If you've ever watched a movie or video with subtitles, you know that good subtitles enhance comprehension, while bad subtitles can be distracting, misleading, or difficult to read.
Effective subtitling ensures that viewers understand the dialogue and engage with the content—whether they are watching in a different language, in a noisy environment, or with hearing impairments.
So, how do you create high-quality subtitles that are clear, engaging, and accessible? Here are the 10 essential do’s and don’ts of professional subtitling.
Top 10 subtitling do’s: Best practices for clarity & engagement
1. Keep it concise and readable
A subtitle should not exceed two lines. Use simple language and paraphrase when necessary to maintain clarity.
2. Synchronise subtitles with the audio
Subtitles must match the timing of the spoken dialogue. Out-of-sync captions create a frustrating viewing experience.
3. Use clear formatting for maximum readability
Sans-serif fonts are easiest to read. Choose black text on a white background or vice versa, and maintain a consistent font size for better accessibility.
4. Follow grammar and punctuation rules
Poor grammar affects comprehension. Since different languages have unique punctuation styles, consult language experts to ensure accuracy.
5. Identify speakers clearly
Use speaker IDs for off-screen dialogue or multiple speakers to avoid confusion.
6. Include sound effects and off-screen actions
Subtitles should help hearing-impaired viewers understand off-screen sounds by describing key audio elements in brackets, such as [phone ringing] or [door slams].
7. Indicate pauses and emphasis
Use ellipses (...) to show incomplete thoughts or pauses. Italics can indicate emphasis or foreign words.
8. Maintain a neutral tone
Subtitles should accurately translate meaning without inserting personal opinions or interpretations.
9. Proofread for errors
Typos, grammatical mistakes, and incorrect timing lower subtitle quality. Always have subtitles reviewed before publishing.
10. Adapt subtitles for localisation
Direct translations don’t always work. Use culturally appropriate phrasing to ensure the message resonates with different audiences.
Subtitling DON'Ts:
1. Don't use too many words in one subtitle.
It takes the average viewer 4 seconds to read 12 words. So, try and keep your subtitles under this limit per subtitle. Anymore and you risk viewers missing the end of sentences. This is usually 2 lines of text.
2. Don't split sentences across subtitles.
Try and end your sentences with one subtitle. If you are captioning a speaker, writing the same number of words that they use, may prove more difficult (if not impossible) so, in this case, remain faithful to the audio, be concise and follow the flow of the speaker
3. Don't use too many special effects, such as flashing or scrolling text.
Like choosing a good font and clear readable colour for your subtitles, do not use flashy effects on individual words or the subtitle. The goal is readability.
4. Don't use slang, jargon or obscure expressions.
Unless a specific expression needs to be conveyed in the subtitles, translate the text in its simplest form. Not everyone understands all slang references and you shouldn’t try and save space by using a slang term that's not in the original audio.
5. Don't translate idioms or cultural references literally.
As with all localization tasks you should make sure you are speaking the language of your target audience, including any idioms or colloquialisms. Use a native speaker to translate these naturally.
6. Don't change the meaning of the original dialogue.
Faithful subtitling is the aim of any subtitler. You may have to make some creative choices, but you should always try and remain as true as possible to the source.
7. Don't omit important information.
As the subtitler, you decide which information is more essential. Include, while being concise, the most relevant information for the viewer to read and understand the caption.
8. Don't use subtitles as a substitute for dubbing.
Subtitles are essential and should be provided in all videos to reach the largest audiences, but there is also a place for fully dubbed voiceovers. Speak to an expert to decide what you need.
9. Don't cover up important visuals with subtitles.
Subtitles should enhance comprehension of the video and not obscure it. So, if action is taking place in the bottom third of the screen temporarily move your subtitles to the top third. However, also work with your video editor to ensure the bottom third is kept as clear as possible.
10. Don't use all caps for subtitles, except for emphasis.
Just like in other messaging mediums, all caps are used to emphasise a loud sound or someone shouting. Sentence case should be used for all other subtitles.
Why high-quality subtitles matter
Good subtitles do more than translate—they enhance clarity, engagement, and accessibility. Well-timed, accurate subtitles ensure your message is understood by global audiences, including non-native speakers and hearing-impaired viewers.
By following these best practices, your content will be professional, easy to follow, and culturally relevant, making it more effective across different languages and platforms.
Ready to elevate your subtitles?
Talk to one of our localisation experts today to explore how professional subtitling solutions can boost accessibility, engagement, and reach for your video content — whether it’s for marketing, training, or entertainment.
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