It sometimes seems that translators consider proofreading and copy-editing to simply be by-products of the translation industry.

Proofreading and Copy-Editing: Highly Professional Fields

It sometimes seems that translators consider proofreading and copy-editing to simply be by-products of the translation industry, but the truth is it that both of these resources are highly professional fields - the same way translation is. There are degree and certification programs, and they both have their own professional organisations. In fact, there are many people out there looking for proofreaders and copy editors with experience and good qualifications.

The Ever-Changing Face of English

Not only does English vary from country to country, it also varies from dictionary to dictionary, and many translators are not aware that proper and correct English is formed by consensus - not by edict. English is certainly not ‘one’ thing, and a professional copy-editor knows that, without a single, consistent reference, the translation will end up with many inconsistencies.

Have you noticed that the spellings you used as a child for the words ‘dialogue’ and ‘catalogue’ are now being spelt as ‘dialog’ and ‘catalog’? The only reason this has occurred is because of consensus among respected publishers and writers. In general, professional editors in the United States follow the Merriam-Webster for usage and spelling, and for punctuation and clarity they use the Chicago Manual of Style. Yet still, there are many translators who not only don’t have a copy of the Chicago Manual of Style, they’ve never even heard of it! It’s a great reference book because it resolves both tricky and mundane questions; from how to cite a webpage in a bibliography to correctly set a dash in English. It also offers useful guidelines for foreign-language text used in English-language documents.

Don’t Rely Too Heavily on Microsoft’s Spelling and Grammar Software

Translators are making a mistake when they rely solely on Microsoft’s built-in grammar and spelling software because errors do get through Microsoft Word; plus, it differs from Random House, American Heritage and Merriam-Webster. There are also small differences between Microsoft Word and the Encarta Dictionary, which is published by Microsoft. Many American-English speakers are surprised that the rules and spelling they learned in school have changed in many instances, while many Europeans are not aware that Microsoft Word’s spelling software doesn’t correspond to the industry-standard – which is usually Merriam-Webster.