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+44 (0) 01622 746 525
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Capital Captions
  • COMPANY
    • A Top UK Subtitling Company
    • Video Transcription Company
    • Corporate Testimonials
    • Individual Reviews
    • Video Transcription Layouts
    • Why Choose Us
    • Contact us
  • SUBTITLES
    • ONLINE SUBTITLE SERVICES
      • Broadcast Subtitles
      • YouTube Subtitles
      • Subtitling Services for E-Learning
      • Subtitle Writing Formats
    • SUBTITLING GUIDELINES
      • What are .SRT Subtitles?
      • EBU-TT and EBU-STL Subtitles
      • Subtitle Burning and Formatting
      • Subtitle Placement
      • All Subtitle Services
    • FOREIGN SUBTITLING AND TRANSLATION
      • French Subtitling Services
      • German Subtitling Services
      • Italian Subtitling Services
      • Spanish Subtitling Services
      • Portuguese Subtitling Services
      • Chinese Subtitling Services
  • SERVICES
    • VOICEOVERS AND DUBBING SERVICES
      • Subtitling and Video Translation Processes
      • Foreign Transcription Services
      • BSL Interpreting Services
      • Voiceovers and Dubbing Services
      • Audio Description Services
    • VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION
      • TRANSCRIPTION
      • Conference Transcription
      • Legal Transcription
      • Research Transcription
      • Medical Transcription
      • Transcription Guidelines
      • All Transcription Sectors
    • TRANSLATION SERVICES
      • French Subtitling Services
      • German Subtitling Services
      • Italian Subtitling Services
      • Spanish Subtitling Services
      • Portuguese Subtitling Services
      • Greek Subtitling Services
      • Chinese Subtitling Services
      • Russian Subtitling Services
      • All Translation sectors
    • DOCUMENT SERVICES
      • Proofreading Services
      • Document Formatting Services
      • Copy Typing Services
      • Data Entry Services
      • Promote Your Business
  • CLOSED CAPTIONS
    • BROADCAST CLOSED CAPTIONS
      • Video on Demand Closed Captioning Services
      • Captions for the Deaf
    • AMAZON VIDEO CLOSED CAPTIONING
      • Closed Captions Legal Obligations
      • Closed Captioning Services – FAQs
    • STANDARD CLOSED CAPTIONING GUIDELINES
      • Video Closed Captions Formatting
      • Closed Captioning Service Categories
  • BLOG
  • QUOTE
    • Payment
    • Get a Quote
    • Upload Files
    • Our Service Rates
    • Client Area
  • CONTACT
    • Work with Capital Captions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
Info@capitalcaptions.com
+44 (0) 01622 746 525

Standard Closed Captioning Guidelines

Capital Captions use our own tried and tested captioning guidelines

For projects where your client has a non-specified SDH or closed captioning format, at Capital Captions, we use our own tried and tested standard closed captioning guidelines. This ensures maximum accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing audiences. 

Closed Caption Technical Specifications 

  • Font for captions to be Arial, white, with size relative to resolution to fit maximum 40 characters.
  • Maximum two lines.
  • Adult’s closed caption reading speed set to maximum 250 words per minute/20 characters per second.
  • Children’s closed caption reading speed set to maximum 200 words per minute/17 characters per second.
  • Minimum caption display time 1 second.
  • Maximum caption display time 8 seconds.

Caption Syncing 

  • Caption timings should be set to sync exactly with the start and stop of audio.
  • Where caption timings need to be lengthened to allow for reading speed, extension time should be added after speech finishes and never before it starts.

Content Accuracy and Inclusions 

  • Captions should be as close to original content as possible and written verbatim.
  • Dialogue must not be censored.
  • Dialogue should not be simplified.
  • Occasional truncation or editing of speech is acceptable where there is a significant conflict with reading speed and/or synchronisation.
  • Where sentence shortening is absolutely necessary, truncations should be prioritised and limited to ‘filler’ words. 

Square and Round Brackets 

  • Forced narrative should be in upper case, enclosed within round brackets.
  • Sound effects and indistinguishable vocalisations should be written in upper case and enclosed within square brackets.
  • Speaker identifications should be enclosed within square brackets.
  • Where foreign speech occurs, indicate language within brackets. E.g. (Speaking in French). 

Use of Italics 

  • Narrator dialogue and voiceovers should be written in italics.
  • Out-of-scene dialogue should be written in italics. Off-screen but in-scene speech does not need to be in italics.
  • Dialogue from a radio, television, phone or other electronic device during a scene should be written in italics.
  • Italics can be used occasionally to show emphasis in speech that is important and not otherwise clear to a closed caption reader.
  • Any included song lyrics should be italicized.
  • For well known foreign sayings, transcribe in italics. 

Foreign Speech in Subtitles 

  • Where translations will be applied to subtitle files, forced narratives or translations must be included.
  • Where translations are not being applied to subtitles, no subtitle needs to be made for translated speech.
  • For commonly known foreign words, transcribe with correct spelling and punctuation, in italics. E.g. Bonjour! 

The subtitling and closed captioning industry is always changing. As new regulations are introduced for video makers and broadcasters, and as new formats are introduced to work for video across different platforms, viewer’s needs have changed. For this reason, our standard closed captioning guidelines are always being updated, so be sure to check back with us for improvements. 

Capital Captions Typing Services

Where Sound becomes Vision…

About Capital Captions

Capital Captions specialise in high quality subtitling, closed captioning, video transcription, translation, and voiceover services. Our flexible approach to working with video content means we can effectively provide a one-stop-shop for clients wanting to turn their audio into text.

Latest Posts

Top-5-Closed-Caption-Types-and-How-They Work

Our Top 5 Closed Caption Types and How They Work

March 10, 2021

Subtitles for education

Subtitles for Education

January 12, 2021

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Contact Info

01622 746 525
info@capitalcaptions.com
5 Rose Court, Vanity Lane, Linton, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4BP
Monday - Saturday: 8am - 9pm

Sunday 8am-5pm

© Capital Captions Typing Services 2020 | Registered Office: 5 Rose Court, Linton, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 4BP, GBR. | Company Reg No: 1225097437 | VAT reg no: 345 4248 01

About Us

Capital Captions specialise in high quality subtitling, closed captioning, video transcription, translation, and voiceover services. Our flexible approach to working with video content means we can effectively provide a one-stop-shop for clients wanting to turn their audio into text.

Latest Posts

Top-5-Closed-Caption-Types-and-How-They Work

Our Top 5 Closed Caption Types and How They Work

March 10, 2021

Subtitles for education

Subtitles for Education

January 12, 2021

Voiceover Services and Translation for Business

Voiceover Services and Translation for Business

July 31, 2020

Contact Info

01622 746 525
Info@capitalcaptions.com
Monday - Saturday 8AM - 9PM