Subtitles and Caption Caption Timing and Synchronization

Question 1

What is the standard maximum caption reading speed recommended for adult audiences in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

180 words per minute

Answer

Industry guidelines typically recommend a maximum of 180 words per minute for adult caption reading speed.

Question 2

What term describes the delay between spoken audio and the appearance of corresponding captions?

Accepted Answer

Latency

Answer

Caption latency refers to the delay between when audio is spoken and when the corresponding caption text appears on screen.

Question 3

In subtitle files, what does 'timecode' represent?

Accepted Answer

The in and out points that define when a subtitle appears and disappears

Answer

Timecodes in subtitle files mark the start (in-point) and end (out-point) times for each subtitle line to appear on screen.

Question 4

What is 'caption spotting' in the captioning workflow?

Accepted Answer

The process of setting in and out timecodes for each caption segment

Answer

Caption spotting is the process of assigning precise start and end timecodes to each caption block so it appears in sync with audio.

Question 5

What minimum duration is generally recommended for a caption to remain on screen to be readable?

Accepted Answer

One second

Answer

Industry guidelines recommend captions remain visible for at least one second, with most guidelines preferring 1–2 seconds minimum.

Subtitles and Caption Practice Test