A rough transcript is produced from the reporter's untranslated notes without proofreading or certification. It contains errors and untranslated terms and is provided for immediate work rather than for citation.
It is marked as uncertified and not for citation.
Alternative Names:
Rough Draft, Uncertified Transcript
Why it Matters?
Roughs are useful for preparing a follow-up deposition scheduled days later or for drafting a motion under deadline pressure, but citing one is a recurring error since page and line numbering shifts in the certified version. Any quotation taken from a rough must be verified against the final transcript before filing. Vendors charge separately for roughs, which appears as a line item that clients frequently question.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Can a rough transcript be cited?
When are roughs useful?
