verbatim

USAGE SUMMARY

'verbatim' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'verbatim' when you want to emphasize that you are quoting someone word for word. Example sentence: I repeated his instructions verbatim so I wouldn't make any mistakes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The skill of Blythe and Cork was in selecting which sentences from the verbatim text to set.

The Guardian

The script from the programme, written by the award-winning playwright Alecky Blythe, was produced from verbatim transcripts of interviews conducted as part of the Reading the Riots study, which conducted confidential interviews with 270 rioters.

The Guardian

The question is – verbatim: Will you please run for president?" Whoops, applause and even chants of "run, Liz, run" follow from the audience.

The Guardian

The BBC is now trying to fit the drama-doc series, in which actors voiced verbatim interviews from the Reading the Riots project undertaken by the Guardian and London School of Economics last year, into its packed pre-Olympics schedule.

The Guardian

HRH, being royal, didn't do verbatim, but appears in weird reported speech, as if in a lady-in-waiting's letter.

The Guardian

He pointed out that while RTÉ and the Irish Times had been gagged, Murphy's comments were published verbatim by the Guardian and Irish website Broadsheet.ie and available on the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) website.

The Guardian

Characters reveal themselves through dialogue, but dialogue is not necessarily a verbatim reproduction of everyday speech, even though it might approximate to it.

The Guardian

The film is constructed from the verbatim accounts of residents of the town's former red-light district, the neighbours at the centre of the investigation into the murders of five prostitutes in 2006.

The Guardian - Film

I just left the camera running all the time, to try to capture them together in their natural habitat as it were … I really like verbatim documents.

The Guardian - Music

One law copied almost verbatim a Russian example, including stigmatising charities and human-rights groups financed from abroad as "foreign agents".

The Economist

"Saturday Night Live" invented an imaginary game show called "Is It Date Rape?" with a script that quoted almost verbatim from Antioch's code.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "verbatim" when you need to emphasize that you are providing an exact, word-for-word account of something, ensuring no detail is lost or misinterpreted.

Common error

Don't use "verbatim" when you actually mean a general summary or paraphrase. "Verbatim" implies an exact reproduction, not just a similar account.

Linguistic Context

The word "verbatim" functions as an adjective, adverb, or noun. As an adjective, it modifies a noun to indicate a word-for-word representation. As an adverb, it describes how something is repeated or recorded. As a noun, it refers to the word-for-word account itself. As Ludwig and Ludwig AI confirm, "verbatim" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "verbatim" is a versatile term functioning as an adjective, adverb, or noun to denote exact, word-for-word representation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. Its function is to emphasize accuracy, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. It frequently appears in "News & Media" and "Science", indicating its relevance in reporting and academic discussions. When using "verbatim", ensure you're providing a truly exact account, not just a paraphrase. Alternatives include "word for word" and "exactly as written", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

word for word

This alternative emphasizes exact replication, focusing on maintaining the identical words of the original.

exactly as written

This emphasizes the written form of the original material, highlighting precise adherence to the text.

in the same words

This alternative focuses on replicating the original wording, stressing the similarity in the choice of words.

to the letter

This suggests strict adherence to every detail, not just the words themselves, but also the intended meaning.

precisely

This alternative highlights accuracy and exactness in replication, lacking specific reference to the words themselves.

faithfully reproduced

This emphasizes the accuracy and loyalty to the original source material during reproduction.

direct quote

This is specific to instances of quotation, indicating that the words are taken directly from the speaker or source.

literal translation

This applies specifically to translations, emphasizing a word-for-word transfer from one language to another.

unmodified

This alternative suggests that nothing has been changed or altered from the original, implying accuracy and preservation.

without alteration

This underscores the preservation of the original content, emphasizing that no changes have been made in the reproduction.

FAQs

How can I use "verbatim" in a sentence?

You can use "verbatim" to indicate that something is quoted or repeated exactly as it was originally said or written. For example, "I need a "verbatim transcript" of the meeting" or "He repeated the instructions "verbatim"".

What does "verbatim" mean?

"Verbatim" means in exactly the same words as were used originally. It implies a word-for-word reproduction or transcription.

What are some alternatives to the word "verbatim"?

Some alternatives to "verbatim" include "word for word", "exactly as written", or "in the same words". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "almost verbatim"?

Yes, it is correct to say "almost verbatim". It suggests that something is very close to being a word-for-word reproduction but may have slight variations or omissions.