Repetition and Stutters
How to properly transcribe repetitive speech and stuttering.
Repetition and Stutters
Verbal tics like 'you know' 'like', 'sort of' etc. may usually be edited out, especially if they are overused.
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General Principle
Meaning is key, so if a stutter does not add meaning, it can usually be left out.
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Example
Original: "Yes, yes, it's, it's very good"
The double "Yes" adds meaning and emphasis, but the double "It's" does not, so it becomes:
Edited: "Yes, yes, it's very good"
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Formatting Verbal Tics
Verbal tics that you do retain should have a comma before and after them, to separate them from the general speech in the sentence.
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Guidelines
- Meaningful repetition → Keep it (adds emphasis or meaning)
- Meaningless repetition → Remove it (doesn't add value)
- Overused verbal tics → Edit down but leave some for 'flavour'
- Stutters without meaning → Usually remove
- Stutters with emphasis → Keep for meaning