What is the proper handling of citations in transcripts?

• A. They should be quoted accurately with correct punctuation and exact language
• B. They can be paraphrased freely
• C. They should be shortened
• D. They should be replaced with summaries

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that quoted or cited material in transcripts must be reproduced exactly as it was spoken. When someone references a source or uses a quoted statement, the exact wording and punctuation matter because they carry the precise meaning and authority of the original words. Keeping the language verbatim preserves the integrity of the record, ensuring that nothing is added, removed, or reshaped in a way that could mislead readers later. Paraphrasing, shortening, or replacing with a summary would alter the meaning or emphasis and undermine the transcript’s reliability. So, the proper approach is to quote accurately with the exact language and punctuation, preserving the speaker’s meaning and the original context.