Revision, Editing, and Proofreading

Revision Service

As a proficient reviewer specializing in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian to Russian translations, I offer a unique combination of skills to ensure the highest quality of translated content. My expertise extends beyond basic language proficiency, encompassing a thorough understanding of common pitfalls and typical errors in translation.

Types of Revision

Revision in translation is typically applied after human translation. The revision process encompasses editing and proofreading, ensuring thorough refinement of the text at every stage.

There are two primary types of revision: bilingual and monolingual. Bilingual revision involves step-by-step comparison of the translation with the original text, ensuring fidelity to the source while optimizing readability. Monolingual revision, on the other hand, focuses solely on the translated text without reference to the source, emphasizing fluency and style in the target language.

Revision, Editing, and Proofreading: what is a difference?

Editing refers to an in-depth review of the translated text with constant reference to the original. This process includes improving the style, structure, terminology consistency, and overall readability, ensuring that the text is natural and suitable for the target audience while maintaining accuracy to the source. Editing is ideal for clients who need not only a precise translation, but also one that is polished and stylistically refined.

Proofreading, on the other hand, is the final step in the quality assurance process. It involves checking the text for minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. Proofreading does not aim to make significant changes to the content or style but ensures that the text is free from technical flaws. Clients should choose to proofread text if their text has already been reviewed and requires only a final check before publication.

It is important to distinguish revision, editing, and proofreading from post-editing, which applies specifically to machine translation output. Post-editing often involves a more extensive effort, as it requires correcting mistranslations, refining unnatural phrasing, and ensuring that the final text meets professional quality standards.

Pricing for Revision, Editing, and Proofreading

I consider revision and editing synonymous for pricing purposes. The cost of revision/editing and proofreading always depends on the quality of the previous stage of work. If the quality is very low, the cost of the work is equivalent to the cost of the preceding stage. For Revision/Editing, this may sometimes mean that the text needs to be translated anew.

I will promptly contact with you if the quality of the preceding stage is insufficient and wait for your decision on whether editing is needed instead of proofreading, or a new translation instead of revision. Without the client’s approval, I do not proceed with more extensive or costly work.

Bilingual or monolingual revision does not influence the pricing; however, in the case of monolingual revision, the editor cannot take full responsibility for the accuracy of text elements that require reference to the original, such as subtle nuances of meaning, formatting, or other context-specific details.

The Quality is a Key

The revision represents a critical step in ensuring the quality of translations, adhering to the four-eyes principle, which involves an additional expert review to enhance accuracy and reliability.

I have mastered this methodology to ensure that revised translations meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.

Upon completion of the revision/editing/proofreading process, I provide my clients with a complimentary quality assessment report for the translation I have reviewed. Unsure which translation review service you need? Contact me for a free consultation, and I will help you make the right choice and save money.

Main types of errors that can occur in translations

Lexical Errors
- Incorrect choice of words.
Misunderstanding
- Inaccuracies in conveying the meaning of the source text.
Grammatical Errors
- Mistakes in declension, conjugation, or word order.
- Incorrect use of tense or case.
Stylistic Errors
- Mismatch of the style with the source text.
- Incorrect use of terminology for the target audience.
Contextual Errors
- Misunderstanding or ignoring the context of the document.
- Translation that fails to consider cultural or professional specifics.
Spelling and Punctuation Errors
- Misspelled words or misplaced / missing punctuation marks.
- Inconsistencies with the spelling rules of the target language.
Adaptation Errors
- Incorrect localization of units of measurement, currencies, dates, or names.
- The word order not appropriate to the target language.
Omissions
- Missing parts of the text in the translation.
- Ignoring individual sentences or words.
Formatting and Technical Errors
- Violations of the document's structure or layout.
- Formatting errors related to the use of translation tools.
Terminology Inconsistency
- Using different terms to refer to the same concept.
- Disrupting the consistency of terminology within the document.