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Have you ever gotten a request to edit or proofread a text or a translation that was written by a non-native speaker?
You have probably figured out by now that it is a very different task from proofreading the writing of a native speaker.
Yet as business globalizes, this service is becoming more and more in demand. Why?
- There is growing demand for translations in rarer language combinations (for example, Hindi into Norwegian, as there are very few native Norwegian translators who are also fluent in Hindi)
- Sometimes a company has a translator on staff who intimately understands their product, technology, or service, but is not native in the target language
- Pricing reasons: sometimes it is cheaper to find a non-native to do the initial translation (although of course, we all need to be very careful about this situation!)
Proofreading non-native text requires some special skills, and plenty of patience. However, as a freelancer, it is one of the most in-demand services you can offer!
Here are our tips to become an efficient and effective proofreader of non-native text.
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1) Flag non-native text.
The client will not always know that they are sending you non-native text. It is important that you point this out from the beginning, and agree accordingly on rates and turnaround time.
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2) Be responsive and clear.
Respond to the request immediately, but carefully check the file before agreeing to rates and turnaround. Most clients will consider it unprofessional if a proofreader accepts a job, but then halfway through demands a rate increase or a deadline extension due to the quality of the text.
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3) Be realistic.
If the text is simply not comprehensible, you should not accept the proofreading job. Instead, explain that you wouldn’t be able to do an accurate job as a proofreader, and suggest that the text be re-translated.
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4) Make expectations clear.
Make sure the client understands that back and forth may be necessary. If the quality of the translation is high enough, most non-native errors will be easy for you to fix. However there are usually one or two instances of text whose meaning you are unsure of. It is best that you flag these instances for the original writer so that you can work together to find the best phrasing.
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5) Try not to guess.
If you are unsure of the meaning, it is best to Insert a Comment with your question and then flag this to the project manager in the body of the e-mail.
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6) Offer clear solutions.
“This is ungrammatical and I don’t know what it means” isn’t very helpful. Try saying, “would either of these be an accurate version of this sentence?” followed by a couple options.
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7) Make good use of tracked changes.
If you are reasonably sure that you are making an accurate change, it is best to toggle on “Tracked Changes” and make the changes directly in the text. This saves the project manager a lot of time, and reduces the risk that he or she introduces more mistakes.
Remember: patience is key, both while editing, and while interacting with the original writer or project manager. Try not to forget that learning a second language takes a lot of work. Sometimes “knowing the rules” of a language just isn’t enough to be able to be a good writer.
Are you interested in working as a proofreader? If you’re fluent in English and need that extra competitive edge, you might consider taking our Proofreading Test for American English. If you pass, you’ll get a certificate you can show to potential proofreading clients (including us)!
We hope this helps you become more competitive as a language freelancer. Have you proofread non-native text before? Leave us your thoughts in the comments!