National Verbatim Reporters Association Registered Verbal Reporter (RVR)

A verbatim reporter must remain on the record until all parties agree to go off the record, or until directed by a judge. Stopping the record prematurely at the request of only one party violates the reporter’s duty to maintain a complete and impartial record. The other options compromise the integrity of the transcript.

Popping sounds (plosives) and breathing noises are typically caused by direct airflow hitting the microphone element. Adjusting the microphone out of the direct airstream mitigates this issue while maintaining voice clarity. Increasing gain or removing the baffle would actually exacerbate the unwanted noises.

The reporter’s duty is to read back the verbatim record exactly as it was taken, including objections and rulings, unless the presiding judge specifically instructs otherwise. Summarizing or unilaterally deciding to omit stricken portions violates the reporter’s role as an impartial guardian of the record.

When independent clauses are joined by a conjunctive adverb (like ‘therefore’) rather than a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon must be used before the conjunctive adverb. A comma follows the conjunctive adverb. The other options create comma splices or improperly use colons.

An aponeurosis is a sheet-like fibrous connective tissue that functions similarly to a tendon, attaching muscle to bone. Knowing precise medical terminology is critical for voice reporters to ensure accurate phonetic dictation and proper software translation. The other definitions refer to osteoarthritis, spinal fusion, and scoliosis, respectively.

Res gestae (Latin for ‘things done’) refers to spontaneous statements made under the stress of an event, which are often admitted as an exception to the hearsay rule. ‘Res judicata’ means a matter already judged, ‘corpus delicti’ refers to the body of the crime, and ‘respondeat superior’ refers to employer liability.

Voice writers use briefs and macros (short voice codes) to increase dictation speed and catch up when trailing fast speakers. Summarizing violates the verbatim requirement, and relying on memory after pausing invites critical omissions. Interruptions should be brief and used only when absolutely necessary.

Parentheticals for marking exhibits are standalone structural elements in a transcript, usually enclosed in parentheses and indented on a new line to clearly separate them from spoken testimony. Placing them within the text or in footers violates standard transcript formatting rules and reduces readability.

Professional ethics dictate that court reporters must treat all parties fairly and impartially; thus, any expedited services or rough drafts offered to one party must be made available to all parties at the same time. The draft must also include a clear disclaimer that it is unedited and uncertified to prevent it from being used as a final official record.

Once the right to read and sign is waived on the record, the reporter’s duty regarding signature is complete. The reporter cannot unilaterally reinstate this right or alter the agreed-upon procedure; the deponent must address any post-deposition issues through the attorneys of record.

Prolonged dictation into a closed steno mask generates significant moisture from the breath, which can dampen the microphone element and cause muffled audio and poor software translation. Regularly replacing moisture inserts and drying the mask prevents this degradation. The other options do not address the physical cause of the muffled audio.

A verbatim reporter’s primary duty is to protect the integrity of the record. When simultaneous speaking makes it impossible to capture a verbatim record, the reporter must assert control and interrupt to ask for orderly proceedings. Guessing or selectively recording only one speaker compromises the impartiality and accuracy of the transcript.

A ‘subpoena duces tecum’ (Latin for ‘under penalty to bring with you’) is a writ ordering a person to attend a court proceeding or deposition and bring relevant documents or other evidence. A standard subpoena only compels attendance to testify.

‘Council’ refers to an administrative or legislative body. ‘Counsel’ refers to an attorney or legal advice. ‘Consul’ refers to a government official living in a foreign city. Using the correct homophone is critical for accurate transcript production.

Voice writers must proactively manage their speech dictionaries by adding and training case-specific terminology, proper nouns, and technical jargon before a job begins. This ensures real-time translation accuracy and reduces editing time. Spelling out the word or using generic substitutions slows down the reporter and creates unnecessary post-production work.

Court reporters must be impartial and free of any financial or familial conflicts of interest. Discovering a relationship with a party requires immediate disclosure. The reporter can only proceed if all parties are fully informed and explicitly stipulate on the record to waive the conflict.

When parties physically leave the room for a break, a recess parenthetical accurately reflects the pause in proceedings. While it functions similarly to going off the record, standard formatting dictates noting it as a recess or break. Continuing to dictate silence or starting a new volume is improper and inefficient.

Understanding medical prefixes is essential for accurate voice dictation. ‘Dys-‘ (e.g., dyspnea – difficulty breathing) denotes something bad or difficult. ‘Hyper-‘ (e.g., hypertension – high blood pressure) denotes something excessive. The other options incorrectly describe prefixes like exo-, hypo-, brady-, and tachy-.

With the rise of remote depositions, reporters must ensure they are legally authorized to administer oaths remotely according to the applicable state laws or court rules (often requiring a stipulation by the parties). The reporter must also clearly state the remote nature of the oath on the record.

Diaphragmatic breathing provides proper breath support, allowing the voice writer to speak for long periods without straining the vocal cords or experiencing fatigue. Whispering actually places more strain on the vocal cords, chest breathing is inefficient and tiring, and caffeine dehydrates the vocal folds.