The Proofreading Translator

Proofreading is an essential step in the translation process that ensures that the translated text is accurate and free of errors. It is typically the last stage of the translation process and follows editing. Proofreading involves checking for typographical, spelling, and punctuation errors, as well as ensuring that the translated text accurately conveys the intended meaning of the original text.  

Proofreading is important because it ensures that your translated content is your business message. A well-written text that has been accurately translated and has no errors creates a good impact and a greater chance of attracting end users.  

Proofreading is not just spell checking; it involves a thorough review of the entire document to ensure that it is free of errors and that it accurately conveys the intended meaning of the original text.

In order to reduce the number of errors in a translated passage of text, both translation editing and translation proofreading are essential. Proofreading helps lead to an error-free translation product that illustrates how carefully translated the work is and what high-quality work the translator does.  

When translating, the goal is obviously not to translate word by word but to think about how the same message would be said in the target language. Proofreading ensures that this goal has been achieved by checking for accuracy in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax. 

To ensure that a fair amount of the above has been achieved, it is useful to step aside from the translation process itself and step into the end user’s (client’s) shoes. How would the translated content sound to them? Would anything stop them in their tracks, such as ambiguity, gender mismatches, temporal incongruities, unnatural formulations, literalism, etc.? Using a text-to-speech application to read your content back to you could help improve these quality aspects by shifting the proofreading focus from the graphical nature of the content to its hidden aural features. 

Find out more about proofreading with these resources:

Why is Proofreading so Important After the Translation Process?

The Importance Of Proofreading In Translation Service

What Is Proofreading and Why Is It necessary...?

Importance of Proofreading in Translation and Transcription

Why Proofreading Is So Important in Translation and Transcription