Importance Of Proofreading In Translation And Transcription Business

Translation has helped companies cross boundaries that seemed impossible a few years ago. This is due to the availability of localized content, which is created by translating an original page and making it available in native languages across different parts of the world. The importance of translation is well accepted by companies and is not something that can be understated.

While translation has certainly enabled companies to look beyond geographical confinements, the importance of proofreading and the role it has played in the upsurge can't be ignored. Badly reviewed or proofread content can misrepresent the intended meaning entirely - and in the worst case, spell doom for a business. That's why proofreading matters in most businesses that are dependent on online sales.

Why is Proofreading Important in Translation?

Translation proofreading is often the final stage of the translation process. Once a copy is translated, proofreaders painstakingly go through proofreading and editing the content to spot any errors.

Though much of translations are being automated now, proofreading is one area where human intervention is required. This is because machine translations enable faster turnaround times but are not foolproof.

Simple grammatical errors can change the entire meaning of a sentence, even if it sounds fine. This necessitates that a native or trained translator proofreads the translated document and ensures that the translated content matches the source document and also makes sense to the end user.

Therefore, translation companies employ separate teams of proofreaders who undertake multiple reviews of the translated document before it is delivered to their client.

Transcription Proofreading

Transcription, especially medical transcription, is one of the most popular areas where the medical industry has understood the importance and need to outsource their transcription requirements to offshore locations.

However, few consider the editing and proofreading capabilities of vendors. Many outsourcing providers employ a large number of people and use automated tools to create large volumes of transcribed documents in a short amount of time. They do the same to proofread the transcript; however, similar efficiency is not seen with automated proofreading. This not only alters the meaning of sensitive documents but also increases the cost of editing and correction at later stages. Therefore, it is critical to employ professional proofreaders and editors who can identify and fix errors in the content before it goes live.

Elements of Proofreading

Typically proofreading involves the identification and correction of the following:

• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Spelling
• Formatting
• Typos
• Visual consistency
• Abbreviations and expansions
• Testing broken website links
• Structuring of sentences
• Length of text
• Identifying inappropriate words and phrases
• Capitalization and usage of tenses
• Essence of content as per the audience's culture, language, and demographics

Outsource Translation Services to Flatworld Solutions for Flawless Transcripts

At Flatworld Solutions (FWS), we are proficient in translating and transcribing your documents to any foreign language - and also in proofreading and editing the documents for high-quality and accurate deliverables.

Learn how we can help with your translation, transcription, or proofreading needs - contact us today!