Writing for Translation—Translation Authoring Tips

Readying your text for translation can save you time and money and improve the quality of the resulting translations.

When you use words and images that are easy to understand and a presentation that is simple and inviting to read, your customers will better understand the document. When readers understand the material, they are more likely to respond favorably.

Here are some tips to help you write accessible, easy-to-translate text:

Have a logical sequence of ideas. If the ideas have a logical arrangement (chronological order, cause-effect, etc.), the text will be easier to understand. To create a logical sequence of ideas, use: 

• Organized Lists: A list helps readers see a pattern that is easy to follow and will help explain concepts. 
• Helpful Images: Images help clarify concepts or present several concepts together.
• Choose images and colors that reflect the general preferences of the targeted group.
• Simple Diagrams: Diagrams illustrate relationships among ideas.

Use active voice. The passive voice is less concise and can be confusing and ambiguous.

Write short sentences. Long sentences lead to misunderstandings and confusion. To avoid long sentences:

• Use short, plain words and phrases; and
• Write positive sentences which are short and clear.

Use common, everyday language. Do not use colloquial and informal expressions, which do not translate well. Vocabulary should be simple and fit the context. Here are some examples:

Original       Accessible Text
Infant............Baby
Complete......Fill Out
Physician......Doctor

Use pronouns: Pronouns can replace proper nouns in a sentence. They make your sentences less cumbersome and repetitive.

Keep formatting simple. Uncomplicated text formatting on the original means less formatting in the translation—resulting in lower costs.

• Use large serif font for body text and sans serif for headlines.
• Avoid ALL CAPS.
• Avoid underlining.
• Use bold font sparingly.
• Use italic font even less.
• Use white space generously: Languages such as Spanish expand the original English text by approximately 30%.
• Use headings to separate blocks of information.
• Use shorter lines: Two-column format is easier to read than a standard full-width page.

Call Avantpage today at 530-750-2040 for more tips on how to prepare your English documents for translation.