Editing vs. proofreading Thread poster: Angel_7
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Angel_7 
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:50
French to English
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Silly question really but as someone new to the profession I don't really understand the difference between these. Can anyone help? Also, are fees for each generally the same?
| | | | Angela Arnone
Local time: 09:50
Member (2004)
Italian to English
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| they are 2 different tasks | Jul 7, 2005 |
Sarah, a proof reader "reads proofs". IOW, they check the text to ensure it reflects the content of the source: that grammar, punctuation, meaning and even formatting are correct. They point out the errors and suggest corrections.
An editor "edits". IOW, they re-write a text to make it sound different, give it a specific style or slant, and the original meaning of the source is maintained in the background, as it were. An editor need not know a second language.
Of course, if the tran... See more Sarah, a proof reader "reads proofs". IOW, they check the text to ensure it reflects the content of the source: that grammar, punctuation, meaning and even formatting are correct. They point out the errors and suggest corrections.
An editor "edits". IOW, they re-write a text to make it sound different, give it a specific style or slant, and the original meaning of the source is maintained in the background, as it were. An editor need not know a second language.
Of course, if the translator was given a brief to provide a "version" as opposed to a "translation", editing may not be needed.
HTH
Angela
Sarah390 wrote:
Silly question really but as someone new to the profession I don't really understand the difference between these. Can anyone help? Also, are fees for each generally the same?
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| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 09:50
German to English
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| Editing vs. proofreading | Jul 7, 2005 |
Sarah390 wrote:
Silly question really but as someone new to the profession I don't really understand the difference between these. Can anyone help? Also, are fees for each generally the same?
"Proofreading" is properly used for the checking of printers' proofs against the original manuscript. The term is widely abused, however, to the extent that it now has no clear meaning.
Marc
| | | | | Whatever the client wants it to mean | Jul 7, 2005 |
MarcPrior wrote:
"Proofreading" is properly used for the checking of printers' proofs against the original manuscript. The term is widely abused, however, to the extent that it now has no clear meaning.
...so it is best to clarify with the client who asks for "proofreading" or "editing" exactly what service the client wants.
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Angela Arnone
Local time: 09:50
Member (2004)
Italian to English
+ ...
| I'm afraid I'm going to nit pick here!!! | Jul 7, 2005 |
Marc is right about the original meaning of "proofreading", but it is now widely accepted in the translation field as what I described.
Editing is *not* proofreading at all. It is intervention on the final text and, as I said, doesn't even require the knowledge of the source language. I just edited a text that was translated from Japanese for a customer who sends me his Italian to translate. I was able to edit because I know his sector inside out.
The fact that people interchange th... See more Marc is right about the original meaning of "proofreading", but it is now widely accepted in the translation field as what I described.
Editing is *not* proofreading at all. It is intervention on the final text and, as I said, doesn't even require the knowledge of the source language. I just edited a text that was translated from Japanese for a customer who sends me his Italian to translate. I was able to edit because I know his sector inside out.
The fact that people interchange the terms simply means they don't know what they actually mean, so in that respect, GoodWords is right in recommending you confirm what the customer wants from you.
Angela
GoodWords wrote: MarcPrior wrote:
"Proofreading" is properly used for the checking of printers' proofs against the original manuscript. The term is widely abused, however, to the extent that it now has no clear meaning.
...so it is best to clarify with the client who asks for "proofreading" or "editing" exactly what service the client wants. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Confirm with the client | Jul 7, 2005 |
Hi Sarah,
For most of my clients (including the translation house I used to work for inhouse) proofreading means checking a translation against the original and correcting translation mistakes, spelling and grammar mistakes, improving the style etc.
For only one of my clients it means reading the text to make sure there are no spelling and grammar mistakes, no corrupted characters, bad line breaks in the typeset copy etc. I'm not supposed to change terminology or style... See more Hi Sarah,
For most of my clients (including the translation house I used to work for inhouse) proofreading means checking a translation against the original and correcting translation mistakes, spelling and grammar mistakes, improving the style etc.
For only one of my clients it means reading the text to make sure there are no spelling and grammar mistakes, no corrupted characters, bad line breaks in the typeset copy etc. I'm not supposed to change terminology or style. I do not get the original and this is basically the final check before the translation goes to the client.
The best thing would be if you simply ask the client to confirm what exactly they want.
Best wishes
Mandy ▲ Collapse
| | | | Angela Arnone
Local time: 09:50
Member (2004)
Italian to English
+ ...
| This is proofreading and editing | Jul 7, 2005 |
Hi Mandy,
I think you'll find that you are doing two jobs here!
Merriam Webster says:
Main Entry: proof·read
Pronunciation: 'prüf-"rEd
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): proof·read /-"red/; -read·ing
Etymology: back-formation from proofreader
: to read and mark corrections in (as a proof)
2 entries found for edit.
Main Entry: ed·it
Pronunciation: 'e-d&t
Function: transitive verb
Etymo... See more Hi Mandy,
I think you'll find that you are doing two jobs here!
Merriam Webster says:
Main Entry: proof·read
Pronunciation: 'prüf-"rEd
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): proof·read /-"red/; -read·ing
Etymology: back-formation from proofreader
: to read and mark corrections in (as a proof)
2 entries found for edit.
Main Entry: ed·it
Pronunciation: 'e-d&t
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: back-formation from editor
..... c : to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose
I'd say the style improvement part is "editing" and the corections are proofreading.
Angela
MandyT wrote:
For most of my clients (including the translation house I used to work for inhouse) proofreading means checking a translation against the original and correcting translation mistakes, spelling and grammar mistakes, improving the style etc.
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| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 09:50
Spanish to English
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Angela Arnone
Local time: 09:50
Member (2004)
Italian to English
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| Thanks to fellow mod! | Jul 7, 2005 |
This is a good link and confirms the various issues raised here.
Thanks!
Angela
| | | | Erika Pavelka (X)
Local time: 03:50
French to English
| The difference | Jul 8, 2005 |
I have always been under the impression that editing involves comparing the translation to the original and making any changes to the translation if there are errors, and that proofreading is checking the translation (no comparison to the source) for spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, etc.
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