The first question one may ask and that is, why do you need to proofread written material? There is one easy answer to that and it is because you don’t want your translation to be misunderstood. That’s the first answer but added to this is that you don’t want readers to think you are careless or illiterate. Most of you are perfectionists and even to see one overlooked error in your writing is enough to make you feel ashamed.
Most translation services incorporate their proofreading services into their service, so you can expect they have developed their techniques for effective proofreading such as the following:
1. Ensure Even Lighting for Clear Visibility
Make sure you have even light on the document. This will ensure no words are partly shielded which will make it easier to see the whole document. Many proofreading service errors occur because a small mistake or typo is hidden by a dark spot in the text.
2. Take Regular Breaks to Improve Error Detection
Give yourself a rest every so often. It’s amazing how even an hour or two between sessions of proofreading makes mistakes easier to spot. If you have the time, a day or two between proofreading would be even more effective.
3. Read Aloud for Enhanced Proofreading Accuracy
Read the text out loud or ask someone else to read it out loud to you. Mark Twain always had something to say about proofreading and proofreading. He used to say that a single proofreader would be incapable of spotting every mistake and generally didn’t have very high regard for the proofreaders he had encountered. His opinion is not shared by everyone, and by speaking the text out loud it’s much more likely that mistakes are going to be noticed. If you start to stumble or hesitate it is a sure sign that there is something amiss in the translated material which needs correcting.
4. Multiple Reviews for Comprehensive Error Correction
Proofread the same translation several times. If a mistake has been missed the first time around, it is unlikely to be missed the next time around.
5. Alternate Reading Patterns to Catch Hidden Mistakes
Proofread the text from the bottom of the text extract backward or from right to left on each line. Just varying the method means that your mind and your eyes see things that they might miss if you were reading the same text in the normal direction.
6. Print for a Tangible Proofreading Process
Print the electronic version off and use that for the proofreading. With the electronic form as viewed on a computer screen is easier to miss whole lines or chunks of text, while with the hard copy version, you can keep a better track of where you are up to.
In conclusion, adopting these strategic proofreading techniques can significantly reduce errors, ensuring that your documents maintain the highest standard of accuracy and professionalism. By incorporating careful lighting, scheduled breaks, vocalization, repetitive checks, varied reading patterns, and tangible reviews, you elevate the quality of your proofreading process, which is essential in delivering flawless professional translation services.
