> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.corti.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Formatting
> Learn about how Corti speech to text supports formatting of dictation text output
Speech to text can be used to create a verbatim transcript of the audio; however, some content is not documented in the same manner as it is verbalized. The `formatting` features provide control over how key information should for represented in the textual output.
/transcribe
/streams
/transcripts
Notes:
* Transcript output is formatted according to the default options listed below for both `transcribe` and `streams` endpoints.
* Add formatting configuration to `transcribe` connections to change output preferences - see details [here](/api-reference/transcribe#param-formatting).
* Formatting configuration is not supported on `streams` connections.
***
## Formatting Options
Use the following values within the `formatting` configuration object to define preferences:
| Parameter | Default option | Alternative options |
| --------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `dates` | `locale:long` | `locale:medium`, `locale:short`, `iso`, `as_dictated` |
| `times` | `locale` | `h24`, `h12` |
| `numbers` | `numerals_above_nine` | `numerals`, `as_dictated` |
| `measurements` | `abbreviated` | `as_dictated` |
| `numericRanges` | `numerals` | `as_dictated` |
| `ordinals` | `numerals_above_nine` | `numerals`, `as_dictated` |
```json theme={null}
"formatting": {
"dates": "locale:long",
"times": "locale",
"numbers": "numerals_above_nine",
"measurements": "abbreviated",
"numericRanges": "numerals",
"ordinals": "numerals_above_nine"
}
```
The tables below show available options for each formatting configuration parameter:
* The examples represent how output would be formatted given the spoken input shown for the `as_dictated` option.
* The `Default` represents server default values, indicating output format when **no** value is defined for a given formatting parameter.
* The Date and Time options indicated as `locale` will format according to local standards, dependent on the [`primaryLanguage`](/about/languages) defined in the configuration.
### Dates
Date formatting allows for standardization of date output when dictating the year, month, and/or day. In the table below, the examples for each option indicate how the date would be formatted for spoken form showed in the `as_dictated` option.
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :-------------- | :---------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "February third twenty twenty five"
"February third"
"February twenty twenty five" | |
| `locale:long` | Long date | "February 3, 2025"
"February 3"
"February 2025" | |
| `locale:medium` | Medium date | "Feb 3, 2025"
"Feb 3"
"Feb 2025" | |
| `locale:short` | Short date | "2/3/25"
"2/3"
"2/2025" | |
| `iso` | ISO 8601 | "2025-02-03"
"02-03"
"2025-02" | |
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :-------------- | :---------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "February third twenty twenty five"
"February third"
"February twenty twenty five" | |
| `locale:long` | Long date | "3 February 2025"
"3 February"
"February 2025" | |
| `locale:medium` | Medium date | "3 Feb 2025"
"3 Feb"
"Feb 2025" | |
| `locale:short` | Short date | "03/02/2025"
"03/02"
"02/2025" | |
| `iso` | ISO 8601 | "2025-02-03"
"02-03"
"2025-02" | |
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :-------------- | :---------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "den tredje februar tyve femogtyve"
"den tredje februar"
"februar tyve femogtyve" | |
| `locale:long` | Long date | "3. februar 2025"
"3. februar"
"februar 2025" | |
| `locale:medium` | Medium date | "3. feb 2025"
"3. feb"
"feb 2025" | |
| `locale:short` | Short date | "03.02.2025"
"03.02"
"02.2025" | |
| `iso` | ISO 8601 | "2025-02-03"
"02-03"
"2025-02" | |
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :-------------- | :---------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "dritte Februar zwanzig fünfundzwanzig"
