OVERLAP TAG COMPLETE GUIDE
Simple Guide for Multiple Speakers Talking Together
Why This Matters
When people talk at the same time, you need overlap tags.
Wrong format = your work gets rejected.
Success Story
"I kept getting rejections even though I could hear overlapping speech. I was typing the tags manually. Once I learned to use the platform buttons, my overlap tags were perfect every time!"
🎯 Main Rule: Always use buttons, never type overlap tags manually!
The Simple Rule
OVERLAP = Two people talking at the same time
One Simple Question
🎧 Listen to your segment. Ask yourself:
"Do I hear multiple people speaking together right now?"
YES → Use overlap tags
NO → Normal transcription (no tags)
What IS Overlap vs What is NOT
✅ IS OVERLAP | ❌ NOT OVERLAP |
Two people talking together | Person A stops → Person B starts |
Someone interrupting while other keeps talking | Taking turns in conversation |
People laughing while someone talks | Pause between speakers |
Quick responses like "Yes!" + "No!" together | Background noise (use [N] tag) |
Key Point: If you hear voices together = overlap. If people take turns = normal conversation.
When to Use Overlap Tags
Real Examples of Overlap:
Interrupting While Someone Keeps Talking:
Person A: "I think we should go to the..."
Person B: "No way!" (while Person A is still talking)
Result: Both voices heard together = Use overlap tags
People Talking Over Each Other:
Group meeting where everyone talks at once
Family argument with multiple people speaking
Quick responses happening together
Laughter + Speech:
Someone laughing while main person is talking
"Haha" + speech happening at same time
Quick Back-and-Forth:
Person A: "Really?"
Person B: "Yes!" (both said at exact same time)
When NOT to Use Overlap Tags
❌ Normal Conversation (No Tags Needed):
Taking Turns:
Person A: "How are you?" (finishes talking)
Person B: "I'm fine." (starts talking)
Result: They take turns = Normal transcription
Pauses:
Person A: "I went to..." (pauses)
Person B: "The store?" (fills in during pause)
Result: No overlap = Normal transcription
Background Noise:
Person talking + dog barking = Use [N] tag (not overlap)
Person talking + music = Use [N] tag (not overlap)
How to Use the Buttons
🚨 NEVER type [OVERLAP/] or [/OVERLAP] with keyboard!
Find the Two Buttons:
Look for: [OVERLAP/] and [/OVERLAP] buttons
Step-by-Step Workflow:
Step 1: Write the main speaker's words
Type what the main speaker says
Don't write what the other person says
Step 2: Find where overlap starts
Put cursor where both people start talking together
Click [OVERLAP/] button
Step 3: Continue with main speaker only
Keep writing only the main speaker's words
Don't include the other person's words
Step 4: Find where overlap ends
Put cursor where overlap stops
Click [/OVERLAP] button
Step 5: Check your result
Should look like: "I think we should [OVERLAP/]go to the store[/OVERLAP] today."
Examples of Correct Usage
Example 1: Interruption
What you hear:
Main speaker: "I want to go to the market and buy some..."
Other person: "Let's go!" (interrupting)
What you write: "I want to go to the [OVERLAP/]market and buy some[/OVERLAP] food."
Example 2: Quick Response
What you hear:
Person A: "Are you ready?"
Person B: "Yes!" (at same time as "ready")
What you write: "Are you [OVERLAP/]ready[/OVERLAP]?"
Example 3: Laughter
What you hear:
Main speaker: "It was so funny"
Other person: laughing while speaker talks
What you write: "It was [OVERLAP/]so funny[/OVERLAP]."
Decision Flowchart
🎧 LISTEN TO AUDIO
↓
❓ Do I hear multiple people talking at the same time?
YES → Apply overlap tags:
1. Write main speaker words
2. Click [OVERLAP/] where overlap starts
3. Continue main speaker
4. Click [/OVERLAP] where overlap ends
NO → Normal transcription (no tags needed)
Common Mistakes
❌ Wrong Format:
WRONG: Typing [OVERLAP/] manually → RIGHT: Use buttons only
WRONG: Including both speakers' words → RIGHT: Main speaker only
WRONG: Tags where no overlap exists → RIGHT: Only where voices are together
❌ Wrong Situations:
WRONG: Turn-taking conversation → RIGHT: Normal transcription
WRONG: Background noise → RIGHT: Use [N] tag
WRONG: Single speaker with echo → RIGHT: Normal transcription
Quick Reference
The Overlap Rule:
Voices together = overlap tags
Taking turns = normal conversation
Button Workflow:
Write main speaker words
Put cursor at start → Click [OVERLAP/]
Continue main speaker
Put cursor at end → Click [/OVERLAP]
Result: [OVERLAP/]text[/OVERLAP]
When Unsure:
Slow down the audio
Listen multiple times
Can you hear both people together? → Use overlap
Do they take turns? → Normal transcription
Troubleshooting
Common Problems:
Problem | Solution |
Getting format errors | ✅ Use buttons, never type manually |
Not sure if it's overlap | ✅ Slow down audio, listen for voices together |
Tags in wrong place | ✅ Only tag where you actually hear multiple voices |
Including wrong words | ✅ Only write main speaker inside tags |
Emergency Checklist:
Before submitting:
☑️ Used buttons (not typing)
☑️ Only main speaker's words inside tags
☑️ Tags only where overlap actually happens
☑️ Format shows: [OVERLAP/]text[/OVERLAP]
Need Help?
Daily Support:
Ask in #annotation channel
Share examples with your team
Urgent Issues:
Tag @Marcia with segment and file details
Describe what you hear
Technical Problems:
Buttons not working → Contact tech support
Include file ID and segment number
Success Tips
Listen carefully - Don't rush the decision
One simple question - Do I hear voices together?
Use buttons always - Never type manually
Main speaker only - Don't include other person's words
When unsure - Slow down audio and listen again
🎯 Daily Reminder: Voices together = overlap tags. Taking turns = normal conversation.
Related Tag Guides
Need help with other tags mentioned in this guide?
🔊 [N] Noise Tag Guide Series
Complete 4-part guide for handling background noise during speech:
👉 Part 1: [N] Tag Basics - The Foundation Rule
Master the universal rule: noise + speech happening at the same time
👉 Part 2: When to Use [N] Tags (With Examples)
See the 4 main types: animals, vehicles, weather, human-made sounds
👉 Part 3: When NOT to Use [N] Tags (Avoid Rejections)
Prevent the most common mistakes that cause file rejections
👉 Part 4: How to Apply [N] Tags in DataPlus
Step-by-step button workflow for perfect formatting
📋 [IVS] Invalid Segment Guide
Complete guide for handling segments that cannot be transcribed (unclear speech, wrong language, technical issues).
🏷️ [HM], [OIVS], [PIL] Specialty Tags Guide
Complete guide for handling rap speech, TV/radio voices, and sensitive personal information.
📚 Complete Tag Library
[N] Tag Series - For background noise during speech
[OVERLAP] Guide - This guide (multiple speakers talking together)
[IVS] Guide - For invalid/unclear segments
[HM], [OIVS], [PIL] Guide - For specialty situations
Master all tags for 100% annotation accuracy!
Your accurate overlap tagging helps the whole team succeed. Take your time and choose correctly!