A quality checklist every translator should run before delivering
Clients forgive a slow delivery more easily than a wrong number. Most translation errors are small and easy to catch if you look for them on purpose. This checklist is meant to be run after you finish translating and before you send the file. Use it by hand, and let a tool's automatic checks back you up.
1. Numbers, dates and units
Compare every figure with the source. Check the date format (day-month or month-day), decimal marks and currency. A single wrong digit in a price or dosage can cause real harm.
2. Names of people, places and organisations
Names must be spelled the same way every time and in the way the client or the official source writes them. Do not translate a name unless the convention requires it.
3. Completeness
Make sure no sentence was skipped, and no segment was left identical to the source by accident. A segment where the target equals the source is a common sign that something was forgotten.
4. Terminology consistency
Use the same word for the same concept throughout. If you called it "account" on page one, do not call it "profile" on page five. A glossary solves this.
5. Links, emails and tags
Web addresses and email addresses must be exactly as in the source. Formatting tags must be in the right place, or the exported file may break.
6. Meaning, not only words
Read each tricky sentence again in the target language only, as a reader would. If it sounds unnatural, rewrite it. A back-translation test, where you translate your own sentence back to the source language, shows whether the meaning has moved.
7. Tone and register
A legal letter, a children's story and a social media post need different tones. Check the level of politeness and whether the style fits the reader.
8. Layout and final read
Open the exported file and look at it. Is the text cut off in tables? Are the fonts correct, especially for scripts like Ethiopic? Read the last page, where mistakes often hide because of fatigue.
Build the checklist into your habit
Keep the list next to your workspace. After a few jobs the checks become automatic, and your clients will notice the consistent quality.
Frequently asked questions
Can an automatic check replace my review?
No. It finds patterns such as different links or repeated words, but only a human reader can judge meaning and tone.
How long should this take?
For a normal document, about ten to fifteen minutes. It is the cheapest way to protect your reputation.