Editing and proofreading are essential steps in the translation process. A fresh pair of eyes is usually able to spot mistakes in the translated text that the translator has missed. Proofreading compares the translated document to the original text and ensures everything is error-free.

Editing aims to improve the flow, style and quality of the translation, which can involve rewriting entire sentences, if necessary, to make sure the text reads well in your language, and that the meaning is correct.

Who is suitable for editing and proofreading?

Experienced translators who are familiar with Cochrane content should perform editing and proofreading. It is critical for editors to have the required Cochrane and health expertise to be able to ensure the text content and terminology are accurate. Depending on skill sets, it can also be a good idea to involve more than one person, if possible. Style and flow of the text can for example benefit from an editor with linguistic or communications background.

Editing checklist

The following checklist might help you when you review a translation.

• Has the translator forgotten to include any of the original text?
• Is the meaning of the text clearly conveyed?
• Is the translation easy to read and unambiguous?
• Has the translator used the most appropriate word choices?
• Read the translation aloud if you are finding it hard to decide whether something sounds natural in your language.
• If you find you need to read a sentence more than once to be able to understand it, consider changing it to make it more readable.
• Has the translator adhered to the glossary?
• Are terms translated consistently throughout the translation?
• Are there any spelling mistakes?
• Are there any grammatical errors?
• Has the translator used the appropriate punctuation for your language?
• Are numbers and figures written using the correct conventions for your language?
• Is the text correctly formatted?