What is the distinction between "live" and "published" transcripts?

• A. Live transcripts stream in real time; published transcripts are finalized, labeled as official records.
• B. Live transcripts are finalized after review; published transcripts stream in real time.
• C. They are identical in all cases.
• D. Published transcripts are always shorter than live transcripts.

Answer: (B)

The distinction is about timing and purpose. Live transcripts are produced as the proceedings happen, streaming in real time so people can read what’s being said as it’s spoken. Because they’re created on the fly, they can contain errors or omissions and are mainly used for immediate access or captioning. Published transcripts, on the other hand, are created after the event, go through a review and correction process, and are formatted to become the official, finalized record of the proceedings. This ensures accuracy and a stable document that can be archived or cited later. If live transcripts were finalized after review, there’d be no immediate text during the session; if published transcripts streamed in real time, they wouldn’t have the finalized, authoritative quality needed for the official record.