Most voiceover problems can be traced back to the script, not the voice. Sentences that look fine on paper can be hard to say, run too long for the video or leave the voice actor guessing about tone and pronunciation. A well-prepared script saves studio time, avoids re-recording and makes the final audio sound natural.
Key takeaways
- Estimate timing from word count, then confirm with a read-aloud test.
- Write for the ear: short sentences, simple structure, one idea at a time.
- Format for the booth: large font, numbered paragraphs, notes on tone and pronunciation.
- Lock the script before recording.
1. Start with timing
If your audio must fit a 30-second ad or a 2-minute video, word count matters. For English, a comfortable narration pace is roughly 130–160 words per minute; fast commercial reads can be quicker, while e-learning and medical content are often slower.
| Duration | Approximate English word count |
|---|---|
| 15 seconds | 30–40 words |
| 30 seconds | 65–80 words |
| 60 seconds | 130–160 words |
| 2 minutes | 260–320 words |
These are guides, not rules. Words differ in length between languages — Georgian words, for example, are often longer than English ones — so always read the script aloud with a stopwatch, at the pace you expect in the final recording, and leave room for pauses and music.
2. Write for the ear, not the eye
Listeners cannot reread a sentence. Make every line easy to follow on the first hearing:
- Keep sentences short. One idea per sentence.
- Put the key information at the end of the sentence, where it naturally gets emphasis.
- Use conversational language. Contractions and everyday words sound more natural.
- Avoid long lists and nested clauses. Break them into separate sentences.
- Repeat the most important point — usually the brand name or call to action.
A quick test: if you run out of breath reading a sentence aloud, it is too long.
3. Handle numbers, abbreviations and names
These are the most common causes of retakes:
- Numbers: write them the way they should be spoken — for example “twenty twenty-six” or “two thousand and twenty-six”, and phone numbers grouped exactly as they should be read.
- Abbreviations: decide whether they are spelled out or said as a word (for example “IVR” letter by letter).
- URLs and emails: write them as spoken: “voice dot g e”.
- Names and brand terms: add a pronunciation guide with stress marks or a short audio reference.
4. Format the script for the booth
A professional script is easy to read under pressure:
- Clean layout: 12–14 pt font, double line spacing, no tiny tables.
- Numbered paragraphs or lines, so everyone can refer to “line 7” during the session.
- Tone notes in brackets, for example [warm, smiling] or [slower, serious].
- Emphasis in bold or underline — but only where it truly matters.
- Timecodes if the voice must match specific moments in the video.
- One file, one version. Mark it clearly, for example Script_v3_FINAL.
5. Give context
Voice actors deliver better reads when they understand the goal. Include a short header with:
- the audience and purpose,
- the desired tone (with a reference if you have one),
- where it will be used,
- the video edit or storyboard, if available.
This is also the information your voice provider needs to cast the right voice and quote accurately — see how to choose a voice actor and our voiceover pricing guide.
6. Prepare scripts for translation
If the script will be recorded in several languages, write the source text with localisation in mind:
- avoid idioms and wordplay that do not translate,
- allow extra time in the video for longer languages,
- provide a glossary of terms that must stay consistent,
- decide early whether the target version will be dubbed, voiced over or subtitled — compare the options in dubbing vs. voiceover vs. subtitles.
7. Lock it before recording
Changes after recording are the most common reason voiceover budgets grow. Before booking the session:
- get final approval from every stakeholder (marketing, legal, product),
- check facts, prices, dates and product names,
- confirm the final duration.
Script checklist
- ✓ Word count fits the duration (and was tested aloud)
- ✓ Short, conversational sentences
- ✓ Numbers, URLs and abbreviations written as spoken
- ✓ Pronunciation guide for names and terms
- ✓ Tone notes and context header included
- ✓ Final version approved by all stakeholders
A great voiceover begins long before the microphone is switched on. Invest an hour in the script, and the recording session becomes the easy part.
