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Shortfellow, in a moment of reflection about his diminutive but distinctive cousin, found himself here pointedly drawing on Lord Byron's famous lines for inspiration. He sought to convey his companion's quintessential character without specifically referencing her full title, which was Princess Zoelandia, the Supreme Huntress of the Woof Clan.
She walks in beauty like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies.
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes.
—Lord Byron
She walks in booties, fit to fight,
With fearsome fang and piercing eyes.
And all the beasts that flee in fright
Run from her aspect, not her size.
—Shortfellow (aka Lord Zakwoof of Glenwoof)
She stalks in beauty like a cat
With endless time to play its prey.
And all that's pest, be thin or fat,
Find in her paws their final say.
—Shortfellow (aka Lord Zakwoof of Glenwoof)
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As modern beings, humans are so attached to the canine norm that the well-known lines of the Divine Image by William Blake suggest an interesting parallel.
…To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
All pray in their distress;
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness…
To Mirth and Joy and Foolery great
Pledge dogs both fierce and mild;
And for these virtues of delight,
We keep them by our side.
For Mirth is in the canine eye,
And Joy, the canine heart;
And Foolery swells the canine chest,
Though never a la carte.
Thus all must love the canine norm
In mutt or Heeler blue.
Where Mirth and Joy and Foolery dwell,
There Dog is dwelling too.
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View cover page to match the notice,
Case number, caption, jurisdiction.
The witness name throughout from cover
Must spell the same with nary fiction.
Attorneys all on page appearance,
Phone number, email, address written;
On index page exhibits scripted,
Page number, line, description given.
If no exhibits, marked or clerk-held,
A statement clear should be on index;
For read-and-sign with sheets errata,
Certificates in line with context.
Interpreter/witness-blurbs that swear-in
With certs of “Oath” should stand affirming;
A single cert may serve both parties,
“INTERPRETED” in caps proclaiming.
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Transcript proofreaders can usually expect the text received from the stenographer and/or scopist to be organized as a cover page, an appearance page, and an index page, followed by a chronicling of the proceedings. In addition to detailing the various instances of Q&A and colloquy, the proceedings will include notes on all other developments and events, identifying them as parenthetical components.
Cover page, appearance page,
And index page are lead-ins,
Setting stage to let engage
The by-lines of proceedings.
Q&A and colloquy
Seek progress through their speaking,
Hindered in reality
By interruptions tweaking.
Steno loggers track it all,
The circumstances quoting,
Even parenthetical
Events with care denoting.
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To properly transcribe numbers in legal documents, proofreaders are guided by two simple rules and some related exceptions. Among the latter is the presentation of phone numbers, addresses, and years as figures only when they are located at the beginning of sentences.
When legal transcripts deal with numbers
The basic rules are only two.
Exceptions, though, expand the counting,
And tell that two can barely do.
Think first of ten and down to zero,
Expecting there to spell them out.
Eleven then and up to heaven,
Sketch rising numbers, draw them out.
Exceptions force a switch to digits
For money, measures, dates, percent.
Aside from "One," the same with houses--
And figures that from nouns extend.
Not all exceptions favor digits,
Example being sentence starts;
When numbers get the ball a-rolling,
It’s mostly time for spelling arts.
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Behold the trusty em dash
Of legal transcript lore
That seeks naught but a calming
Of interruptions sore.
As double-dash or single,
False starts it also soothes;
So many writs made stable
That court reporters muse.
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In legal transcripts, proofreaders are expected to know a variety of rules determining whether specific words should begin with uppercase letters. Such capitalization is not limited to the beginning of sentences, and in the realm of legal documentation, some unique conventions are known to apply. By the same token, there are also clearly defined situations where words and phrases are correct only if written in lowercase.
Of letters in legal transcripts,
Judiciously all assigned,
The capital ones most ever
To prominence are inclined.
They stand with pride and greatness
On rules that make them strong.
Some nouns must be specific,
Generic versions wrong.
Take titles for example;
They uppercase must show
If fronting names specific
In real or hinted flow.
Like titles, “plaintiff,” “defendant”
Hold capital letters dear;
The same with “court” and “counsel”
And more whose names are clear.
Historical haps and periods,
Domains in military gov,
Brand names and institutions,
All glow with capital love.
Not so for mere generics,
Or seasons broadly hailed,
Or stage in school and college,
Or field of coursework scaled.
This lowercase alikeness
Includes degrees as well,
Words “doctorate” and “bachelors”
Not often caused to swell.
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The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight.
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward through the night.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The laughs by great fools quipped and clapped
Were not attained by sudden farce.
But they, while their companions wept,
Were plotting yet without remorse.
--Shortfellow (aka Lord Zakwoof of Glenwoof)
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Peace, like gently flowing water,
From the well of being rises;
Priceless is its tranquil blessing,
Far surpassing all devices.
Soothing essence smoothly present
Born of knowing life’s true meaning
Lends a certainty transcendent,
Free of need or mental scheming.
Natural then the calm surrender
On this journey never ending;
Revelations here and yonder
Evermore to be enlightening.
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I'd offer you some water
Or fodder if you'd rather,
Create a cozy welcome
In this my humble kingdom.
Though lacking presents lavish,
My presence is not raffish;
Instead it seeks the gracious
To share in friendship cautious.
So join me in these moments
Of tentative shy comments.
Let love and hope in common
Our certain kinship summon.
—Shortfellow (aka Lord Zakwoof of Glenwoof)