Subtitle Formatting: Best Practices & Standards

Here's what you need to know about subtitle formatting:

• Character limits: 32-42 characters per line for most platforms

• Timing: Aim for 21 characters per second

• Placement: Center-align at bottom of screen

• Contrast: White text on dark background

• Font: Sans-serif, 22-point size

• Accessibility: Include sound descriptions

Key rules:

1. Max 2 lines per subtitle

2. Break lines at natural pauses

3. Use punctuation correctly

4. Format non-speech sounds in brackets

5. Italicize foreign languages

Quick comparison of subtitles vs. closed captions:

Remember: Good subtitles boost engagement, reach more viewers, and improve SEO. With 85% of Facebook videos watched on mute, proper subtitle formatting is crucial for effective video content.

Related video from YouTube

Common questions about subtitle formatting

Let's dive into some key subtitle formatting questions:

1. What are the main subtitle formatting rules?

The big ones:

• 1-2 lines max

• 21 characters per second on screen

• Clear, sans-serif font

• High contrast (white on black)

2. How many characters per line?

Most platforms say 32-42 characters. For example:

3. How long should subtitles stay on screen?

Stick to 21 characters per second:

• 1 second: up to 21 characters

• 2 seconds: up to 42 characters

• 3 seconds: up to 63 characters

Don't go over 7 seconds, even for long sentences.

4. How to handle line breaks?

Break at natural points:

• After punctuation

• Between noun and verb phrases

• Before conjunctions

Don't split names or key phrases.

5. What fonts and sizes work best?

Sans-serif fonts are your friend. Try these:

Start with 22-point and adjust as needed.

6. How to show different speakers?

You've got options:

• Dashes: "- Hello" / "- Hi there"

• Names: "John: Hello" / "Mary: Hi there"

• Colors: One for each speaker

7. How to format non-speech sounds?

Use brackets or parentheses:

• [door slams]

• (upbeat music plays)

For longer bits, use italics on a new line: Dramatic orchestral music swells

8. How to handle foreign languages?

• Translate foreign dialogue

• Italicize untranslated words

• Note language changes: [in Spanish]

9. Subtitles vs. closed captions: What's the difference?

10. How to use punctuation?

• End sentences with periods

• Put ? and ! right after the last word

• Use ... for pauses or trailing off

• Skip semicolons and parentheses

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Advanced subtitle formatting topics

1. Subtitle rules across platforms

Subtitle requirements aren't one-size-fits-all. They change depending on where you're showing your content:

Netflix's subtitle rules are pretty strict:

• Adults: 20 characters/second

• Kids: 17 characters/second

• File: TTML (.dxfp or .xml)

• Timing: Within 3 frames of audio

2. Subtitle creation tools

Here's a quick look at some popular subtitle editors:

Transkriptor's a hit with content creators because it handles over 100 languages.

3. Making subtitles easier to read

Want better subtitles? Try these:

• Use Arial or Helvetica

• White text on black background

• Keep it to two lines

• Break at natural pauses

For viewers with hearing issues:

• Add sound descriptions: [door slams], (upbeat music plays)

• Label speakers: "John: Hello" / "Mary: Hi there"

This role isn't widely supported yet, but using it now could help in the future.

Conclusion

Subtitle formatting can make or break your video's impact. Here's what you need to remember:

1. Character limits

Stick to these for readability:

2. Timing

Aim for about 21 characters per second. Not too fast, not too slow.

3. Placement

Center-align at the bottom. Give some space on the sides and bottom.

4. Contrast

White text on dark background. Add a stroke if the video's background is light.

5. Keep it simple

Use sans-serif fonts. No bold or underlines. Italics? Only for off-screen stuff.

6. Accessibility

Add sound descriptions. Example: [door slams], (upbeat music plays)

7. Platform rules

Netflix has its own rules:

• Adults: 20 characters/second

• Kids: 17 characters/second

• File format: TTML (.dxfp or .xml)

• Timing: Within 3 frames of audio

8. Use tools

Try Aegisub for detailed work or Subtitle Workshop for big projects.

9. Stay in the loop

Subtitle standards change. Keep an eye out for new stuff like the doc-subtitle role in ARIA.

FAQs

What is the best practice for subtitles?

Keep it simple:

• One sentence at a time for long-form content

• 25% to 50% of a sentence for short-form content

• Stay in the text safe area

• Max two lines per subtitle

• 47 characters per line max

• Sync with dialogue

Always test by playing the video to check readability.

What are the standards for video captions?

Video caption standards focus on readability and sync:

You don't need to caption every word if it's too fast.

What is the best subtitle format for video?

It depends on your video's purpose:

• EBU-STL for broadcast-quality (multiple languages, advanced formatting)

• SRT for general use (widely supported, easy to use)

How should subtitles be formatted?

Key formatting rules:

1. Stay in the text safe area

2. Max two lines per subtitle

3. Match lines to dialogue closely

4. Avoid overlaps across shot changes

5. 47 characters per line max

Aim for 3 seconds duration per 63 characters for best readability.

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