"dritte Februar"
"Februar zwanzig fünfundzwanzig" | |
| `locale:long` | Long date | "3. Februar 2025"
"3. Februar"
"Februar 2025" | |
| `locale:medium` | Medium date | "3. Feb 2025"
"3. Feb"
"Feb 2025" | |
| `locale:short` | Short date | "03.02.25"
"03.02"
"02.2025" | |
| `iso` | ISO 8601 | "2025-02-03"
"02-03"
"2025-02" | |
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :-------------- | :---------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "le trois février deux mille vingt-cinq"
"le trois février"
"février deux mille vingt-cinq" | |
| `locale:long` | Long date | "3 février 2025"
"3 février"
"février 2025" | |
| `locale:medium` | Medium date | "3 fév 2025"
"3 fév"
"fév 2025" | |
| `locale:short` | Short date | "03/02/25"
"03/02
"02/2025" | |
| `iso` | ISO 8601 | "2025-02-03"
"02-03"
"2025-02" | |
The Date parameter options defined above are the go-forward standard; however, the following legacy date formatting parameter values remain supported by the API:
| Option | Format | Example |
| ------------- | ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| `as_dictated` | Preserve spoken phrasing | ”February third twenty twenty five” |
| `long_text` | Long date | ”3 February 2025” |
| `eu_slash` | Short date (EU) | “03/02/2025” |
| `us_slash` | Short date (US) | “02/03/2025” |
| `iso_compact` | ISO (basic, without separators) | “20250302” |
### Times
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :------------ | :---------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "eight o'clock"
"half past eight"
"eight thirty six PM" | |
| `locale` | 12-hour | "8:00 AM"
"8:30 AM"
"8:36 PM" | |
| `h24` | 24-hour | "08:00"
"08:30"
"20:36" | |
| `h12` | 12-hour | "8:00 AM"
"8:30 AM"
"8:36 PM" | |
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :------------ | :---------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "eight o'clock"
"half past eight"
"eight thirty six PM" | |
| `locale` | 24-hour | "08:00"
"08:30"
"20:36" | |
| `h24` | 24-hour | "08:00"
"08:30"
"20:36" | |
| `h12` | 12-hour | "8:00 AM"
"8:30 AM"
"8:36 PM" | |
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :------------ | :---------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "klokken otte
"klokken halv ni"
"klokken tyve seksogtredive" | |
| `locale` | 24-hour | "08:00"
"08:30"
"20:36" | |
| `h24` | 24-hour | "08:00"
"08:30"
"20:36" | |
| `h12` | 12-hour | "8:00 AM"
"8:30 AM"
"8:36 PM" | |
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :------------ | :---------- | :------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "acht Uhr"
"halb neun"
"zwanzig Uhr sechsunddreißig" | |
| `locale` | 24-hour | "08:00"
"08:30"
"20:36" | |
| `h24` | 24-hour | "08:00"
"08:30"
"20:36" | |
| `h12` | 12-hour | "8:00 AM"
"8:30 AM"
"8:36 PM" | |
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :------------ | :---------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "huit heures"
"huit heures et demie"
"vingt heures trente-six" | |
| `locale` | 24-h | "8h00"
"8h30"
"20h36" | |
| `h24` | 24-hour | "08:00"
"08:30"
"20:36" | |
| `h12` | 12-hour | "8:00 AM"
"8:30 AM"
"8:36 PM" | |
### Numbers
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :-------------------- | :------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "one, two... nine, ten, eleven | |
| `numerals_above_nine` | Single digit as words, multi-digit as number | "One, two... nine, 10, 11" | |
| `numerals` | Numbers only | "1, 2... 9, 10, 11" | |
Notes:
* Localization of numbers applied automatically for thousands and decimal separators.
* `numerals_above_nine` applies to integers: When using this value, all whole numbers less than ten will be formatted as words, and all decimal numbers will be formatted as numerals. Use `as_dictated` for decimal numbers to be output as words instead of numerals.
* A maximum of three decimal places is supported at this time. Be sure to dictate the numbers after decimal individually. For example, "one point two five" (not one point twenty-five) will return "1.25".
