Meaning & use
transcribed
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“transcribed” is a form of “transcribe”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Wrote down spoken words or sound in written or typed form, usually from a recording.
Grammar: Takes an object: transcribe an interview. The passive is very common: the interview was transcribed.
Patterns
- transcribe something
- transcribe something from something
- transcribe something into something
She transcribed the whole interview before writing her article.
The lectures were transcribed and posted online for students who missed class.
He transcribed the voicemail word for word.
verbtransitivetechnical
Copied a piece of writing or music into a different form or notation.
Grammar: Takes an object; often followed by for or into to name the new form: transcribed the piece for guitar.
Patterns
- transcribe something for something
- transcribe something into something
The piano sonata was transcribed for two guitars.
She transcribed the old handwritten letters into digital text.
This folk melody was transcribed into standard musical notation.
verbtransitivebiologytechnical
Made an exact genetic copy of a section of DNA as RNA inside a cell.
Grammar: Used mainly in the passive in biology: the gene is transcribed into RNA.
Patterns
- transcribe something into something
In the nucleus, the gene is transcribed into a strand of RNA.
Only certain sections of DNA are transcribed at any given time.
The enzyme transcribes the template strand into messenger RNA.
Word forms
| third person singular | transcribes |
|---|---|
| past tense | transcribed |
| past participle | transcribed |
| -ing form | transcribing |
Common combinations
- transcribe an interview
- It took her three hours to transcribe an interview with the mayor.
- transcribe a recording
- A software tool can transcribe a recording automatically.
- be transcribed into RNA
- The gene is transcribed into RNA before a protein is made.
- transcribe something by hand
- Before computers, clerks transcribed documents by hand.
- accurately transcribed
- The dialogue in the subtitles was accurately transcribed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- write down
- Simpler and more general; use it for quick notes you take yourself, while transcribe suggests working carefully from speech or a recording.
- transliterate
- Means writing letters of one alphabet in another (Greek into Latin letters); transcribe is broader and can also cover speech and music.
- notate
- Used mostly for music or dance, meaning to record something in a system of symbols; transcribe is the better choice for speech.
Word family
- transcription noun
- The written version of speech, or the act of making one.
- transcriber noun
- A person or machine that transcribes recordings.
- transcript noun
- An official written record, such as a school record of grades.
Commonly confused: transcribed or describe? transcribed or subscribe?
transcribed vs describe
Describe means saying what something is like; transcribe means writing down exactly what was said or played.
transcribed vs subscribe
Subscribe means paying to receive something regularly; it sounds similar but has no connection in meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'transcribed' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Transcribe' is transitive, so it takes a direct object with no preposition: transcribed the judge's words. Option 1 adds a wrong 'to', option 2 leaves 'into' hanging without a second noun, and option 3 wrongly puts a passive 'was' before an active verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “transcribed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.