Subtitle line length

Subtitle line length

  • No more than 2 lines per subtitle. If possible the bottom line should be longer so as to not interfere with the image.

  • Text should usually be kept to one line, unless it exceeds the character limitation. Follow these basic principles when the text has to be broken into 2 lines:

The line should be broken

  • after punctuation marks
  • before conjunctions
  • before prepositions

The line break should not separate

  • a noun from an article
  • a noun from an adjective
  • a first name from a last name
  • a verb from a subject pronoun
  • a prepositional verb from its preposition

  • a verb from an auxiliary, reflexive pronoun or negation

  • When necessary to edit dialogue to fit on screen within a set time, text must be coherent. For example: Remove unnecessary words such as: really, just, perhaps, that, quite, who, was, and which.

  • Maximum character per line is 42.

Translate the whole idea

  • Each subtitle should be syntactically self-contained. Keep pronouns and verbs together. For example:
It's actually quiet calm.
Look at the clouds.
  • Names, off-screen interjections etc., should also be subtitled.

Duration

  • Subtitles should be visible for at least 1 second.

  • Subtitles follow the rhythm of speech, matching the soundtrack. This helps people who lipread.

  • Split subtitles lasting more than 7 seconds. Subtitles are more easily read if they stay within the shot.

Maximum timing offset

  • Subtitles shouldn’t start more than 0.5 seconds before or after the audio begins.

Sounds and Music

  • Describe meaningful sounds that are relevant to the plot/subject. Sound-effect labels should be as brief as possible and should have the following structure: subject + active, finite verb. For example:

FLOORBOARDS CREAK and not CREAKING OF FLOORBOARDS

  • Sound effects are notated in all CAPS inside square brackets, in the present tense, inside the world of the play / video. For example [ DOOR BELL RINGS ].

  • Onomatopoeia example: grrrrrrrrrrr.

  • SFX description example: [ AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ].

  • Audience noise should be specified, with round brackets: ( AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ).

  • Describe relevant music which does not have lyrics, in Capital letters with a musical note(♪) or octothorpe (#). For example: [ ♪ BLUES HARMONICA ♪ ].

  • Where the name and artist are known include both, title of the piece followed by author or performer. Example: [ ♪ FIFTH SYMPHONY - BEETHOVEN ♪].

  • Wrap relevant lyrics in musical notes. The musical notes (♪) identify when the singing starts and ends. Example: ♪ Somewhere over the rainbow ♪.

  • For emphasis, avoid capital letters, use italics instead. Example: I *will* not leave!

  • Vocal effect description should be factual rather than interpretive. In all caps inside brackets. Example: [ WHISPER ]: But I love you!.

  • Use a question and exclamation marks in brackets. Examples: You're not going to work today, are you (?) or Charming(!).

  • Give a flavour of the accents, where possible rather than every word spelled phonetically. Example: [ FRENCH ACCENT ] M'sieur, don't mock me.

  • Off-screen voices, indicated by either a label or single quote or combination of the two. Example: ATTENBROUGH: 'The pelican swoops'

  • Three dots (…) show a pause in speech / sound. Example: The painting was … beautiful!

  • Attempt to give the meter of speech, repeating letters where necessary. Example: I'm g-g-going home or W-W-What are you doing?

  • Strong language should not be edited unless it is also bleeped out for hearing audience. Example: What the F...(BLEEP) do you think you are doing.

  • Each speaker should have one line when they are together on one screen, and each lines should have a hyphen (-). For example:

MILES: - Is there no remedy?
NINA: - None, but such remedy as...

  • Use meaningful speech. Exclude things like “um” “ah” and other disfluencies.

  • If a piece of speech is impossible to make out, if it’s difficult speech, then label factually. Avoid subjective labels such as uninitelligible, imcomprehensible, or he babbles. Factual examples: [ DRUNKEN SPEECH ] or [ SLURRED SPEECH ].

  • If the audio is inaudible, clarify in bracket. Example: [INAUDIBLE].

  • Foreign languages should be written verbatim, written phonetically. Examples: Thank you for having us, namaste.

Numbers

  • Numbers between one and nine should be written in words. Example: Five people waited outside.
  • Information normally as figures such as telephone numbers, house numbers should be retained as figures. Examples: 07707075721 or 23 Sandpiper Close
  • A time is written in standard form. The passing of time is written in words. Example: 12:45 am. 3:00. Seven Minutes, twenty-three years, twelve days.
  • Money can vary depending on space. Example: Fifty pence. £300. Twenty-three pounds. £18.36