Accuracy is more than matching most words
A missing negation, changed number or mistaken name can reverse the meaning of a video while the rest of the caption looks fluent. Compare the text with the approved narration and the intended instruction. Preserve meaningful non-speech information where it is needed to understand the content. W3C’s media guidance treats captions as one part of accessible delivery, not a decorative subtitle effect or a universal substitute for other alternatives.
Read the caption at the viewer’s pace
Watch from the beginning without pausing to inspect each line. A caption may be correct but disappear before it can comfortably be read. Long clauses and awkward breaks can make a simple instruction hard to follow. Revise the script or timing where needed instead of shrinking text until it fits. Check that emphasis does not obscure the ordinary reading order, especially when a word-by-word animation is used.
Protect the visual information underneath
Place captions so they do not cover a control, label or face that carries meaning. Verify the actual portrait and landscape exports rather than trusting the editor’s working canvas. Interface overlays on a destination platform can further reduce usable space. Keep contrast and text size practical, and avoid relying only on color to distinguish a warning from a normal instruction. Different viewing surfaces may require different layouts.
A fictional review pass
A guide says, “Do not remove the label,” while the caption reads, “Remove the label.” That single omission makes the draft unacceptable even if the voice and animation are excellent. Correct the text, then check its timing and the visible label in the final export. Keep the approved caption version with the project record. Our checklist is an editorial aid, not certification that a particular video meets every accessibility requirement or that a merchant’s automated captions are always accurate.
Sources used for this page
These records support the facts and comparisons above. Merchant-controlled records are labelled so you can separate product claims from independent evidence.
- W3C accessible audio/video guidance — Standards and certification reference · w3.org · Publisher independence not verified · checked 2026-09-24
- Fliki text-to-video workflow — Merchant documentation · fliki.ai · Merchant-controlled · checked 2026-09-24