#subtitles poll

[apolladay]

If you use subtitles for movies/videos, what's the main reason why?

I'm Deaf/HOH

I have APD or other disorder that makes it hard to understand speech

I don't have a disorder to my knowledge but it's easier to understand vids*

I watch vids in foreign language (subtitles in native language)

I watch vids in foreign language (subtitles in the foreign language)

I don't have headphones and have to be quiet

Other reason

Multiple of these affect me about the same amount

I don't use subtitles

Nuance/see results

Voting ended onOct 31, 2025

*when subtitles are on

[apolladay]

Do you use subtitles when watching movies / shows / etc?

Yes, for no particular reason

Yes, because I have a hearing disability

Yes, only when I'm watching something in a language I don't know

Yes, whenever the dialogue's hard to comprehend, even in a language I know

Yes, for other reasons

No, they're usually not available, but I want to use subtitles

No, and I don't want to use subtitles

results

Voting ended onMay 19, 2025

[apolladay]

Worst sins in subtitling?

* subs ahead of the audio

* subs behind the audio

* “speaks [foreign language]”

* sound effects not included

* no background highlights (subs blend in)

* font too big

* font too small

* dialogue paraphrased

* editor’s notes/commentary in subs

* AI generated subs

* something else

* see results

Worst sins in subtitling?

subs ahead of the audio

subs behind the audio

“speaks [foreign language]”

sound effects not included

no background highlights (subs blend in)

font too big

font too small

dialogue paraphrased

editor’s notes/commentary in subs

AI generated subs

something else

see results

Voting ended onMay 1

[apolladay]

You're watching something that's not in your language and you have a subtitles file. You understand the language but sometimes struggle with the accent (USA English vs British English for example), so you'd prefer if there were subtitles. The subtitles you have are not synchronised with the video, not matter how much you try to align them together (video and audio together are fine). Are you most likely to:

Have the subtitles be clearly before the audio

Have the subtitles be clearly after the audio

Keep fidgeting with the settings for the whole video

Put the subtitles away and watch without them

Nuance

Results

You're watching something that's not in your language and you have a subtitles file. You understand the language but sometimes struggle with the accent (USA English vs British English for example), so you'd prefer if there were subtitles. The subtitles you have are not synchronised with the video, not matter how much you try to align them together (video and audio together are fine). Are you most likely to:

Have the subtitles be clearly before the audio

Have the subtitles be clearly after the audio

Keep fidgeting with the settings for the whole video

Put the subtitles away and watch without them

Nuance Results

Voting ended onJan 22

[apolladay]

For all the non english native speakers: When you watch an english speaking movie and have the subtitles in your native language, do you prefer the subtitles to be literally or do you prefer the translator take some liberties? (For example if the character on screen rhymes or says a proverb that doesn't make sense in your language)

I want it literally word for word

I prefer they take liberties

I haven't thought about it

Results

Voting ended onNov 26, 2025

[apolladay]

for people who use subtitles, closed captions, or transcripts:

let's say you're watching or listening to something unscripted and someone misspeaks (ie, they accidentally say rainball instead of rainbow). they dont catch it at the time so they dont correct themself. how would you prefer for a mistake like that to be transcribed?

* written as is (rainball)

* written as is and with the error pointed out (rainball [sic])

* corrected and no mention made of the mistake (rainbow)

* corrected and with the original mistake pointed out (no idea what this looks like sorry)

* it depends

* other

For people who use subtitles, closed captions, or transcripts: let's say you're watching or listening to something unscripted and someone misspeaks (ie, they accidentally say rainball instead of rainbow). they dont catch it at the time so they dont correct themself. how would you prefer for a mistake like that to be transcribed?

written as is (rainball)

written as is and with the error pointed out (rainball [sic])

corrected and no mention made of the mistake (rainbow)

corrected and with the original mistake pointed out

it depends

other

results

Voting ended onDec 13, 2024

[apolladay]

HoH/deaf folks- do you like it when subtitles are...

static/in one place with standard caps and regular/normal punctuation, excluding stutters*

static with standard caps and regular punctuation, including stutters

static, but have excessive capitalization and punctuation, excluding stutters

static, but have excessive caps and punctuation, with semi-phonetic spelling/stutters**

animated in a fun/silly way (that's still legible)

very silly examples of static subs because this is all i can think of: (greekgodX eye tracking challenge clip)

*standard caps/punct without stutters = "I'm gonna complete this whole eye tracking challenge without looking at a single butt, or a single boob." — "I will not look at a single butt in this video!"

**excessive caps/punct with stutters = "I'm gonna c-p-complete this WHOLE EYE TRACKING CHALLENGE, wivout looking at a Single Butt, or a Single Boob." — "I WILL NOT LOOK AT A SINGLE BUTT IN THIS VIDEO!!!!!!!!!"

HoH/deaf folks- do you like it when subtitles are...

static with standard caps and regular/normal punctuation, excluding stutters*

static with standard caps and regular punctuation, including stutters

static, but have excessive capitalization and punctuation, excluding stutters

static, with excessive caps and punctuation, with semi-phonetic spelling/stutter

animated in a fun/silly way (that's still legible)

Voting ended onMar 16, 2024

Notes in ask :)

[apolladay]

Inspired by these Tweets:

How do you feel about subtitles?

I watch everything with subtitles because I need them

I don't need subtitles but prefer to have them

I don't need subtitles and have no strong feelings about them

I don't need subtitles and prefer not to have them

I don't need subtitles and will not watch anything with subtitles

Something else??

How do you feel about subtitles?

I watch everything with subtitles because I need them

I don't need subtitles but prefer to have them

I don't need subtitles and have no strong feelings about them

I don't need subtitles and prefer not to have them

I don't need subtitles and will not watch anything with subtitles

something else??

Voting ended onNov 29, 2023