Proofreading

What is proofreading

Professional proofreading is a comprehensive final quality check of written material before publication. Unlike editing, which is focused on making sure a document makes sense as a whole, proofreading is about checking a text’s accuracy and removing any errors.

A proofreader will carefully check a document to look at a number of factors, including: layout, consistency in style and presentation, omissions in typography, and accuracy of spelling, grammar and syntax.

Translation proofreading is even more complicated than this, as proofreaders must also ensure a document makes sense in the language into which it has been translated. To do this, they need a keen awareness of the original text’s nuances.

Here at Global Voices, we offer comprehensive translation proofreading services that ensure the translation of all content is consistent with client glossaries or specialist usage. Global Voices’ proofreaders will ensure your text adheres to the stylistic and tonal requirements of your project, whilst keeping the target audience in mind.

The translation will then be screened for grammatical or spelling errors by a second mother-tongue translator. The document is then returned to the original translator, who gives the document final approval. This ensures that any translation proofreading work is as fluent to read in another language as it is in its original form.

Although translation proofreading is very important, it may not be required for every kind of document. A translation can still achieve a high degree of accuracy without using a standalone proofreading service, especially if it was completed by a highly experienced translator in the first place.

Internal documents within small companies or departments, for example, have far less need to be proofread than public-facing texts that could be read by thousands or millions of potential clients or customers.

However, for important translation projects that are intended to bolster your company’s sales, like websites, press releases and marketing materials, it is highly recommended that you use a translation proofreader. This will guarantee that no mistakes creep into documents and that they are stylistically coherent, ensuring you get maximum return-on-investment.