Proofreading
Gwenydd Jones, The Translator’s Studio:
“Domini is a meticulous and skilled translator who invests herself greatly in every text she works on. I have no hesitation in recommending her as a reliable partner for anyone in need of translation or proofreading services.“
Proofreading Is Not Necessarily What We Think
If you find it difficult to work out what level of proofreading you need for your document, you are not alone. It is not always easy to work out whether a text needs proofreading or copy-editing. In some languages the distinction is even less clear as the processes are all described as a “revision” or “correction”. (I am using these words as a loose translation).
When “revising” texts that have been translated by others, there is an extra complication: the reviewer often needs to look at the text in the original language to understand the English. Not surprisingly, this happens more frequently if the original writer or translator is not a native English speaker. Yet, even when it does make sense, the reviewer has to check that the translation is accurate, as well as reading well in English. It will then still need proofreading as well. Ideally that should be by a second pair of eyes to ensure a polished text.
Different Revisions Are Priced Differently
Even as a translator and proofreader, I sometimes find it hard to decide where to draw the line between these distinctions when preparing a quote for a client. It is made even harder as the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading cites three levels of copyediting. Naturally, each will usually correspond to a different cost.
I recently signed up for an extra course to improve my understanding of these distinctions. Not least to make sure I charge my clients appropriately. As I tend to be a perfectionist, I know I may be tempted to offer more suggested corrections than expected. This can be benefit some of my clients, but others prefer less intervention. It also means I may do more work than necessary. In any case, I am not a copy editor, and will refer you to a colleague if that is your preference.
So, What Is Proofreading?
In general terms, proofreading refers to correcting basic grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. If you ask for simple proofreading, I will not improve the structure of your text. Depending on your brief, I may make a couple of suggestions about how you may improve your text. However, I will normally just check your work for basic errors you may have missed.
Even native speakers, and translators, who write in English all the time, ask for a separate proofreader where possible. This is particularly important if the text is for publication or for a website. It may cost more, but it will produce a better quality text. It is difficult for anyone to proofread their own work. When we write or translate, we are very involved in the meaning. It is therefore hard to stand back and look at the text objectively. Proofreading our own work increases the likelihood that we will overlook simple mistakes.
I have clients who would rather spend less and receive a less polished text, either because it is for internal use, or because they will review it again themselves. However, if the text will be on public view, it is better to have it checked by at least two pairs of eyes. I therefore prefer to ask another native English speaker to review or proofread my translations. Naturally, they are bound by the same confidentiality guidelines as me.
Here is an example of what a proofread text may look like. Can you see some of the changes that were made?
Original Text Before Proofreading:
Basic Steps to Conserve a Papyrus Manuscript
Restoration
Each fragment of a papyrus manuscript should be held between pages of blotter, and stored in a black storage box – light really effects the integrity of a papyri; A label with the inventory number is prepared, using india ink on acid free paper and attached to the box.
Once transfered to the work area, the papyruses should be carefully laid out onto a piece of glass and if necessary unfolded. Dry surface dirt, sand, grass, etc., should then be removed Caerphilly with a scalpel.
Each piece of papyrus has a very characteristic fibre pattern. During manufacture very thin strips of papyrus are lined up in horizontal layers. Vertical strips complete the sheet and create a lattice pattern. The position of the fragments of each manuscript showed be determined by these fiber patterns.
Attention should also be given to colouration, shape and text. Magnifying lenses and a light source from below can reveal the fibers more clearly, and a check under a binocular microscope is sometimes necessary.
Old mends should remove when they are inexact or crude, or the mending material inappropriate. Often dampening of the old mends with distilled water and a fine brush is sufficient though.
The usually numerous fragments of the manuscript are joined with tiny pieces of pre-gummed glassine approximately l x 3 mm. The glassine can be wetted and positioned with a fine tipped brush and pressed down lightly with a blotter to dry.
These mending steps should repeated til all the fragments have been joined.
©2022, Jeremy Lucas
Final Text After Proofreading:
Basic Steps to Conserve a Papyrus Manuscript
- Restoration
Each fragment of a papyrus manuscript should be held between pages of blotter and stored in a black storage box. Light really affects the integrity of papyri. A label with the inventory number should be prepared using India ink on acid-free paper and attached to the box.
Once transferred to the work area, the papyrus should be carefully laid out on a piece of glass and, if necessary, unfolded. Dry surface dirt, sand, grass, and the like, should then be removed carefully with a scalpel.
Each piece of papyrus has a very characteristic fibre pattern. During manufacture, very thin strips of papyrus are lined up in horizontal layers. Vertical strips complete the sheet and create a lattice pattern. The position of the fragments of each manuscript should be determined by these fibre patterns.
Attention should also be given to colouration, shape, and text. Magnifying lenses and a light source from below can reveal the fibres more clearly, and a check under a binocular microscope is sometimes necessary.
Old mends should be removed when they are inexact or crude, or the mending material is inappropriate. Often, dampening the old mends with distilled water and a fine brush is sufficient.
The usually numerous fragments of the manuscript are joined with tiny pieces of pre-gummed glassine approximately 1 x 3 mm. The glassine can be wetted and positioned with a fine-tipped brush and pressed down lightly with a blotter to dry.
These mending steps should be repeated until all the fragments have been joined together.
Proofread by Domini Lucas 2022
Proofreading Notes
Though academic in nature, the above text is an extract from a literary work. According to the brief, I followed the New Hart’s Rules Style Guide (2014), which stipulates consistent use of the serial comma (New Hart’s Rules Style Guide, 4.3.5 Serial Comma, pp. 77-78).
I submitted an author query as the measurement Ix3 mm was not clear to me, nor did I know how glassine is measured. It was a mistake and should have read 1 x 3 mm.
The language variant is UK English and, where necessary, I checked spellings in the 2018 edition of Collins English Dictionary.
Bilingual Revision
Though I do not copy-edit, I do offer bilingual revision (also known as bilingual editing). By this I mean that sometimes my clients wish to translate their text into English themselves. They then ask me to revise the text so that the English is more fluent and more natural. My understanding is that clients sometimes assume this to be proofreading, but it is not usually the case.
The problem is that the level of revision varies depending on the English competency of the non-native translator. If the English is fluent or near native, proofreading or basic bilingual revision may be sufficient. However, it may also take a long time to unravel the author’s meaning, and the text may need re-translating either in part or entirely. In addition, it may entail extra research. In such cases, the price will be higher because the job will take longer. So the cost to the client may be akin to the translation rate, or somewhere between a proofreading and translation rate.
Does Your Text Need Proofreading, Revision or Translation? Should You Translate It Yourself?
If you are planning to translate your own work, you may wish to consider whether you will save time and money if a native speaker translates it from the outset. It is worth having a chat about it, even if you are not sure. They may be able to advise you just from listening to your command of English. Especially if they also have language teaching experience (many linguists do).
Proofreading may be sufficient if you have undertaken postgraduate studies at an English-speaking university and are used to writing essays or articles at that level. Or if you have spent a long time working in an English-speaking context, preferably in an English-speaking country.
However, if your command of written English is not strong, your text may need a great deal of revision. The cost may then be akin to having it translated. You will have also spent a great deal of your own time writing it. Time is money, so you may decide it is worth investing in the translation.
If you are considering asking me for a quote and wish to have a chat before you start writing, I will be delighted to offer you a no-fee consultation to discuss your project. Whether you decide on translation, revision or proofreading, I am committed to helping you work out the best way forward for your work.
