Proofreading

Language proofreading is a basic check of a translated text by a native speaker of the target language. It is focused on correction of regular syntax, grammatical and typing errors, as well as correction of minor stylistic discrepancies.

The aim is to check:

• • accuracy,
  • completeness and correct conveyance of meaning,
  • linguistic correctness,
  • terminological correctness and uniformity,
  • appropriate and uniform style and register of language,
  • correct and uniform adaptation of the target text to local language conventions,
  • adherence to the formatting of the source text.

Independent review involves comparison of the translation with the source text and includes proofreading to ensure that the text accurately reflects the intended meaning, contents and terminology. The proofreader is a specialist in the given field.  From a professional point of view, the target text will accurately correspond to the original.

Independent review includes language and stylistic proofreading (PE), i.e., control of:

• • accuracy (accurate transfer of the original meaning into the target language, correct transcription of numbers, names, all data, etc.);
  • terminological correctness (use of correct professional and industry terminology, adherence to the customer's terminology according to provided terminology dictionary and references or as traceable on the client's website);
  • consistency: the consistency of the translation itself, and the use of terminology and style;
  • the completeness and meaning of the target text (including headers, footers and footnotes).

The language sign-off involves detailed control of text following its graphical processing. It is done when graphical source documents have not been available for the translation. Formatting is checked, along with the separation of words and correct display of all characters and images.

The aim of preprint proofreading is to check:

• • completeness and correct conveyance of meaning (all text must be translated, complete and must replace the correct original text, including references, chapter headings, page numbers, figure captions, headers and footers);
  • correctness of content (correct transcription of data: numbers, terms, names, etc., alphabetical ordering of words, indexes);
  • spelling and typos, punctuation (sentence commas, etc.);
  • correct display of the text (division of words, checking for single-letter prepositions and conjunctions at the end of lines, correct display of all characters, pictures, picture captions, symbols and their correct positioning);
  • adherence to the formatting of the source text (adherence to the layout and flow of the text and paragraphs, indentation and numbering, margins, paragraph style, font type and font [footer, sans footer], font cut [bold, underline, italics], general symbols [e.g. ©, ®, &, %, ™, #] and other elements such as tables of content, lists and tables, page size and layout, headers and footers, images, diagrams, graphics, illustrations, links, etc., use of spaces [e.g. no spaces or double spaces], etc.);
  • adherence to the typographical conventions of the target language (use of hyphens and dashes, correct quotation marks, spaces, etc.);
  • compliance with instructions concerning the transcription of document version numbers and language abbreviations (occurring in headers and footers);
  • references to manuals, chapters, illustrations, pages, etc.

The preprint control of a translation is done if graphical source documents have not been made available. It is a formal check of the translation after graphic processing without detailed reading.

The preprint control is done visually by quickly reading the text. The aim is to check:

• • completeness of the text (including references, chapter titles, page numbers, figure captions, headers and footers);
  • correct display of the text (division of words, checking for single-letter prepositions and conjunctions at the end of lines, correct display of all characters, pictures, picture captions, symbols and their correct positioning);
  • adherence to the formatting of the source text (adherence to the layout and flow of the text and paragraphs, indentation and numbering, margins, paragraph style, font type and font [footer, sans footer], font cut [bold, underline, italics], general symbols [e.g. ©, ®, &, %, ™, #] and other elements such as tables of contents, lists and tables, page size and layout, headers and footers, images, diagrams, graphics, illustrations, links, etc., use of spaces [e.g. no spaces or double spaces], etc.);
  • adherence to the typographical conventions of the target language (punctuation [use of hyphens and dashes, correct quotation marks, spaces, etc.], diacritics, etc.);
  • compliance with instructions concerning the transcription of document version numbers and language abbreviations (occurring in headers and footers);
  • references to manuals, chapters, illustrations, pages, etc.