When your company or project needs translation services, the first —and most important— question to ask is: What level of quality do you require? The answer will shape your options, costs, and the risks you’re willing to accept.
1. Define your quality needs
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Internal use only?
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If you just need to understand the gist of a document, free automatic translation tools (like Google Translate) may be enough. These are fast and cost nothing, but accuracy is not guaranteed.
- You can also request a translator for a summary or functional translation of your document —unpolished, but with the assurance of a pair of human eyes
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Some errors acceptable?
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For informational content where minor mistakes are tolerable, you might consider human translation of unspecified quality or even custom-trained machine translation. These options are affordable and fast, but come with some risk.
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Mission-critical or public content?
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If your translation will be published, used with customers, or involves legal, financial, or safety issues, you need professional, high-quality human translation. This service comes at a higher price, but it’s an investment in accuracy, reputation, and risk reduction.
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2. Understand your options
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Automatic translation (free or custom-trained):
- Machine translation is great for speed and volume, but not for nuance or critical accuracy.
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Human translation of unspecified quality:
- Rates vary widely (from $0.01 to $0.20+ per word). Suitable for non-critical content, but quality is not assured.
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High-quality human translation:
- Provided by accredited professionals or agencies, often with guarantees in contracts. Expect higher rates, but also higher reliability and peace of mind.
3. Weigh cost vs. risk
Cutting corners on translation can lead to costly mistakes. If your content matters, invest in quality. If not, consider more affordable options —but be prepared to accept the consequences.
Ready to get started?
Have questions about choosing the right translation service? Reach out —we’re here to help you make the best decision for your needs!
