STENO STYLE

GUIDE QUICKLIST

Welcome to Steno! We are so excited to have you contracting with us! Here is a quick deposition style guide for reference to keep consistency in our transcripts. Steno requires client-ready transcripts that have been scoped/proofread. Please use your state/federal specific guidelines if applicable.

Transcript Format Guidelines | NCRA
Sample Transcript - Steno - PDF

NEEDED FOR ALL DEPOSITIONS:

• Non-Timestamped and Timestamped ASCII needed.

• Volumes need to be consecutive page numbering. Please check with Steno for your starting page number.

• No fewer than 25 typed lines on standard 8-1/2 x 11 paper. No fewer than nine or 10 characters to the typed inch. Left-hand margin to be set at no more than 1-3/4 inches. Right-hand margin to be set at no more than 3/8 inch.
NCRA Transcript Format

• Please put page numbers on the bottom right corner.

COVER/CAPTION PAGES:

• Designations should be on the Caption/Title page. (i.e. PMK, PMQ, M.D., Part I, Vol. II, Confidential, etc.)

• Bird cages need to be uniform and straight.

• Optional: Steno information at the bottom of the caption page.

APPEARANCE PAGE:

• Indicate how each attorney appeared for the proceeding.

• Indicate which party each attorney represents.

• Include an email address for each attorney.

• List all parties present.

INDEX OF EXAMINATION/EXHIBITS:

• List the page numbers where examination starts and by name of attorney.

• Include page numbers next to the description of the exhibit.

• Please provide a detailed description of the exhibits on the Exhibit Index as opposed to just “picture” or “document”.

• Format the exhibits on the index with the word “Exhibit” in front, as opposed to a list of numbers.
(Exhibit 1, Exhibit 1B)

• If previously marked exhibits (PME) were introduced, please reference them on the Exhibit Index and indicate if it is to be included with the transcript.

• If exhibits were not provided by attorney/firm please indicate they were (retained).

BODY OF TRANSCRIPT:

• Verbatim witness testimony. (No non-words um, uh, ah, mmhmm unless excessive non-verbal answers from witness(es).)

• Time-stamps should be four digits only. Ex: 03:42 or 11:31. No AM or PM needed.

• Type of examination is centered and in all caps;

DIRECT EXAMINATION
CROSS-EXAMINATION

• Label attorneys in colloquy as Mr./Mrs./Ms. ATTORNEY LAST NAME.

• Label witness as Mr./Mrs./Ms. WITNESS LAST NAME.

• For officers of the law or government officials or military personnel, please use the appropriate designations such as: OFFICER SMITH, GENERAL COLEMAN, PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, SENATOR JONES.

PARENTHETICALS:

Please always indicate on record the time of when you go off record, and when you come back on.

• EXHIBIT

• A parenthetical must be placed when an exhibit or exhibits are introduced and included in the index appropriately.

• (Plaintiff’s Exhibit No. 1, a lease dated May 1, 20__, was marked for identification.)

• (The following exhibits were marked for identification: Plaintiff’s Exhibit Number 22, a lease dated March 16, 2022; Exhibit Number 23, a check to the witness for $10,000.)

• PME (Previously marked Exhibit 1, a lease dated May 1, 2021 was introduced for examination)

• If Exhibits are not complete/missing, please notate that as “retained” on your index.

• I.e. Exhibit 5 - Notes from Dr. Shin (retained)

SIGNATURE PAGES/ERRATA/REPORTER CERT:

• Sample of two different witness signature:

• Use the first one if the witness was not asked to sign under penalty of perjury (POP).

• Use the second signature if the attorney asked the witness to review and sign under POP.

• Please have the witness signature line and errata page separate.

• If the signature is waived or not needed due to State/Federal rules, please do not include a witness signature or errata page. If your state requires a state specific certification page please use the appropriate certification.

• Federal rules for R&S (read and sign) require that parties mention R&S on record. It can be mentioned anywhere in the transcript. If not mentioned, review is NOT requested.

• Code Section: FRCP 30(e); FRCP 30(f)(1)

HELPFUL INFO:

• Use of [sic] – if a speaker uses a totally different word from what they mean please use [sic] i.e. She had acute culinary[sic] syndrome.

• If you don’t have a spelling, you can use (ph) for phonetic.

• For any questions or clarification please contact concierge@steno.com

WORKS CITED

Armstrong, Peggy. The Proofreaders Manual. National Court Reporting Association, 1996.

“Transcript Format Guidelines | NCRA.” National Court Reporters Association, https://www.ncra.org/About/Transcript-Format-Guidelines. Accessed 13 April 2022.