Detailed check of translation following graphic processing (performed, for example, in Quark, InDesign, Word, PowerPoint, etc.), i.e. a comparison of the source and target PDF in low resolution following graphic processing with the aim of checking the formatting,proper display of the text in the target language and completeness of the text.
The proofreader is a native speaker of the target language, ideally the translator or proofreader that worked on the given order.
Pre-print proofreading requires detailed reading of the text and its comparison with the source text.
The aim of the pre-print proofreading is to check:
- completeness and sense (the whole text must be translated and complete and it must substitute the correct original text, including headers and footers, chapter headings, page numbers, captions, headers and footers);
- correctness of content (correct transcription of data: numbers, names etc., alphabetical ordering of words, indexes);
- spelling and typos, punctuation (commas etc.);
- proper display of text (division of words, check of lone, single-letter prepositions and conjunctions at the end of rows, proper display of all signs, images, captions, symbols and their correct placement);
- observance of formatting according to the source text (observance of the layout and flow of the text and paragraphs, bullets and numbering, borders, paragraph styles, letter typeface (serif, sans serif), font (bold, underlined, italics), general symbols (e.g. ?, ?, &, %, ?, #) and additional features, such as 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));
- compliance with the typographic customs of the target language (punctuation (use of dashesand hyphens, correct quotation marks, spaces, etc.);
- compliance with instructions (correct transcription of document version numbers and language abbreviations (occurring in headers and footers) etc.);
- references (to manuals, chapter, illustrations, pages, etc.).
Note: If the source text is not available, the pre-print proofreading is performed only by detailed reading of the text and does not contain the check of completeness, correctness of content and observance of formatting according to the source text.
Texts for pre-print proofreading should no longer contain any grammatical, stylistic and semantic deficiencies – any of these changes in the text significantly increase the costs of further DTP processing. For this reason the proofreader should definitely avoid making preferential changes during pre-print proofreading. Nevertheless, should the text contain any semantic or other mentioned mistakes that could arise due to the absence of the complete context during translating, these mistakes must be corrected but the client must be informed that these changes have been made.
Upon determining that a translation contains an excessive number of these or other mistakes, the proofreader is required to inform the client as far ahead of the deadline for the proofreading as possible and agree on an exact procedure.
All changes and notes highlighted in the PDF file must also be implemented in the original translated document. In the case that the translation was processed using a CAT tool the bilingual (unclean) file must be updated with the changes; this updated clean file is then used to update the translation memory. The proofreader obtains the bilingual file and translation memory at the time the
proofreading is ordered, along with the PDF file with the translation into which the changes are recorded.
Billing unit: hour.
Technique: marking changes using the Note Tool (or by highlighting text) in Acrobat Reader.
Capacity: 8 pages or 2,000 words/hour.