Learn the language
Video editing terms, explained plainly
Editing tutorials assume vocabulary. This glossary defines each term the way working editors use it: what it is, when it matters, and how to apply it — with zero jargon left unexplained.
From the Mellius product team · Updated September 28, 2026
The short answer
Most editing terms describe either a cut (jump cut, J-cut, L-cut), a layer (B-roll, lower third, mask), or a measurement (loudness in LUFS, bitrate, frame rate). Learn the cuts first — they change how your video feels more than any effect.
24 guides
Browse glossary
Video glossary
The 180-degree rule keeps your viewers oriented
The 180 degree rule keeps screen direction consistent across cuts. Learn the imaginary axis, when to follow it, and how to cross it cleanly.
Read the guideGlossary
Aspect ratios: matching your frame to every screen
A practical guide to video aspect ratios: what 16:9, 9:16, and 1:1 mean, when to use each one, and how to reframe edits for every screen you publish to.
Read the guideVideo glossary
Chroma key, explained without the jargon
Chroma key explained in plain English: how green screens work, how to light and shoot them, and how to key clean edges that look real on any project.
Read the guideGlossary
Color correction fixes footage; color grading gives it a feeling
Confused by color grading vs color correction? Learn what each step fixes, the order to do them in, and a beginner color workflow that works in any editor.
Read the guideGlossary
Frame rate: how many pictures per second your video needs
Learn what frame rate means, when to shoot 24, 30, or 60fps, and how to match timeline settings for smooth, natural-looking motion in any editor.
Read the guideGlossary
LUFS: the loudness number YouTube and Spotify actually use
Learn what LUFS loudness means, the loudness targets for YouTube and podcasts, and how to get consistent volume without distortion or sudden jumps.
Read the guideVideo glossary
MP4 vs MOV: pick the right container
MP4 vs MOV explained: compatibility, quality, file size, and editing trade-offs, plus exactly which format to pick for sharing or archiving.
Read the guideVideo glossary
Proxy editing makes heavy footage feel light
Proxy editing explained: edit with lightweight stand-in copies for smooth playback, then export automatically from full-quality originals every time.
Read the guideVideo glossary
The rule of thirds, made practical for video
Rule of thirds for video, explained simply: where to place subjects, how much headroom and looking room to leave, and when breaking it works.
Read the guideVideo glossary
SRT vs VTT: pick the right caption file
SRT vs VTT compared in plain English: the differences that matter, platform support, styling and positioning needs, and which file to choose.
Read the guideVideo glossary
Transcript editing turns words into cuts
Transcript editing explained: edit video by editing words, how transcription syncs to the timeline, and where to check the cut afterward with confidence.
Read the guideVideo glossary
Video bitrate, explained in plain English
Video bitrate guide: what bitrate controls, how it shapes quality and file size, and sensible bitrate targets for sharing finished videos online.
Read the guideGlossary
Codecs: how video gets small enough to share
Learn what video codecs do, how H.264, HEVC, and ProRes differ, and which export settings balance quality with small, shareable files every time.
Read the guideGlossary
Masking: showing, hiding, and blending parts of the frame
Learn what video masking is, the everyday uses from blurring faces to creative reveals, plus beginner steps to make a clean mask that tracks your subject.
Read the guideVideo glossary
Video rendering, explained step by step
Video rendering explained: what happens inside your editor when you export, why it takes time, and settings that prevent failures and waits.
Read the guideVideo glossary
Video resolution, from 720p to 8K
Video resolution guide covering 720p, 1080p, 4K, and 8K: what the numbers mean, when higher detail helps, and what to export for sharing online.
Read the guideGlossary
Safe margins: keeping titles readable on every screen
Learn what video safe margins are, where to keep titles and action on any screen, and how to check safe areas before you export for TV or social.
Read the guideVideo glossary
Watch time and retention, in plain English
Watch time and retention measure how long viewers actually stay. Learn what the metrics mean and which editing choices hold attention longer.
Read the guideGlossary
Keyframes: the before-and-after points behind all motion
Learn what keyframes are, how they power zooms, fades, and motion graphics, and how to set your first smooth keyframe animation in any editor today.
Read the guideGlossary
B-roll: the cutaway footage that keeps viewers watching
Learn what B-roll is, why cutaway footage keeps viewers watching, and beginner-friendly ways to plan, shoot, and edit B-roll into any video.
Read the guideGlossary
J-cuts: letting the sound arrive before the picture
Learn what a J-cut is, how hearing audio before the picture smooths scene changes, and simple steps to edit your first J-cut cleanly in any editor.
Read the guideGlossary
Jump cuts: removing time inside a single shot
Learn what a jump cut is, why editors cut time inside one shot, and when jump cuts add energy — plus the mistakes that make them distracting.
Read the guideGlossary
L-cuts: letting sound linger after the picture changes
Learn what an L-cut is, how letting audio linger over the next shot smooths edits, and simple steps to cut your first clean L-cut in any editor.
Read the guideVideo glossary
What a lower third is, and when to use one
What is a lower third? A plain-English guide to name titles and screen graphics: when to show them and how to keep them readable everywhere.
Read the guideFrequently asked questions
Which editing terms should beginners learn first?
Jump cuts, J-cuts and L-cuts, B-roll, aspect ratio, and loudness. Those five cover most of what makes an amateur edit feel professional — everything else is refinement.
Do I need to memorize codecs and containers?
No. Learn one reliable delivery recipe (H.264 MP4 for most platforms) and look up the rest when a platform or client demands it. Understanding beats memorizing.
Where do these terms come up in Mellius?
Everywhere direction happens: asking for a J-cut, B-roll over a claim, or loudness-safe audio maps directly to timeline operations you can inspect and adjust.
Describe the edit. Keep the timeline.
Mellius turns conversational direction into cuts, captions, graphics, motion, color, and sound you can still inspect and change.
Start editing free