Captioning Key

Sound effects are sounds other than music, narration, or dialogue. They are captioned if it is necessary to the understanding and/or enjoyment of the media.

1. A description of sound effects, in brackets, should include the source of the sound.
   

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2. Description can be eliminated if the source of the sound can clearly be seen onscreen.
   

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3. If the presentation rate permits, also include onomatopoeia. A study by Gallaudet University showed that “A combination of description and onomatopoeia was the preference of more consumers (56%) than was description alone (31%) or onomatopoeia alone (13%).”
   

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4. Offscreen sound effects should be italicized, if italics are available. This includes background music.
   

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5. Place the description of the sound effect as close as possible to the sound source.
6. Both sound effects and onomatopoeias must be lowercased.
7. If description is used for offscreen sound effects, it is not necessary to repeat the source of the sound if it is making the same sound a few captions later. Example:
   First Caption [pig squealing]

   Later Caption [squealing continues]
   

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8. The description should be on the first line of the sound effect caption, separate from the onomatopoeia. Example:
   Inappropriate [machine gun firing] rat-a-tat-tat

   Appropriate [machine gun firing]
   rat-a-tat-tat
9. Use punctuation to indicate speed or pace of sound. Examples:
   Slow [clock chiming]
   dong…dong…dong

   Rapid [gun firing]
   bang, bang, bang
10. A sound represented by a repeated word is not hyphenated. A sound represented by two different words is hyphenated. Examples:
    Repeated Words [doorbell ringing]
    ding, ding

    Two Different Words [doorbell ringing]
    ding-dong
    

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11. When describing a sustained sound, use the present participle form of the verb. When describing an abrupt sound, use the third person verb form. Examples:
    Sustained Sound [dog barking]
    woof, woof…woof [papers crinkling]

    Abrupt Sound [dog barks]
    woof! [papers crinkle]
12. Caption background sound effects only when they’re essential to the plot.
13. Caption the audience response only when it is essential to a better understanding of onscreen or offscreen action. Example:
    Inappropriate (John)
    Bring out the band!

    Appropriate (John)
    Bring out the band!
    
    [audience cheering]
14. When possible, use specific rather than vague, general terms to describe sounds. Examples:
    Vague/General [horse running] [bird singing]

    Specific [horse galloping] [robin singing]
15. Never use the past tense when describing sounds. Captions should be synchronized with the sound and are therefore in the present tense.