Quality Control Procedure

To ensure the quality of every translation, I follow the procedure below.

1	Understanding what you need. Not all translations are the same and there is no one correct way to translate a specific document. In order to provide you with a high-quality translation that you can use I need to understand what you need. This is why I ask you to fill out a brief sheet, outlining the target audience and end use of the translation among other elements. It is also helpful if you can provide any relevant background material and/or style guides.
2	Understanding the source text. In order to translate not only the context of your text but its stylistic features as well, I carefully read and analyse the text. This allows me to evaluate its cultural, stylistic and content features and judge how best to translate them into English.
3	Translating. To ensure consistency I build and work with terminology glossaries which are specific to each project. Where an element is particularly challenging I will highlight it and return to it several times until I am happy with the result.
4	Leaving the translation, overnight if possible. This is a rather inactive step, but it is essential. A translation needs to be proofread with a fresh mind and a fresh pair of eyes. Have you ever said a word so many times that it loses all meaning? This effect is the reason for this step.

5	Reading the translation aloud. Without returning to the source text I read my translation aloud to check for stylistic elements such as fluidity, clarity, consistency and register. The style must adhere to the criteria outlined on the brief sheet and the elements evaluated in the initial analysis.
6	Systematically checking the content. At this stage I systematically check the content of the translation against the source text. I check for omissions, additions and distortions of meaning or emphasis and amend the text accordingly.
7	Checking formatting. I use a translation tool which should replicate the formatting of the original text automatically, however it is not 100% accurate. As such, I manually check that the formatting of the translation matches that of the source text.  This is particularly important when translating non-text documents, such as certificates, to ensure that all of the stamps and signatures have been indicated on the translation.
8	Final checking. This is the last step in my translation process. I carefully check the translation, word by word and sentence by sentence, to ensure that there are no typographical or grammatical errors. I will then read the translation through a final time, for my own peace of mind, to check the style and clarity one last time.

= A beautifully polished translation