Poll: When a client assigns a translation-only job, they'll have someone edit your work.
દોર પોસ્ટ કરનાર: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
સાઇટ કર્મચારીઓ
Sep 22, 2025

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When a client assigns a translation-only job, they'll have someone edit your work.".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
પોર્ટુગલ
Local time: 22:26
સભ્ય (2007)
અંગ્રેજી થી પોર્ચુગિઝ
+ ...
Other (some do, others don't) Sep 22, 2025

It is a normal procedure for a few of the agencies I have been working with, and over the years I have developed a good relationship with some of the editors. Two of my clients require a “good-for-print” translation, so I always send my translations to a trusted colleague. Since some years ago, my longest-standing customer said that my work doesn’t require editing, I have been particularly careful as I don’t want to disappoint him nor… myself!

Edith van der Have
Agnes Fatrai
Paul Ope
svetlana cosqueric
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Zea_Mays
Zea_Mays  Identity Verified
ઇટલી
Local time: 23:26
અંગ્રેજી થી જર્મન
+ ...
It depends Sep 22, 2025

When working for a direct client - no. If working for a _serious_ agency that applies the four-eyes principle - yes.
In the first case, the translation needs to be proofread by a third person paid by the translator, or the translator will check their own work thoroughly (possibly the day after).
Ps: these "someones" are called editors and proofreaders.


Octavio Armendariz
Paul Ope
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Oscar Núñez Alfaro
Oscar Núñez Alfaro  Identity Verified
કોસ્ટા રીકા
Local time: 15:26
સભ્ય (Oct 2026)
અંગ્રેજી થી સ્પેનીશ
+ ...
They do! Sep 22, 2025

In my short experience, I see that my clients have another colleague translator to check my translation or editing work. When I also do ad honorem translation, the non-profit has someone to verify my job. In my opinion, receiving colleagues suggestions and corrections is tremendously beneficial for the job itself and you, as a translator, to be able to manage different points of view.

Gregor Trebec
Josephine Cassar
 
IrinaN (X)
IrinaN (X)
યૂનાઇટેડ સ્ટેટસ્
Local time: 16:26
અંગ્રેજી થી રશિયન
+ ...
Are there any clients Sep 22, 2025

Who would assign translation and editing for the same job and pay for both on top of usual mandatory proofreading embedded in "translation-only" jobs and per word rates???

Colleagues who answered tried to make sense of the question but it does not make any sense no matter how you slice it.


Philip Lees
Daryo
 
Gregor Trebec
Gregor Trebec
સ્લોવેનીઆ
Local time: 23:26
અંગ્રેજી થી સ્લોવેનિયન
+ ...
Had a client... Sep 22, 2025

Had a client that did not specify my work will be proofread. Later, during my work my mistakes were noticed and corrected therefore my guess is that there was somebody cheching the text.

Oscar Núñez Alfaro
 
jyuan_us
jyuan_us
યૂનાઇટેડ સ્ટેટસ્
Local time: 17:26
સભ્ય (2005)
અંગ્રેજી થી ચાઇનિઝ
+ ...
Translation-only VS TEP Sep 22, 2025

If "translation-only" is used as compared to TEP, maybe they will have a proofreader finalize your copy.

[Edited at 2025-09-23 01:44 GMT]


Maria Laura Curzi
 
Philip Lees
Philip Lees  Identity Verified
ગ્રીસ
Local time: 00:26
ગ્રીક થી અંગ્રેજી
False Sep 23, 2025

The statement is false by definition. If the job profile includes post-editing, then it is NOT a "translation-only job".

QED


Maria Laura Curzi
 
Daryo
Daryo
Local time: 22:26
સર્બિયન થી અંગ્રેજી
+ ...
What am I missing? Sep 23, 2025

What kind of job given to a translator acting as a translator (i.e. within their 'job description') would be something else than 'a translation-only job'??

In my limited understanding, the expected thing is to give a driver a 'driving-only' job, to give to our old friend the plumber a 'plumbing-only job', to give a typist a 'typing-only job', and so on ...

Could anyone 'translate' this poll question into something that actually makes sense?


IrinaN (X)
 
jyuan_us
jyuan_us
યૂનાઇટેડ સ્ટેટસ્
Local time: 17:26
સભ્ય (2005)
અંગ્રેજી થી ચાઇનિઝ
+ ...
A google search led to this link Sep 23, 2025

https://www.tumblr.com/adayinthelifeofapm

 
jyuan_us
jyuan_us
યૂનાઇટેડ સ્ટેટસ્
Local time: 17:26
સભ્ય (2005)
અંગ્રેજી થી ચાઇનિઝ
+ ...
If a job is specified as "translation-only" on the PO Sep 23, 2025

Philip Lees wrote:

The statement is false by definition. If the job profile includes post-editing, then it is NOT a "translation-only job".

QED


If a job is specified as "translation-only" on the PO, do you think your client will send your version directly to the printer? Do you think they will assign another linguist to edit/proofread/review/check/QA/sign off (whatever they call it) your version?

[Edited at 2025-09-23 20:55 GMT]


 
jyuan_us
jyuan_us
યૂનાઇટેડ સ્ટેટસ્
Local time: 17:26
સભ્ય (2005)
અંગ્રેજી થી ચાઇનિઝ
+ ...
A translator can be assigned a TEP job Sep 23, 2025

Daryo wrote:

What kind of job given to a translator acting as a translator (i.e. within their 'job description') would be something else than 'a translation-only job'??

In my limited understanding, the expected thing is to give a driver a 'driving-only' job, to give to our old friend the plumber a 'plumbing-only job', to give a typist a 'typing-only job', and so on ...

Could anyone 'translate' this poll question into something that actually makes sense?


Also, some clients assign "translation-only jobs" to remind the translator NOT to hire a third party editor/proofreader on his or her own.


 
jyuan_us
jyuan_us
યૂનાઇટેડ સ્ટેટસ્
Local time: 17:26
સભ્ય (2005)
અંગ્રેજી થી ચાઇનિઝ
+ ...
My 2 cents Sep 23, 2025

IrinaN wrote:

Who would assign translation and editing for the same job and pay for both on top of usual mandatory proofreading embedded in "translation-only" jobs and per word rates???

Colleagues who answered tried to make sense of the question but it does not make any sense no matter how you slice it.


Some agency clients don't use proofreading as a mandatory step. They just expect one translator to produce a printer-ready copy. These clients usually accept a higher per word rate.

[Edited at 2025-09-24 08:51 GMT]


 
Zea_Mays
Zea_Mays  Identity Verified
ઇટલી
Local time: 23:26
અંગ્રેજી થી જર્મન
+ ...
? Sep 24, 2025

IrinaN wrote:

Who would assign translation and editing for the same job and pay for both on top of usual mandatory proofreading embedded in "translation-only" jobs and per word rates???


With agencies, the standard is applying the four-eyes principle: translation (with self-proofreading of course) + editing/proofreading by a third person. This is industry ISO standard.
For quality concerns, the editing step should be involved also for MTPE.


 


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Poll: When a client assigns a translation-only job, they'll have someone edit your work.






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