### Units and Measurements
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :------------ | :---------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "Millimeters, centimeters, inches; Blood pressure one twenty over eighty" | |
| `abbreviated` | Abbreviated | "mm, cm, in; BP 120/80" | |
* Celsius (°C)
* Fahrenheit (°F)
* Kelvin (K)
* Inch (in)
* Meter (m)
* Centimeter (cm)
* Millimeter (mm)
* Nanometer (nm)
* Kilometer (km)
* Square meters (m²)
* Square centimeters (cm²)
* Gram (g)
* Kilogram (kg)
* Milligram (mg)
* Microgram (mcg)
* Nanogram (ng)
* Pound (lb)
* Ounce (oz)
* Liter (L)
* Hectoliter (hL)
* Deciliter (dL)
* Centiliter (cL)
* Milliliter (mL)
* Picoliter (pL)
* International unit (IU)
* Milliequivalent (mEq)
* Mole (mol)
* Millimole (mmol)
* Blood pressure (systole/diastole)
* Beats per minute (BPM)
* Respirations per minute (RPM)
* Body mass index (BMI)
* Percent (%)
* Millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
* Centimeters of water (cmH2O)
* Per minute (#/min)
* Milliliters per minute (mL/min)
* Milligram per kilogram (mg/kg)
* Grams per deciliter (g/dL)
* Milligram per liter (mg/L)
* Milligram per deciliter (mg/dL)
* Nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL)
* Globules per deciliter (g/dL)
* Units per liter (U/L)
* Units per milliliter (U/mL)
* Milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)
* Millimoles per liter (mmol/L)
* Pack years (pack-yrs)
* “times two” -> “x2” (1 through 10)
* “two plus” -> “2+” (1 through 10)
**Individual vertebrae** (spoken form "letter number")
* C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7
* T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12
* L1, L2, L3, L4, L5
* S1, S2, S3, S4, S5
**Sequential, adjacent vertebrae** (spoken form "letter number letter number")
* C1–C2, C2–C3, C3–C4, C4–C5, C5–C6, C6–C7
* C7–T1
* T1–T2, T2–T3, T3–T4, T4–T5, T5–T6, T6–T7, T7–T8, T8–T9, T9–T10, T10–T11, T11–T12
* T12–L1
* L1–L2, L2–L3, L3–L4, L4–L5
* L5–S1
* S1–S2, S2–S3, S3–S4, S4–S5
Staging for cancer, chronic kidney disease, etc. ()"spoken form" -> `written form`)
* "stage zero" -> `Stage 0`
* "stage one" -> `Stage I`
* "stage one A" -> `Stage IA`
* "stage one B" -> `Stage IB`
* "stage one C" -> `Stage IC`
* "stage two" -> `Stage II`
* "stage two A" -> `Stage IIA`
* "stage two B" -> `Stage IIB`
* "stage two C" -> `Stage IIC`
* "stage three" -> `Stage III`
* "stage three A" -> `Stage IIIA`
* "stage three B" -> `Stage IIIB`
* "stage three C" -> `Stage IIIC`
* "stage four" -> `Stage IV`
* "stage four A" -> `Stage IVA`
* "stage four B" -> `Stage IVB`
* "stage four C" -> `Stage IVC`
See [examples](/stt/formatting#examples) below for more information on how **numbers** and **measurements/units** configurations work together
### Numeric Ranges
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :------------ | :---------- | :--------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "one to ten"
"six out of ten" | |
| `numerals` | As numbers | "1-10"
"6/10" | |
Note: Numeric range formatting supported for integers only (not numbers with decimals).
### Ordinals
| Option | Format | Example | Default |
| :-------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------ | :--------------------------: |
| `as_dictated` | As dictated | "First, second, third" | |
| `numerals_above_nine` | First through ninth as words, multi-digit as number | "First, second ... ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th" | |
| `numerals` | Abbreviated | "1st, 2nd, 3rd" | |
***
## Examples
The following examples show expected output given different combinations of formatting configurations.
> "the injury was sustained on fifth of February twenty twenty six and surgical repair was completed on February tenth two thousand twenty six"
| Dates | Expected Output | Default |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `locale:long` | "the injury was sustained on February 5, 2026 and surgical repair was completed on February 10, 2026" | |
| `locale:medium` | "the injury was sustained on Feb 5, 2026 and surgical repair was completed on Feb 10, 2026" | |
| `locale:short` | "the injury was sustained on 2/5/26 and surgical repair was completed on 2/10/26" | |
| `as_dictated` | "the injury was sustained on fifth of February twenty twenty six and surgical repair was completed on February tenth two thousand twenty six" | |
Notice that, while using `locale` parameters, the date output is normalized for two different spoken form patterns in the example text
> "zero two zero three twenty twenty five"
| Dates | Expected Output | Default |
| --------------- | ------------------------------ | :-----: |
| `locale:long` | "zero two zero three 20 25" /> | |
| `locale:medium` | "zero two zero three 20 25" | |
| `locale:short` | "zero two zero three 20 25" | |
| `as_dictated` | "zero two zero three 20 25" | |
Dictation of numbers to be shown in "short" date form is not supported. In this example the expected output is based on default `numbers:numerals_above_nine` formatting.
For text to be formatted as a date, dictate the month, day, year pattern as shown [above](/stt/formatting#dates).
