Verbatim Guide

Verbatim Guide

By: Aash

Verbatim is the standard document management software used in high-level debate. It is a macro-based extension for Microsoft Word designed specifically for online debating.

Before You Start:

Verbatim only works with the desktop version of Microsoft Word. You may need to buy a subscription for Microsoft Office to use Microsoft Word.

You can download it here!

Macros must be enabled for Verbatim to function.

*For antivirus problems, please refer to the verbatim guide, or youtube– it’s a slightly lengthy process for those on a windows computer, but if you are on a mac you can go to the antivirus settings, see the blocked application, and say to allow verbatim anyway.

Enabling Verbatim

Once going through the installation process, you should see a small pushpin icon in the top right corner of a document when you create a new one. Press it, and you should see a “debate” tab pop up! This means it’s up and running.

Keyboard Shortcuts

To activate the “F” key (the fn key), go to your computer settings and turn “function keys on”. Then, press and hold the fn key and tap the respective number on the very top row of keys on your computer.

Navigation

• Condense: shrinks any normal leftover text in your card

• Hat: triggers the “hat” header

• Cite: triggers the “cite” header

• Highlight: Highlights the selected text.

• Tag: triggers the “tag” header

• Pocket: triggers the “pocket” header

• Block: triggers the “block” header

• Underline: underlines the selected text

• Clear: clears all formatting from the selected text.

• Emphasis: Bolds, underlines, and adds a small box over the selected text.

Highlight Bar

“Shrink” makes all the text in the card that’s not underlined or highlighted smaller

“Highlight” when toggled, you can highlight parts of cards and it will automatically apply the color.

“Doc” and “Card” are dropdown menus used to change settings in either the doc or the card respectively.

Heading Levels

A common organization system is:

Heading 1 (Pocket)

Major sections such as:

1. Aff

2. Neg

3. Frontlines

4. Blocks

Heading 2 (Hat)Argument categories or speech categories such as:

1. Economy

2. Deterrence

3. 2NC/Block

Heading 3 (Block)

For specific blocks and responses, like:

1. No uniqueness

2. Turn

A complete card should contain:

• Tag

• Citation

• Highlighting

• Underlining

Pasting Evidence

Avoid normal paste whenever possible, instead use fn+2

This prevents most formatting issues and strange fonts.

Collapsing Sections

Use the arrow next to headings to collapse sections (only works on windows for now).

Most debaters keep most of their files collapsed during rounds.

Navigation Pane

Searches through document structure.

Use Ctrl + F when you know the wording of a card.

Use the Navigation Pane when you know where an argument should be located.

Saving

Ctrl + S

Save.

Save CONSTANTLY during rounds, otherwise you’ll lose your work!

Speech Docs

Press this button (located in the bar next to the highlight bar) to create a new speech doc. You can copy over blocks here and download it to send to your opponents.

Invisibilizer, and etc.

Although not used very often, these tools can also prove to be useful– the blue eye icon is used to make all the text of the unhighlighted parts of the cards white, making it easier to read. Beware however, that it takes a very, very long time for larger files. The green double window icon toggles a dual-window view, and “read” and “web” are different formattings of the screen that you can trigger, to your liking.

These are all the tools mainly used in debate– although there are some more, I will not go into detail for them as they are often not used at all, but if you find yourself wanting to see what else Verbatim is capable of, feel free to check out their website.

Good luck, and happy debating!

Original guide