Voice over or voiceover

Struggling to determine the correct use of "voice over" or "voiceover"? Our expert article provides clarity on these terms and offers guidance for proper usage.

If you're an avid reader, you've probably noticed that "voice over" and "voiceover" are often used interchangeably. But is there any difference?

In this article, we'll explore the similarities and differences between the two phrases and provide guidance on when to use each one.

The technical definitions

Let's start by defining the difference between "voice over" and "voiceover.

"Voice over" (as two words) is the process of adding a voice to a production or project. For example, a documentary may have a voiceover explaining what's happening on-screen. So after shooting the content, the director would ask a voice actor to "voice over" the movie.

Similarly, a video game may have a voiceover of a character's dialogue that plays during gameplay. In this case, the developer would request a voiceover artist to "voice over" the game.

On the other hand, "voiceover" refers to the actual voice itself. For instance, Blade Runner, a popular science fiction movie produced in 1982, features a voiceover by Harrison Ford's character, Rick Deckard.

In this case, "voiceover" describes the voice itself rather than the process of adding voice to the movie. One might say, "The Blade Runner's voiceover was done by Rick Deckard."

That said, it's worth noting that "voiceover" as a single word is an adverb, whereas "voice-over" (with a hyphen) is a noun. It's not uncommon to find the former being used in situations where "voice-over" would be the correct fit. Here are examples of proper usage:

She spoke voiceover, providing the dubbing for the television program.

In this case, "voiceover" is used as an adverb to describe how the person spoke (in a voiceover style).

"I need to record a voice-over for my podcast." 

Here, "voice-over" is used as a noun to describe the actual voiceover performance.

Which is used more often?

According to online search trends, "voice over" is searched more often than "voiceover." This means that although "voiceover" is technically correct, you may see "voice over" used more often online because it features in people’s searches.

Interestingly, there appears to be some supporting evidence.

A professional voice actor searching for "voice over jobs" on Google will get more results than one with "voiceover jobs." For this reason, a company providing voiceover work may use "voice over" instead of "voiceover" on job advertisement websites. And that's because it increases their chances of being found by potential clients through search engines.

Similarly, a professional voiceover actor looking for auditioning opportunities is more likely to use "voice over" on social media.

Which spelling should you use?

If you're writing in a formal context, it's best to use "voiceover," as technically, it's the correct term. But if the text will end up somewhere on the web, you might want to consider using "voice over" instead. SEO tends to favor using two separate words rather than a hyphenated or combined version.

Does it really matter which you use?

Ultimately, it doesn't really matter which term you go with. In most cases, your audience will understand what you're referring to. Professionals use both terms interchangeably in the voiceover industry, and both are widely understood.

A voiceover—or voice over, if you prefer—is a recording of someone's voice that's played over a video, TV show, interactive voice response (IVR) system, or any other kind of media. It's used to provide off-screen narration, make an announcement, or give context to what's happening on screen.

Voice artists bring their unique voice sounds, male or female, to create engaging, professional voiceover performances.

It's important to note that not all voiceovers involve authentic human voices. Text to speech technology has advanced so much these days that computer-generated voices and voiceover recordings are almost indistinguishable.

The voiceover script itself could be the work of a professional voiceover artist, but the final recording can be generated by a premium-quality text to speech software like Speechify.

Get professional-sounding voiceovers with Speechify

Whether you're a voiceover actor seeking auditions or someone who needs a voiceover for a filmmaking or e-learning project, the quality of the recording is crucial. That's where Speechify Voiceover comes in.

This software offers a recording studio experience for creating professional voiceover recordings, perfect for audiobooks, podcasts, voiceover narration, and more. It uses machine learning to develop natural-sounding voiceovers that are indistinguishable from those recorded by a human voice actor.

One of Speechify's most outstanding features is the ability to choose from various male and female voices. This gives you the flexibility to select the perfect voice for your project.

Speechify Voiceover is also incredibly easy to use. All you need to do is input your script, choose the voice that best fits your project, and the tool will do the rest. You can even adjust the speed and tone of the voiceover to make it sound more natural.

With Speechify Voiceover, you can also easily find voiceover talent for your project. You can browse the different types of voice and test them to find the perfect fit.

Try Speechify Voiceover today and start creating outstanding voiceover recordings that leave a lasting impression.

FAQ

What does voiceover mean?

Voiceover refers to a recording of a person's voice that's played over a video or other visual media.

How do you use voiceover in a sentence?

The word "voiceover" can be used as an adverb or a noun.

How is voice-over written?

Voice-over can be written as a single word, two words separated with a hyphen, or as separate words.

What are alternative words for "voiceover?"

Alternative words for voiceover include narration, commentary, and off-screen voice.

What is the difference between voice-over and voiceover?

"Voiceover" as a single word is used as an adverb, whereas "voice-over" (with a hyphen) is used as a noun.

What is voice over used for?

A voiceover can tell a story, provide additional information, or explain complex concepts.