5 . Edit for style and consistency
6 . Review for accuracy
7 . Proofread and finalize
5 . Edit for style and consistency
Editing goes beyond making sure there are no grammatical errors . The register and tone should be consistent throughout your translation . The wording and sentence structure should sound natural to the native speaker . Avoid translating word-for-word and sounding like a literal translation . Avoid using terms or expressions specific to a certain geographic region that are not relevant to the target audience . The goal is to write in a way that can be widely understood . The reader should walk away with the same facts and have a similar understanding and reaction to the content as the reader of the source text . It ' s often helpful to read the text aloud to listen for the same effect or impact .
Do not copy punctuation or capitalization that conflicts with your target language ’ s punctuation rules . Refer to the Translation Style Guides for punctuation , stylistic , and grammatical inquiries .
6 . Review for accuracy
Compare the source text sentence by sentence against the translated text to make sure nothing is missing , all information is conveyed clearly , and all actors , actions , places , and times are accurate .
7 . Proofread and finalize
Read the entire document for comprehension and accuracy , looking for missing elements , incorrect word endings ( gender and number ), punctuation and numerical errors , incorrect capitalization , spelling mistakes , and formatting inconsistencies .
It is best practice to have someone else proofread your translation before finalizing it .
For more in-depth information , please contact language . access @ sfgov . org .
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