It shows what is being said at the very moment it is said. Transcriptionists who specialize in captioning television shows may be called stenocaptioners. General transcriptionists take short dictation, such as letters, as well as do other clerical tasks. For example, they may type, file, or answer telephones. General transcriptionists also use office machines such as photocopiers and fax machines.
Some employers dictate notes onto cassette tapes that transcriptionists listen to and type up.
Experienced and highly-skilled transcriptionists take more difficult dictation. They may also supervise other clerical workers. Some transcriptionists take dictation in foreign languages. Others transcribe for traveling business people. Technical stenographers must know the medical, legal, or scientific words used in their specialty.