caption
B2Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A short text or title that describes or explains an image, illustration, or video.
A heading or title of a document, article, or chapter; also, the text displayed on screen in films or television for translation or accessibility (subtitles).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with visual media (photos, videos, diagrams). In legal contexts, can refer to the heading of a legal document. The verb form means to provide such text.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'caption' is less commonly used for on-screen text in moving pictures; 'subtitles' is preferred. In American English, 'caption' can refer to on-screen text for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (closed captions).
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with still images. US: Broader, encompassing both still images and on-screen text in video.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to the common term 'closed captioning'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
caption + for + [image]caption + under/below/above + [image]caption + that + clauseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The caption says it all.”
- “A picture is worth a thousand words, but the caption helps.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports and presentations for charts and graphs.
Academic
Essential for labelling figures, tables, and illustrations in papers and theses.
Everyday
Common in social media posts describing photos.
Technical
In broadcasting, refers to closed captions for accessibility.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The archivist will caption the historical photographs.
- She captioned the diagram clearly.
American English
- The museum captioned all the exhibits.
- He's captioning the video for accessibility.
adjective
British English
- The caption text was too small.
- A caption competition was held.
American English
- The caption service is now enabled.
- Caption accuracy is vital for the deaf community.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Look at the photo. Read the caption.
- The caption says 'My dog'.
- Please write a short caption for this picture.
- I didn't understand the chart until I read the caption.
- The newspaper printed the photo with a misleading caption.
- Effective captions should enhance, not just describe, the image.
- The documentary's closed captions were out of sync with the dialogue.
- The legal document's caption listed all the parties involved in the case.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CAPtion as a CAP that sits on top of or next to a picture, summarizing it.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEXT IS A LABEL FOR AN IMAGE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'подпись' when referring to a signature. Use 'подпись' only for a handwritten name. For image captions, use 'подпись к изображению' or 'заголовок'. 'Субтитры' is better for film/TV text.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'caption' to mean a long paragraph of text (it should be short).
- Confusing 'caption' (for images) with 'subtitles' (for dialogue in video).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'caption' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'caption' typically describes a still image or provides accessibility text for video (including sound descriptions). A 'subtitle' specifically translates or transcribes spoken dialogue in a video.
Yes. To 'caption' something means to provide it with a caption (e.g., 'She captioned all the photos in the album').
It is an American term for the system that displays text on a television or video screen to provide accessibility for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. The 'closed' means the text can be turned on or off.
A 'title' is the main name of a whole work (book, film, article). A 'caption' is a short explanatory text for a specific, usually visual, element within that work.
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