Why You Keep Dropping Your Q&A Markers

I want to talk to you for a second because this isn’t just theory for me.

Recently, I’ve been dropping my Q&A markers.

I’m at that point where I’m really trying to pass, and when I go back to scope or proofread my transcript, I’m running into a frustrating problem:

I can’t always tell—

• Was that a question?

• Was that an answer?

• Was that the attorney or the witness?

And that’s a problem.

Because even if your dictation feels decent in the moment, when your QMAC and AMAC aren’t there, your transcript loses structure. And now you’re spending extra time trying to figure out something you should’ve already captured.

So I thought—if I’m dealing with this, you might be too.

Let’s talk about how to fix it.

First, Let’s Be Honest About What’s Happening

When you’re in the middle of testimony, your brain is focused on one thing:

Keeping up.

So when the speaker changes, your brain quietly says:

“Don’t stop. Just keep going.”

And that’s the moment your Q&A markers drop.

Not because you don’t know them.

Not because you forgot them.

But because they’re not automatic yet.

The Shift That Will Help You Immediately

Stop asking yourself:

“Is this a question?”

Instead, train yourself to respond to:

“Who is speaking?”

• Attorney → QMAC

• Witness → AMAC

That’s it.

You’re not analyzing anymore. You’re reacting.

And that small shift removes hesitation—which is exactly where markers get lost.

You Have to Practice Markers on Purpose

This is the part a lot of people skip.

You cannot expect QMAC and AMAC to show up at speed if you haven’t trained them by themselves first.

So here’s what I want you to start doing:

Practice Method #1: Just Listen + Say the Markers

There will be times where you’re not even focused on the words.

You’re just listening to testimony and saying:

“QMAC”“AMAC”“QMAC”“AMAC”

That’s it.

You’re training your brain to recognize speaker changes instantly.

Practice Method #2: Say Everything Out Loud (With Flow)

Then there are times where you bring everything together.

You’re speaking the full dictation, but your markers are flowing naturally:

QMAC what time did you arrive

AMAC I arrived at five p.m.

No pause. No delay.

It should feel like one continuous sentence.

Let’s Be Clear About the Goal

We are not trying to rush through this.

We are not chasing speed right now.

We are chasing quality and control.

Because if your Q&A markers are not there, it doesn’t matter how fast you’re writing—you’re going to feel it when you sit down to scope.

Why This Matters When You Proofread

This is the part that really hit me.

When your markers are missing, you lose clarity in your transcript.

Now you’re asking yourself:

• “Wait… who said this?”

• “Is this still the question?”

• “Did the answer already start?”

And instead of proofreading efficiently, you’re reconstructing the conversation.

That slows you down—and it doesn’t have to.

A Simple Way to Start Fixing It Today

Try this short routine:

• A few minutes: marker-only practice (just QMAC/AMAC)

• A few minutes: slow testimony, focusing on clean placement

• Then: gradually build back your speed

Give yourself permission to slow down so you can build this correctly.

Final Thought

There’s going to come a point where you don’t have to think about this anymore.

Where the second the speaker changes, your brain automatically says:

QMAC AMAC

But that only happens if you train it on purpose.

So if you’ve been dropping your Q&A markers, don’t get discouraged.

You’re not behind—you’re just at the stage where this skill needs focused attention.

And once it clicks, everything about your testimony—from accuracy to confidence—gets stronger.