> "the child had one doctor visit today and is one meter tall"
| Numbers | Measurements | Expected Output | Default |
| --------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | :--------------------------: |
| `numerals_above_nine` | `abbreviated` | "the child had one doctor visit today and is 1 m tall" | |
| `numerals_above_nine` | `as_dictated` | "the child had one doctor visit today and is one meter tall" | |
| `numerals` | `abbreviated` | "the child had 1 doctor visit today and is 1 m tall" | |
| `numerals` | `as_dictated` | "the child had 1 doctor visit today and is one meter tall" | |
| `as_dictated` | `abbreviated` | "the child had one doctor visit today and is 1 m tall" | |
| `as_dictated` | `as_dictated` | "the child had one doctor visit today and is one meter tall" | |
> "one eighty centimeters"
| Numbers | Measurements | Expected Output | Default |
| --------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------ | :--------------------------: |
| `numerals_above_nine` | `abbreviated` | "180 cm" | |
| `numerals_above_nine` | `as_dictated` | "180 centimeters" | |
| `numerals` | `abbreviated` | "180 cm" | |
| `numerals` | `as_dictated` | "180 centimeters" | |
| `as_dictated` | `abbreviated` | "one eighty cm" | |
| `as_dictated` | `as_dictated` | "one eighty centimeters" | |
> "one hundred eighty centimeters"
| Numbers | Measurements | Expected Output | Default |
| --------------------- | ------------- | -------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `numerals_above_nine` | `abbreviated` | "180 cm" | |
| `numerals_above_nine` | `as_dictated` | "180 centimeters" | |
| `numerals` | `abbreviated` | "180 cm" | |
| `numerals` | `as_dictated` | "180 centimeters" | |
| `as_dictated` | `abbreviated` | "one hundred eighty cm" | |
| `as_dictated` | `as_dictated` | "one hundred eighty centimeters" | |
Notice that both forms of "hundreds" are normalized using `numerals_above_nine` and `numerals`
> "ninety eight point two percent"
| Numbers | Measurements | Expected Output | Default |
| --------------------- | ------------- | -------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `numerals_above_nine` | `abbreviated` | "98.2%" | |
| `numerals_above_nine` | `as_dictated` | "98.2 percent" | |
| `as_dictated` | `abbreviated` | "ninety-eight point two%" | |
| `as_dictated` | `as_dictated` | "ninety-eight point two percent" | |
> "First time he tried he came in tenth place"
| Ordinal | Expected Output | Default |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: |
| `numerals_above_nine` | "First time he tried he came in 10th place" | |
| `numerals` | "1st time he tried he came in 10th place" | |
| `as_dictated` | "First time he tried he came in tenth place" | |
> "she vomited two to three times today"
| numericRanges | numbers | Expected Output | Default | |
| ------------- | --------------------- | -------------------------------------- | :--------------------------: | - |
| `numerals` | `numerals_above_nine` | "she vomited 2-3 times today" | | |
| `numerals` | `numbers` | "she vomited 2-3 times today" | | |
| `numerals` | `as_dictated` | "she vomited 2-3 times today" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `numerals_above_nine` | "she vomited two to three times today" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `numbers` | "she vomited 2 to 3 times today" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `as_dictated` | "she vomited two to three times today" | | |
> “one point five to two point five”
| numericRanges | numbers | Expected Output | Default | |
| ------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------------- | :--------------------------: | - |
| `numerals` | `numerals_above_nine` | "1.5 to 2.5" | | |
| `numerals` | `numbers` | "1.5 to 2.5" | | |
| `numerals` | `as_dictated` | "one point five to two point five" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `numerals_above_nine` | "1.5 to 2.5" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `numbers` | "1.5 to 2.5" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `as_dictated` | "one point five to two point five" | | |
> "The pain is a six out of ten"
| numericRanges | numbers | Expected Output | Default | |
| ------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------ | :--------------------------: | - |
| `numerals` | `numerals_above_nine` | "The pain is a 6/10" | | |
| `numerals` | `numbers` | "The pain is a 6/10" | | |
| `numerals` | `as_dictated` | "The pain is a 6/10" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `numerals_above_nine` | "The pain is a six out of 10" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `numbers` | "The pain is a 6 out of 10" | | |
| `as_dictated` | `as_dictated` | "The pain is a six out of ten" | | |
While these examples are based on `primaryLanguage:en`, the same logic applies for other [languages with formatting support](/stt/transcribe#feature-availability-per-language). Please [contact us](https://help.corti.app) for further assistance with formatting configuration.