Transcription is simply the act of putting words on paper (or screen) through handwriting (or typing) and making those words understandable through good spelling. Think of handwriting and typing as siblings—and of spelling as a bossy aunt who takes charge, disciplining the letters to get in line and in the right order.

I remember my mother picking me up from school in our orange VW camper one day in late October. I was in first grade and excited to tell her that, just like grown-ups, we had voted for president in the upcoming election and were going to find out which candidate won at our school.

My mother asked me whom I voted for, and I told her. I could tell she didn’t like my choice! I explained that I chose that person because his name was easier to write: the letters were easier to form, and his name was much shorter than the other person’s. My mother didn’t seem pleased with this answer either!

Transcription—forming letters, writing them correctly, and avoiding fatigue by writing at a fast enough pace—affects how we communicate ideas and opinions. For me, transcription was my primary concern as I cast my first-ever vote.

Transcription’s starring role in the Simple View of Writing 

If your child is learning to write, they’re practicing transcription, even if they don’t use that word to describe what they’re doing. Transcription is a big part of the Simple View of Writing, which my colleague Lauren Bardwell introduced in her post “What families need to know to support their child’s writing.”

Transcription is simply the act of putting words on paper (or screen) through handwriting (or typing) and making those words understandable through good spelling. Think of handwriting and typing as siblings—and of spelling as a bossy aunt who takes charge, disciplining the letters to get in line and in the right order.

The Simple View of Writing describes how writing is dependent on three interwoven skills: text generation (creating the ideas), transcription (putting the ideas onto paper or screen), and executive function (organizing and revising the ideas). All three take place within the limits of a person’s working memory, whether that’s an adult or a kid. 

Transcription is a powerful tool that can break down barriers and make information accessible to all. For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, or non-native speakers, transcription can provide a written version of spoken content, allowing them to fully participate in discussions, debates, and entertainment. By converting audio and video content into text, transcription enables people with hearing impairments or language barriers to access valuable information and enjoy content that might otherwise be inaccessible. This not only improves accessibility, but also promotes inclusion and diversity, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the wealth of knowledge and entertainment available today.