Poll: When revising a text, do you feel pressured to change it even if the translation is perfect? Autor da sequência: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When revising a text, do you feel pressured to change it even if the translation is perfect?".
This poll was originally submitted by Marzieh Izadi. View the poll results »
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When it’s perfect, there’s nothing to change. As an editor I must say that over the years I have sent back a few translations without a single change, but I’ve also seen the good, the bad and even the ugly. I have occasionally refused to review work after seeing the document as it would be easier to translate it from scratch. On the other hand, every time I receive a very good translation, I always send a note to the agency saying “please extend my congratulations to the translator"…
| | | | IrinaN (X)
Estados Unidos da América
Local time: 21:01
Inglês para Russo
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| By what, by whom? | Aug 12, 2025 |
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| | | | Alex Lichanow
Alemanha
Local time: 04:01
Inglês para Alemão
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| Not a busybody | Aug 12, 2025 |
I am very hands-off as a reviewer. As long as a translation is correct, sounds good and ticks any individual client's boxes, I don't care if I personally agree with the translator's choices. Honestly, I have never understood why so many reviewers are such busybodies who will introduce as many useless, preferential changes as possible only to justify their existence.
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Christine Andersen 
Dinamarca
Local time: 04:01
Membro (2003)
Dinamarquês para Inglês
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| What pressure? | Aug 12, 2025 |
Some agencies give the impression that they will only pay if you make a lot of changes, or they pay a word rate, which means you should show a lot of activity if you want to get paid.
Should you be working for agencies like that at all? Work is work, however, and not everyone can afford to be picky about what they do to earn a living. I have definitely been there.
So what do you do with a perfect translation? Early in my career, I learned a lot from proofreading excellent tran... See more Some agencies give the impression that they will only pay if you make a lot of changes, or they pay a word rate, which means you should show a lot of activity if you want to get paid.
Should you be working for agencies like that at all? Work is work, however, and not everyone can afford to be picky about what they do to earn a living. I have definitely been there.
So what do you do with a perfect translation? Early in my career, I learned a lot from proofreading excellent translations. I only ever remember one where there was nothing to change, not even a comma or a double space! But many were close to perfect. Back then I had to call the translator and discuss the changes! So I learned even more when they politely but firmly rejected my suggestions, or thanked me, when they agreed. It was very generous of them to help a rookie.
Another colleague told me that you can satisfy the agency's need for red marks by making positive annotations. Take the time to write to the PM that you have read and checked the text, that the terminology was fine, and there were no errors.
I sometimes let colleagues know that I am noting a neat solution to a problem for future use, because I have certaily done so.
You can ruin a translator's day by changing all the points where they have made careful choices, just because you thought of something else. They may have thought of it too, and rejected it for a good reason! Or you can make everyone happy by pointing out that it was a great piece of work, and learning where you can.
[Edited at 2025-08-12 08:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Christine Andersen wrote:
or they pay a word rate, which means you should show a lot of activity if you want to get paid.
Do you mean they'd only pay by CHANGED words? I've never been asked to charge like that, and I would never accept it either. I know it exists but had only heard about this for PEMT, so far.
Another colleague told me that you can satisfy the agency's need for red marks by making positive annotations.
That's great advice!
[Edited at 2025-08-12 10:10 GMT]
| | | | Luca Adie
Alemanha
Local time: 04:01
Alemão para Inglês
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In English at least, the language of a conquering force, editors like to make changes for the sake of it. I can spot it a mile off
| | | | Luca Adie
Alemanha
Local time: 04:01
Alemão para Inglês
+ ...
Christine Andersen wrote:
Some agencies give the impression that they will only pay if you make a lot of changes, or they pay a word rate, which means you should show a lot of activity if you want to get paid.
Should you be working for agencies like that at all? Work is work, however, and not everyone can afford to be picky about what they do to earn a living. I have definitely been there.
So what do you do with a perfect translation? Early in my career, I learned a lot from proofreading excellent translations. I only ever remember one where there was nothing to change, not even a comma or a double space! But many were close to perfect. Back then I had to call the translator and discuss the changes! So I learned even more when they politely but firmly rejected my suggestions, or thanked me, when they agreed. It was very generous of them to help a rookie.
Another colleague told me that you can satisfy the agency's need for red marks by making positive annotations. Take the time to write to the PM that you have read and checked the text, that the terminology was fine, and there were no errors.
