In the world of business, time is money. But as any savvy businessperson can tell you, unless the job is done well, there’s no use doing it at all.
The same rule applies to translation. For those who are unaware, there are three crucial steps taken when translating a project that are done by three different people. The first step is the translation, which, depending on the complexity of the project and the technical knowledge of the translator, may be very good or need a lot of work.
The translated piece is then edited by an experienced editor who compares it with the original piece to make sure it has been translated properly and that it makes sense in the desired language.
This piece is then looked over by a proofreader who makes sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes and that names and numbers are as they were in th
e source. It is amazing how many mistakes are found.
However, often a client will not provide the translation company with enough time for all three steps to be completed. And so they might find that the finished article is not as flawless as they might have expected.
Particularly for long or complex projects, the proofreading step is crucial. It might cost a little bit more and take a little bit more time but it will be worth it.
So if you find a provider that works for you, try to help them help you by giving them the amount of time they need to get the job done well.
Spanish version: Los tres pasos de la traducción
