Errors, review flags and what they actually mean

Interpret timing and readability findings without treating a threshold as a rule.

CueCheck separates structural errors from review flags. An unreadable timestamp is an error because the checker cannot reliably interpret that cue. A high character rate is a review flag because an editor needs to decide whether the text is comfortable to read in the actual scene.

Timing comes first

A cue needs a start time and a later end time. Zero-length or reversed intervals are reported as errors. Start times that go backwards in the file receive an order flag. Overlap is measured against earlier cues, including a long cue that overlaps more than its immediate neighbour.

Overlap can be valid

WebVTT can represent simultaneous cues. Some productions deliberately show two speakers or positioned text at the same time. CueCheck therefore marks overlap for review instead of calling all overlap invalid. Inspect the rendered result in your target player.

Reading speed is a configurable signal

The initial setting is 21 characters per second. The calculation divides visible Unicode code points, including spaces but excluding line breaks, by duration. Basic tags are stripped for this estimate. It is not a measure of reading ability, and it does not handle every language or combining character equally. Adjust the threshold to the language and project brief.

Length and duration need editorial judgement

The starting settings flag lines over 42 characters and durations under 0.8 seconds. These are CueCheck defaults, not universal standards. More than two text lines is also flagged. A short on-screen label, vertical format or unusual display region may need a different decision from ordinary dialogue.

Know what was not checked

The checker reads basic cue structure and timing. It does not certify WebVTT cue settings, CSS, regions, speaker markup or SRT player compatibility. It cannot verify sync without media, and it does not judge translation or spelling. A clear report means no issue was found by these checks; it is not a blanket quality certificate.

Format reference: W3C WebVTT specification.