Make captions that are comfortable to read.

The words need to be accurate, visible and on screen at the right time. A useful caption review checks all three against the finished video.

Check the words first

Read alongside the audio. Correct names, numbers and unfamiliar vocabulary. Listen again to anything that looks plausible but does not fit the sentence. Do not let an attractive caption style distract from the wording.

Identify a speaker when it is unclear who is talking. Include meaningful sounds that explain what happens in the clip. The W3C guide to captions explains why captions include more than a speech transcript.

Use contrast that survives the whole clip

A caption needs to work over every frame behind it. Check bright windows, patterned clothing, movement and changes in exposure. A text background can be more dependable than a thin shadow alone.

Watch at normal phone size. If you need to pause or move the phone closer, consider larger type or shorter lines. Keep enough padding around the letters for them to remain distinct from the footage.

Break lines at a natural pause

Keep words that belong together in the same phrase when possible. Avoid leaving a single short word on its own line. Give the audience enough time to read a sentence before replacing it.

Use emphasis to support meaning. A color change should not be the only way to tell speakers apart or understand an instruction.

Keep the action visible

Do not cover the subject's face, a hand demonstrating a step or a menu the viewer needs to read. Leave room for the destination platform's interface and inspect its draft preview.

For a tutorial, you may need to reposition the text for a busy scene. The most consistent placement is the one that remains readable without hiding important information.

Review the exported copy

Watch with sound, without sound and inside the destination app's preview. Check the first and last captions and any point where the speaker changes. If the destination adds its own captions, check for overlapping text.

Explore caption styles or try Tap Captions with one of your own videos.