Guide
Word-by-word captions on iPhone
Updated
Word-by-word captions show one word on screen at a time, in sync with the speech. CaptionAddr makes them automatically on iPhone and iPad: it transcribes the English speech on your device, gives every word its own caption with a subtle pop as it appears, and burns the result into a new copy of your video.
Why one word at a time works
Full sentences make viewers read ahead of the speaker. A single word lands exactly when it’s spoken, so the eye stays in one spot near the speaker’s face and the captions feel like part of the delivery. That’s why the style is popular for talking-head clips, tutorials and short-form video.
It suits fast, energetic speech. For slow, dense or technical narration, full-line subtitles can be easier to follow; CaptionAddr focuses on the single-word style.
How CaptionAddr animates each word
Each word appears with a short scale-in “pop” as it’s spoken and clears when the word ends, so pauses show no caption. Timing comes from the speech and is aligned to your video’s frame rate. The style you choose applies to every word: CaptionAddr doesn’t offer per-word colors, karaoke-style highlighting or bouncing presets, and very short words may appear without the pop.
Make word-by-word captions
- Open your clip. In CaptionAddr, tap Select Video and choose a video from Photos.
- Let the captions generate. Captions start automatically. CaptionAddr transcribes the English speech on your device and creates one caption per word.
- Edit word by word. In Edit Captions, change any word, delete fillers, or move words if the order is off.
- Pick the look. Choose one of 20 fonts and a size. Captions are white uppercase text with a dark outline; turn on the tinted background for a calmer, boxed look.
- Position and preview. Drag the caption into place and play the clip to check the rhythm.
- Export. Save the captioned video to Photos and share it.
Styling tips
- Go big. One word has room to be large; size it so it reads instantly on a phone.
- Keep it steady. A fixed position near the lower middle keeps eyes from jumping around.
- Delete the filler. Removing “um” and “like” keeps the captions punchy without changing what you said.
- Fonts with character. Condensed and rounded fonts are good for one-word captions; there are 20 to choose from.
Frequently asked questions
What are word-by-word captions?
Captions that show a single word at a time, timed to when it’s spoken, instead of a full line or sentence.
Are CaptionAddr’s captions animated?
Yes, subtly. Each word pops in with a quick scale animation. There are no per-word color highlights or bouncing presets.
Can I show a full sentence instead?
No. CaptionAddr is designed around single-word captions.
Can I adjust the timing of a word?
Timing is generated automatically from the speech; there are no manual start and end times. You can edit, delete and reorder words.
Is it free?
Yes, for videos up to 2 minutes, with all caption styles and no required watermark. CaptionAddr Pro extends the limit to 30 minutes.