Eging solutions is one of the largest translation companies in Shanghai.It can provide professional editing and proofreading service.

When we undertake a translation project, ensuring that the work we produce is of the highest quality possible is always a top priority. In order to achieve this, every document is put through a rigorous three-step process, made up of translating, editing and proofreading. To help you distinguish between these 3 very distinct steps, we’ve put together a quick guide on the differences between the often-confused roles of an editor and a proofreader, and why both are integral to a successful translation.

The role of an editor

Once a document has been translated, the editing phase begins. The editor thoroughly reviews the translated text against the original to check for any mistranslations, misinterpretations, vocabulary inconsistencies or linguistic errors; as well as to ensure overall consistency, especially important if the translation has been carried out by more than one person.

Crucially, the editor is also a qualified translator, and speaks both the source and target languages.

This step is essential in ensuring that a translation is an accurate and true representation of the original work.

The role of a proofreader

Once the editor is satisfied that the translation cannot be further improved, the document is passed on to a proofreader. Unlike the editor, the proofreader does not have access to the original text and thus treats the translation as a new document in its own right. For this reason, the proofreader does not have to be able to speak the language that the document was originally written in, only the language that it has been translated into.

A proofreader’s job is split into 3 main tasks. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, a proofreader must make certain that the translated text can be clearly understood. If there is something that the proofreader cannot follow, they send the text back to the editor who reviews it again in comparison to the original source language document and rectifies the problem. Next, the proofreader must check the text for grammatical errors and typos that may have been missed by the editor. Finally, they ensure that the document is formatted correctly and meets the requirements of the brief.

Why is proofreading so important?

The proofreading process is undertaken to ensure that the translation is completely correct and reads as naturally as possible in the target language.

It forms a crucial part of the translation process and is therefore something which we offer as standard. We’re also here to help if you’ve already had documents translated and want to have them independently checked.

If you’d like to know more , please don’t hesitate to contact us via your Account Manager or through our website.