Content Markers are used to signal to yourself, Quality Assurance, and our Customers that some text has special characteristics.

Additionally, they allow you to set waypoints in your transcript to return to. There are several reasons you may need to create waypoints for your own review, outlined below, and this process is integral to your self-review.

You can find your waypoints in the F2 tab, Markers. Clicking on a waypoint will navigate you to the pertinent text and timestamp.

Each Content Marker has a special shortcut that must be used to trigger its use.

Note: You should strive to remove all [?] and [Indistinct] content markers before you mark your job complete. In some cases it may be appropriate to leave them in.

[?] (shortcut: qm)

The [?] marker signals you are not 100% certain that a guess you're making is accurate and it seems to be an unreasonable guess. This marker can be used on all text, including dialogue and special content.

This marker does not take the place of your guess, but is placed after the questionable text.

"I've got a chicken [?] to ride"
- Paul McCartney

[Indistinct] (macro: idd)

The [Indistinct] marker signals indecipherable dialogue. Please be sure to make your best effort to use context and what dialogue you are able to understand to fill in any gaps and present a complete and accurate transcript.

This marker takes the place of indecipherable dialogue.

"Here we are now, [Indistinct]"
- Kurt Cobain

[Chatter] (macro: chh)

The [Chatter] marker signals dialogue that is indecipherable due to multiple speakers talking over each other.

Like the [Indistinct] marker, the [Chatter] marker takes the place of the indecipherable dialogue.

"[Chatter]"
- Democrats and Republicans on TV

[Lyrics] (macro: lyy)

The [Lyrics] marker signals the beginning of lyrical content. No marker is needed to indicate the end of the lyrical content.

[Lyrics]
Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on

Lyrics have a couple of special formatting instructions:

• Lyrics should always be formatted like so, regardless of Line Formatting instructions.
• Create a new line for each lyrical stanza.
• No punctuation is necessary at the end of a line.
• Treat dialogue following lyrical content as if it is from a new speaker, even if the singer and speaker are the same.
• Generally, lyrics can be copied from the most official source available (preference to the artist's website or genius.com) and pasted into your transcript. However, you will still need to verify the lyrics represent what is presented in your file.
• Other content markers can be used as appropriate within lyrical content.

[BLEEP] (macro: xxi) & Profanity Marker (macro: ddd)

The [BLEEP] marker signals profanity or any dialogue is audibly covered up by a bleep or other sound effect.

The Profanity marker is used internally to make it easier to find profanity within a transcription.

Please see the Profanity document for information on how to handle questionable and profane content.

[foreign] (macros: ffi)

The [foreign] marker signals dialogue spoken in a language other than English.

Do not attempt to translate or interpret foreign dialogue.

It is used both to take the place of foreign dialogue that you are unable to discern as well as to indicate the beginning of foreign dialogue that is provided or has entered the English vernacular.

Documentarian: Can you tell me what happened that day?
Ivan Drago: [foreign]
Translator: He says, "Apollo was weak."

Generally, foreign culinary terms do not require the [foreign] marker provided you are able to verify the spelling of any such terms.

"In the 1970s we got coq au vin. And then we had blanquettes"
- Julia Child

Timestamp (macro: ts)

Used to input a timestamp in the transcription. This marker may be used to identify to a client the time when a content marker occurred in a transcription. Use of the timestamp macro will be rare. Please seek guidance if you are instructed to use it.