Decision and verification worksheet
Creator Lane | Reviewed October 24, 2026
https://creatorlanehq.com/blog/subtitles-vs-captions-accessibility

SUBTITLES VS CAPTIONS: WHAT A CREATOR'S DELIVERABLE MUST INCLUDE
Original Creator Lane decision worksheet | 2026-10-24

TASK
Audience / project:
Required outcome:
Current workflow and its specific limitation:
Options actually available without a new purchase:
Source material and permission:

DECISION QUESTIONS
What information can a speech transcript miss?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:

When should speakers be identified?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:

How should translated subtitles be described?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:

What should a client brief specify?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:

How do you review the result?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:


PRACTICE BRIEF
Use a clip where an off-screen timer rings and the presenter reacts. Produce a speech-only transcript, then a caption version that conveys the relevant sound. Compare what a silent viewer understands. Keep the added information concise and tied to what is actually audible.

ACCEPTANCE CHECKS
[ ] Specify the audience's information needs
Evidence:
[ ] Include meaningful sound context
Evidence:
[ ] Review with and without audio
Evidence:

RESULT LOG
Option / exact version / account or interface:
Date / source URLs checked:
Input / settings / output version:
What was actually tested (leave blank if not tested):
Accepted results / failures / correction time:
Actual charges, if any (do not estimate as measured):
Privacy / permissions / delivery checks:
Decision and main limitation:
Next action / owner:
Recheck trigger:

REFERENCES
W3C caption guidance: https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/captions/
W3C WebVTT specification: https://www.w3.org/TR/webvtt1/

You may adapt this original worksheet for personal and client work. Third-party materials retain their own licences.