𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦: 4 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴🕒
Whether you’re translating legal contracts, marketing copy or patient information leaflets, one thing matters above all else: quality.
But if you’re not a linguist, how can you tell if a translation is actually good? You might not speak the target language, but there are still clear markers that help you assess quality and ensure your message hits the mark globally.
We've worked on translations since 2006, and have put together this simple checklist to help you understand what to look for and how to avoid costly mistakes.
1. The meaning is accurate
A good translation conveys intent and isn't always a direct word swap.
That means:
-
No mistranslations or misleading interpretations
-
No over-literal renderings that sound robotic
-
Clear alignment with the source message
Accuracy is foundational. If your translated content confuses, misinforms or contradicts the original, everything else falls apart.
2. It reads naturally to a native speaker
Fluency matters. A lot.
Even the most technically correct translation will fall flat if it reads awkwardly.
Our reviewers check that:
-
Sentences are well structured and flow logically
-
Grammar, syntax and punctuation match native norms
-
The tone feels natural
3. Terminology is consistent and correct
Inconsistent use of terms or product names is a red flag, especially for technical, legal or medical content.
In a good translation, you should see:
-
Consistent use of preferred terms, acronyms and names
-
Industry-appropriate language that reflects the context
-
Adherence to glossaries or your provided brand terminology
This is where translation memory and professional quality assurance tools can make a difference.
4. The tone and voice match your brand
Does your friendly and engaging copy suddenly sound like a science textbook? That’s what we would call a tone mismatch.
Across languages, look for:
-
The right level of formality for the audience
-
A tone that mirrors your original brand voice
-
Adaptation of idioms, humour or references (not just direct translations)
This is where transcreation and human review can be useful, especially for marketing content.
5. It fits the format and layout
Translation doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
A good translation:
-
Fits within character or space limits (e.g. for UI or packaging)
-
Doesn’t break formatting or layout in any language or alphabet
-
Respects line breaks, tags and placeholders in code
For websites, apps or design files, layout and functionality are part of the final quality.
6. It’s free from errors and has been reviewed
This might sound obvious, but we have seen published content that has clearly skipped quality assurance.
From your translation provider, you should expect:
-
A second linguist to review MTPE and above workflows (perhaps even a multiple reviewers)
-
Spellcheck, grammar check and final QA pass
-
A clean, error-free final file
Reputable providers follow ISO-certified processes that include review and approval stages as standard.
If you’re unsure whether your current provider is meeting the mark, this checklist can help you spot the warning signs and ask the right questions.
And if you need a second opinion? At Wolfestone, we offer free sample translations and review audits, so you can see what good looks like before committing.
Get in touch for a free consultation, quote or MT test sample.
𝘒𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 2021 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴.
