Not using quotes in your transcripts??

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I read another reporter's transcript the other day, and I noticed when the attorney is quoting from an exhibit, she didn't put in any quotes at all. 

 

I think it's sloppy not to use quotes when something is read into the record.   Also, I put quoted material in a parenthetical set off.  I think it looks nice.  Here is an example:

 

Q      I don't expect you to remember what was said, but below that it says:
                         "The parent's obligation to provide

                           funding for the surviving corporation

                          including, without limitation, funding to

                          pursue the achievement of the milestones

                          shall be at parent's sole discretion to be

                          exercised in good faith."

           Do you have an independent understanding of what that means?

 

What do you all do?

[Martha R]

I use quotes.  I'm surprised some of you don't.  Frankly, it's easier to not use and perhaps the attorneys don't care anyway.

What about quoting:   She said, "You hit me with a bat," and she goes, "I did not."   He goes, "Yes, you did."   So time consuming to insert quotes.  Do you all do that?

[Joyce Davis]

Each time the supposed speaker changes, you could start a new paragraph.  If you don't want to use quotes, you could introduce it with a comma and nish-cap the first word.  Morson suggests using quotes, though.

Since your example of "she said/she said" is short, keeping it together works too.  You might use a semicolon to introduce "and she goes."  It's a heavier break and might be appropriate since the supposed speaker changes here.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Yes, I quote all of that.  However, whenever there is a new speaker, I paragraph down.

She said, "You hit me with a bat."

She goes, "I did not."

He goes, "Yes, you did."

Anyway, you get the point.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I have some input. (I do have that teacher certification in English 5-9 and 6-12). The quote is a good choice for when it's short (maybe a one quote thing), Like, I heard her scream, "You hit me with a bat." And I heard him yell, "I did not."

But in continuing dialog (such as Kelli exampled here), this is a better way to go. There will always be the standard rules of grammar - and there will always be a time to make an exception to the standard rules.

Because attorneys may be quick reading transcripts for particulars, we want the transcript to be easy to read and easy to find the particulars they are looking for (such as in Kelli's example).

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

If they don't quote correctly, leave out words, I put ....... and if they add words that are not said in document, I ad [    ] to include the word that was not in the document.  That covers your "arse" as well.

[Janiece Young]

Kelli, I do that too when it's minor things, leaving out a word here and there.  But if they really mess it up, I think it's really hard to read when my text is bouncing in and out of quotes.  

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

If it's is not a quote and more of a paraphrase, I don't quote it at all; no need to be jumping in and out of quotes.  That would just make for a mess.

It's interesting how everyone has a preference.  I am just wondering if quotes are being phased out because I know there are more than a few reporters that don't use them.  To each his own, of course.

[Kerry F]

Too much labor that I don't think is necessary.  I think setting it off with a colon shows they are reading from a document and that's all we need.  Especially on a video when the paraphrase and don't read every word as in the document, I think setting it off with a colon totally covers us.  And sometimes I don't have the document they are reading from so I don't know if it's an exact quote so I go off my audio.

[mary nelson]

Kelli, I agree it's lazy to not put them in,  I have a friend who does all her trancripts in all caps, so she doesn't have to figure out what to capitalize.  Her transcripts look like telegrams.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

That seriously is crazy.  It is amazing how many different formats there actually are.  Interesting.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Does she work for a firm?

[Kathleen Gordon]

Great discussions on using quotes.  Isn't our profession so interesting.  As far as transcripts in all caps, I always loved it.

It saves so much time on research.  Plus it looks like large print to my old, tired eyes!!!!