How to avoid being “that” translator who gets called in to fix

A large share of my first-time clients come to me to fix poor translations delivered by people who didn’t know what they were doing. How do you avoid becoming one of them?

1. Only translate what you understand
   You don’t have to be an expert in every field. It’s normal not to know every term at first. But if, after reading the manual, you don’t grasp the overall meaning, you’re not qualified to translate it.

2. Read the whole document before you start
   I know you want to dive in, but pre-reading will improve quality and actually save time.

3. Build a glossary
   A glossary harmonizes terminology and saves time on future projects. A good entry includes the term in each language plus a definition, usage examples, and even illustrations.
   Telling the client you maintain a project glossary makes an excellent impression and positions you as a long-term partner.

4. Use the advanced features of your CAT tools
   Don’t treat them as mere translation memories. Modern tools perform powerful QA checks that are invaluable for technical manuals. Example:
   Apriete la tuerca con un par de 125 N·m → Tighten the nut to a torque of 12.5 N·m
   A good QA profile will flag the numeric mismatch. That’s just one check among many. Are you a solid technical translator? Prove it by mastering your advanced tooling.

5. Know and follow the relevant standards
   Especially ISO 3864 and ANSI Z535.4 for safety signage wording and translation.

1. • ISO 3864-2:2004/Cor.1:2011(E)

   • ANSI Z535.4

6. If in doubt, ask—then ask again
Doubts are normal, and a wrong translation can have serious consequences. Many times my questions uncovered errors in the source. Clients are usually grateful—provided it isn’t about trivial typos that don’t hinder understanding.

7. Leverage all resources the client provides
Follow instructions and use all reference material. Research additional context online—starting with the client’s site and competitors’.

Go further: learn how the client’s business actually works and educate them about the translation process so they can help you help them.

© 2025 Alejandro Moreno Ramos, www.ingenierotraductor.com