrected using tools like MS Word spellchecker and Grammarly.

Mishearing words is a critical mistake that can render a transcript inaccurate.

Automatic transcription software, while helpful, should not be solely relied upon due to its potential for errors.

Investing in good earphones or headsets can greatly improve the transcription process.

Improving listening skills is essential for transcribing conversations with various challenges such as heavy accents or background noises.

Extensive research is necessary to ensure accuracy in transcribing names, companies, and brands.

Grammar and punctuation skills are vital for producing neat, readable, and contextually accurate transcripts.

Proofreading and editing are critical steps to correct errors and ensure the quality of the transcript.

Transcriptionists should play the audio file multiple times or adjust the speed to capture what is being said.

Using Google to research indiscernible words and names mentioned in the audio file can provide the correct spelling.

A good transcriber must understand the English language and know where to place periods, commas, and quotations.

Transcripts should capture the original thoughts of the speaker and be free of inaudibles and crosstalk tags.

Editing and proofreading automatically generated transcripts extensively is advised before submission for review.

The video offers advice on how to make more money and get high ratings in transcription jobs.

Transcriptionists are encouraged to give the video a thumbs up to support the content and help it reach more people.