As my client, you provide the foundations of my work as a translator. I think it’s important to point out the things that may affect the quality of a translation. Some can have an adverse effect on the final text, while others create the right conditions for a quality piece of work.

Here are a list of tips that I’ve put together on the basis of both my professional and my personal experience:

• Ensure the quality of your source text
  If the quality of the source text is mediocre, this is bound to have an impact on the target text. When a text is written with care, the translator can clearly identify the style and the target reader(s).
• Where possible, avoid urgent deadlines
  Handling information under pressure almost always leads to misunderstandings. If your text is ready to be translated, don’t wait until the last moment to contact a translator. Rushing rarely gives good results.
• While the translation is being worked on, keep an eye on your inbox
  The translator may have questions while working on your translation. As far as possible, be available. Communication engenders trust, and trust is an essential basis for any collaboration.
• Provide reference documents
  If you have reference documents or glossaries relating to the translation, send them to the translator, who can then use these as a basis for their translation.
• Avoid paper format
  Providing paper or scanned documents means information can’t be taken directly from the source text. Typos are more likely to occur for figures and proper nouns and the translator can’t use the copy/past function for term searches, which slows them down and means they have less time to spend on the translation itself.

 Do you have anything to add here? Please do get in touch to share your experiences so I can make this list of tips as comprehensive as possible.