Translation proofreading – the highest quality of work and compliance with standards

The key to the quality of translations can be considered responsibility and high qualification of the specialists. The control of experienced editors at the end of the work also plays a significant role. The following is subject to strict control:

Compliance with registration requirements.
Accuracy of numbers and dates.
Absence of omissions.
Compliance with spelling and punctuation rules.

Errors and inaccuracies in the source text may cause additional questions. Certain problems also arise due to illegibility of handwriting in documents written by hand. In this case, the decision is made through alignment with the client. To make the work on translations as convenient as possible and simplify the task, it is planned to divide documents by types:

Simple standard document translation;
Complex standard document translation;
Non-standard document translation;
Translation requiring adaptation or localization.

Features of working with simple template documents

Such task requires strict compliance with a certain form or official form. As an example, it is worth mentioning the passport, where changes are observed only in relation to personal data. So, the main requirements will be the compliance with the form, as well as correctness and accuracy of translation.

And if it concerns the certificate, then you need to clarify in advance the title of educational institution, names, subjects and grades. For a driver's license, both names and names of departments are considered important. The invoice translation involves checking the names of the sender and recipient, as well as the names of goods and seals. For medical certificates, the control over special terms is also needed. Clarifications are addressed only with regard to formulations, illegible phrases and abbreviations.

Complex template documents

In translations of such papers as a price list, an audit or accounting report, a power of attorney, etc., one has to rely only on partial use of template phrases. Despite the presence of special forms, there are authentic data, which is related to a narrow specialization. Thus, the customer's wishes regarding the terminology used will be strictly considered.

That is why coordination and proofreading after translation can be considered a prerequisite. For example, quality control of the translation of an academic certificate or diploma requires the consent of the parties regarding the English version of the title of the university, names of disciplines and specialties according to the databases. The material safety data sheet will require the check of the names of products, standards, accuracy of wording and safety warnings. During the translation of the extract from the United State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Organizations of Ukraine, a reconciliation of the types of activity is carried out in accordance with international certification.

Proofreading of non-standard documents

This list includes all kinds of contracts, product labels, menus, presentations, medical reports, user manuals, etc. Since this type of paper is characterized by the lack of clear rules for execution, and they relate to highly specialized topics, translations will be performed exclusively by employees with special knowledge in the sphere. And if the check of the document execution does not provide for obstacles in the form of clear rules, then the proofreading is carried out by professionals.

The main proofreading criteria are the following:

Presence of all words and text fragments.
Accuracy of dates and numbers.
Full compliance of the translation with the original text.
Check of terminology according to glossaries.
Control over the unity of terminology.

To avoid troubles, the actual errors in the original and the presence of phrases that raise questions are reported to the customer in advance. As a result, the parties reach an agreement and jointly decide on the nuances and further actions.

But anyway, editorial proofreading is done even without prior discussion of this service with the client. And if the interested party wishes to save money on such a check, then it is enough to refuse from service and partially sacrifice the quality of work. Usually such a decision is made in the following cases:

If the customer has its own editor.
When the purpose of the document is familiarization.

Coordination with the customer will be required in the following tasks:

Clarifying the correct interpretation of the context.
Glossary approval.
Preference for concise variants.
The need for translation or transliteration, etc.

Work with texts requiring adaptation or localization

This list includes texts where both form and content are equally important. These can be:

Artistic works.
Personal correspondence.
Advertising sheets.
Software.
Web applications, etc.

A feature of these translations is a kind of recreation. That is why discussion with the client is an integral part of the entire translation and editing process. Given the importance of stylistic accuracy and compliance with the glossary, specialists necessarily clarify the specifics of interpreting the context and request a working version for proofreading.

Regarding the rules of execution – preference is given to the wishes of the customer. Refusal of editorial proofreading is allowed only in relation to personal correspondence and business correspondence. In other cases, even your own editor will not be able to guarantee that the translation meets the goals pursued. The most correct thing is to use the full range of translation agency services, where the individual characteristics of the task are necessarily taken into account and the rules of their market segment are clearly observed.