I sometimes let colleagues know that I am noting a neat solution to a problem for future use, because I have certaily done so.
You can ruin a translator's day by changing all the points where they have made careful choices, just because you thought of something else. They may have thought of it too, and rejected it for a good reason! Or you can make everyone happy by pointing out that it was a great piece of work, and learning where you can.
[Edited at 2025-08-12 08:46 GMT]
Hallo Christine,
Regarding your first point - I think, to be honest, this thought process is only in the mind of the unseasoned translator. I remember once having to tutor a junior translator and the experience was horrendous; she insisted that she was right, when I had already done the research and knew I was right. I am, however, Scottish and she – English.
The perfect translation thing – mais bien suer, you congratulate the translator, even if you think that this will bring you less work. I know this is a common thought in the unseasoned translator/tress.
I love the point about positive confirmation – completely agree.
Oh my goodness, yes, the last point has driven me to screaming at the computer screen. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE COMMENTING!
Of course, all rules can be broken
Kind wishes,
Adie x
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Luca Adie
Alemanha
Local time: 04:01
Alemão para Inglês
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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:
When it’s perfect, there’s nothing to change. As an editor I must say that over the years I have sent back a few translations without a single change, but I’ve also seen the good, the bad and even the ugly. I have occasionally refused to review work after seeing the document as it would be easier to translate it from scratch. On the other hand, every time I receive a very good translation, I always send a note to the agency saying “please extend my congratulations to the translator"…
What a classy way to do it! Parabéns
| | | | | Good work should be encouraged | Aug 12, 2025 |
I hate editing other people's work so much that when I do get a great translation, I am ecstatic and quick to extend praise as well. One time, I was asked to evaluate test translations to bring a second translator on board for a particular client, and I outright told them that one of the candidates was better than me as far as I was concerned. While she had a great marketing style, they said they appreciated my attention to detail and technical-mindedness and we would complement each other nicel... See more I hate editing other people's work so much that when I do get a great translation, I am ecstatic and quick to extend praise as well. One time, I was asked to evaluate test translations to bring a second translator on board for a particular client, and I outright told them that one of the candidates was better than me as far as I was concerned. While she had a great marketing style, they said they appreciated my attention to detail and technical-mindedness and we would complement each other nicely ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Holanda
Local time: 04:01
Membro (2006)
Inglês para Africânder
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IrinaN wrote:
By what, by whom?
???????????????????????????????????????????
Obviously by yourself. To rephrase: Are you tempted to make additional, preferential changes even though the translation is objectively as good as it gets?
| | | | IrinaN (X)
Estados Unidos da América
Local time: 21:01
Inglês para Russo
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| Some nitpicking, if I may | Aug 12, 2025 |
Samuel Murray wrote:
IrinaN wrote:
By what, by whom?
???????????????????????????????????????????
Obviously by yourself. To rephrase: Are you tempted to make additional, preferential changes even though the translation is objectively as good as it gets?
Let me put my translator's hat on. Would you translate "objectively as good as it gets" in a source language as "excellent" into another language? Does not sound obvious to me.
Like my other colleagues, I suspected the element of insecurity and justification of one's existence in fear of losing a client, just didn't want to elaborate.
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Lingua 5B
Bósnia e Herzegovina
Local time: 04:01
Inglês para Francês
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| Reviser failure | Aug 12, 2025 |
I did a paid test for a direct client and, no suprise, the revision came with a ton of preferential changes. Their system allowed us to see each other’s names, I traced the reviser, it was a young graduate with no experience.
I explained to the client why preferential changes make no sense, won’t work on our future 600k word project and how they will slow everything down for all parties involved. They ditched the proofreader and asked me to recommend other revisers, which I did... See more I did a paid test for a direct client and, no suprise, the revision came with a ton of preferential changes. Their system allowed us to see each other’s names, I traced the reviser, it was a young graduate with no experience.
I explained to the client why preferential changes make no sense, won’t work on our future 600k word project and how they will slow everything down for all parties involved. They ditched the proofreader and asked me to recommend other revisers, which I did (some with experience in the industry).
But this outcome would be impossible with an agency, you can’t reason with them.
My favorite revisers are those who change every word into their synonym, but at once ignore critical mistranslations on key terms. I acted as a second proofreader and was surprised to see this scenario on many occasions.
[Edited at 2025-08-13 00:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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