Foundation Knowledge for All Annotation Projects
The [N] tag works the same way across all annotation projects. Master this foundation rule before moving to specific examples.
Why This Matters: [N] tag errors are the top cause of file rejections. Understanding this one rule eliminates most annotation mistakes and ensures consistent quality across all your work.
The Universal [N] Tag Rule
[N] = Background noise occurring simultaneously with speech
This means:
✅ Speaker talking + dog barking at same time = Use [N]
✅ Speaker talking + car horn honking = Use [N]
❌ Speaker talking alone (no other sounds) = No [N]
❌ Speaker pauses, then dog barks, then speaker continues = No [N] (not simultaneous)
❌ Another person talking in background = No [N] (this is [OVERLAP], not noise)
The Simple Test
Before adding any [N] tag, use this test:
Close your eyes. Listen to the audio segment. Ask yourself: "Besides the main speaker, do I hear any other sounds happening at the same time?"
YES = Use [N] tag
NO = Do not use [N] tag
Clean speech with no background noise - notice the regular, consistent waveform patterns with no irregular spikes. When you only hear the speaker talking with no other sounds, do NOT use the [N] tag.
Missing [N] tag error: When you hear background noise during speech, always click the [N] button - never type it manually.
Decision Process
Follow this workflow for every segment:
🎧 LISTEN TO SEGMENT
⬇️
❓ Do you hear NOISE + SPEECH together?
⬇️
🚫 NO ✅ YES
⬇️ ⬇️
⭕ NO [N] TAG 🏷️ CLICK [N] BUTTON
✅ DONE! ✅ DONE!
Key Timing Rule
The noise must happen AT THE SAME TIME as speech.
Example: If a person stops talking, then a dog barks, then the person starts again:
Segment 1: Speaker only = No [N]
Segment 2: Dog bark only = Use [N]
Segment 3: Speaker only = No [N]
When you see irregular spikes in the waveform during speech segments (like the highlighted areas), this indicates background noise occurring simultaneously with speech. Click the [N] button to tag these segments.
When You're Unsure
If you cannot clearly determine whether there's background noise:
Slow down the audio (use playback speed controls)
Listen multiple times
If still unclear → Do NOT use [N]
Rule: Better to miss one [N] tag than to add [N] tags incorrectly and get your entire file rejected.
Success Story
"I used to add [N] tags to every segment thinking it was safer. I was getting 5-7 rejections per week. Then I learned this simple rule: only use [N] when you actually hear noise like dogs, cars, or interruptions happening during speech. Now I get maybe 1 rejection per month." - Team Member
What You've Learned
✅ The universal [N] tag rule that works across all projects
✅ The simple listening test to identify when [N] is needed
✅ The timing requirement (noise + speech simultaneously)
✅ What to do when you're uncertain