A transcript can look convincing while containing a wrong name or a missing word that changes the meaning. Whether it was typed manually or produced by software, review it against the actual recording.
Check names and specialised terms
Prepare a short reference list from reliable material supplied for the programme. Compare spellings carefully. Do not replace an unfamiliar word with a familiar one merely because the sentence then reads smoothly.
Where the audio remains unclear, mark the uncertainty using your publication’s convention and return to it. Guessing silently hides the need for another check.
Listen for meaning
On another pass, watch for omitted negatives, repeated phrases and punctuation that changes the relationship between ideas. Readability edits should not make the speaker assert something they did not say.
Follow a clear policy on false starts and filler words. Apply it consistently, and distinguish a verbatim transcript from an edited reading version.
Check speaker boundaries
Make sure each label follows the correct voice, especially after interruptions. Do not infer identity solely from an automated label.
Link the transcript to the correct episode version and review relevant timestamps after substantial audio edits. Our guide to context in interview editing supports the same principle: the published form should preserve what the contribution actually means.