Type Tips
“There is basic equipment required: a headset, a Dictaphone to play the tapes that must be transcribed, and patience, a willingness to become a human conduit as the words of others enter through her ears, course through her veins, and drip out unseen through fast-moving fingertips.”
— Amy Rowland
Wrist Safety
To safeguard against wrist strain, especially if you transcribe for long periods of time, be sure to establish an ergonomic workspace. Investing in an ergonomic mouse pad with wrist support is a simple yet effective measure. These mouse pads are specially designed to cushion your wrists and promote a neutral wrist position.
Opt for a mouse pad with a gel or memory foam wrist pad. This helps to naturally align your wrist, minimizing the risk of discomfort or injury associated with repetitive motions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Additionally, consider using an ergonomic mouse to complement the mouse pad. An ergonomic mouse encourages a more relaxed hand and wrist posture, which can further reduce strain while typing. Also, always remember to take regular breaks! Hand stretches and exercises designed to promote wrist flexibility can support your wrist health significantly more than just accessories.
By prioritising ergonomics in your workspace, you will be more comfortable and contribute to long-term wrist health, allowing you to focus on producing accurate and efficient transcriptions.
Dual Monitors
To optimise your transcription workflow, a highly effective strategy is organising your workspace with two or more monitors. This simple yet powerful setup can significantly enhance your productivity and efficiency as a transcriptionist.
Having multiple screens lets you divide your workspace into different areas for different tasks, such as keeping your transcript software open on one screen while using reference materials on the other. This setup eliminates the need to constantly switch between windows or applications.
Dual monitors also let you optimise your workflow by arranging the screens side by side or stacked vertically, or having one monitor in portrait orientation when referencing long-form documents. This flexibility allows you to maximise efficiency, making it easier to access and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Investing in additional monitors is a relatively small investment that can yield significant returns in terms of workflow optimisation and productivity gains. Whether you're transcribing interviews, lectures, or meetings, a well-organised multi-monitor workspace can make a substantial difference in your workflow.
Text Expanders
Text expanders are software tools that help transcriptionists save time and reduce the number of keystrokes required to type frequently used phrases or words. By assigning shortcuts or abbreviations to longer phrases, you can quickly expand them without typing the entire text each time. For example, instead of typing "I don't recall," you can create a shortcut like "idr" that expands into the full phrase.
Text expanders can benefit you by reducing keystrokes, maximising the efficiency of your typing process, reducing strain on your wrists, and ensuring consistency by standardising the format of frequently used phrases or terms.
There are a few third-party text expanders available to download, but the most favoured one that we’ve found among transcriptionists already using text expanders is the one that’s already built into Microsoft Word! You can customise this in the “Autocorrect Options” menu in Word. Check the “Replace text as you type” box and then add your custom abbreviations!