Slang & Informal Speech (Clean Verbatim Rules)

 


 Slang & Informal Speech (Clean Verbatim Rules)

How to transcribe casual language the RIGHT way for TranscribeMe

⭐ Slang & Informal Speech in Transcription

Clean Verbatim exam guidelines

Introduction

People rarely speak in perfect grammar. Real conversations are full of slang, shortcuts, casual phrasing, and informal speech patterns. Clean Verbatim requires you to capture exactly what was spoken, without “fixing” or “cleaning up” the speaker’s natural style.

This is where many beginners lose points — by correcting grammar that wasn’t supposed to be corrected.

Let’s break it down simply.

✔ 1. Always Transcribe Slang EXACTLY as Spoken

If the speaker says:

  • “gonna”

  • “wanna”

  • “kinda”

  • “sorta”

  • “ain’t”

  • “lemme”

  • “y’all”

You write it exactly like that.

✔ Correct:

I’m gonna go home.

❌ Wrong:

I’m going to go home.
(You “fixed” their speech — that’s not allowed.)

✔ 2. Do Not Rewrite Casual Speech Into Proper Grammar

Clean Verbatim does NOT allow you to rewrite sentences to make them “correct.”

✔ Correct:

He don’t know what he’s doing.

❌ Wrong:

He doesn’t know what he’s doing.

Write what they actually said, not what they should have said.

✔ 3. Swearing, Regional Slang, and Informal Phrases Must Stay

Never censor swear words.
Never rewrite dialect.
Never “fix” a phrase you’re unfamiliar with.

✔ Correct:

We was just chillin’ over there.

❌ Wrong:

We were just relaxing over there.

That changes the meaning AND tone.

✔ 4. Write Contractions as Spoken

  • “I’m”

  • “they’re”

  • “we’ve”

  • “didn’t”

  • “should’ve”

If the speaker uses contractions, keep them.
If the speaker does NOT use them, don’t add them.

✔ Correct:

I dunno.
(If spoken this way.)

✔ Correct:

I don’t know.
(If spoken this way.)

You write what you hear, not what you expect.

✔ 5. Strong Accents + Slang = Write the Meaning, Not the Phonetics

Do NOT spell words phonetically unless it's actual slang.

Example:

Speaker with accent says:

“I’m gonna takova there.”

They mean:

I’m gonna take over there.

You do not write the phonetic sound.

❌ Wrong:

I’m gonna takova there.

✔ Right:

I’m gonna take over there.

Slang stays slang.
Accents stay normal English unless they create intentional slang words.

✔ 6. When Slang Blends With a False Start

Use both rules together.

Example:

“I— I ain’t tryna do that.”

Correct:

I-- I ain’t tryna do that.

Double dash for the false start, slang intact.

✔ 7. When Slang Blends With Overlapping Speech

Use:

  • [crosstalk]

  • Keep slang unchanged

Example:

A: And then he was like—
B: [crosstalk] Nah, he didn’t even say that!
A: —like he was done.

Keep casual language EXACTLY as spoken.

✔ 8. Quick Practice

Fix these:

  1. I am going to go now.

  2. He does not know.

  3. We were just hanging out there. (Speaker says: “We was just hangin’ out there.”)

  4. I do not want to do that. (Speaker says: “I don’t wanna do that.”)

  5. I am trying to see if she wants to come. (Speaker says: “I’m tryna see if she wanna come.”)

Answers:

  1. I’m gonna go now.

  2. He don’t know.

  3. We was just hangin’ out there.

  4. I don’t wanna do that.

  5. I’m tryna see if she wanna come.

Conclusion

Slang and informal speech are a HUGE part of Clean Verbatim. You’re not editing. You’re not fixing grammar. You’re capturing the speaker’s exact voice, tone, and style — word for word.

Mastering this will massively boost your accuracy and confidence in the exam.

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