time estimate for proofreading 投稿者: Scott de Lesseps
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Hi everyone,
I have been offered a job to proofread files that have already been translated from English into French. The client has sent me the English files, which are in PDF format.
She would like for me to give her an estimate for how long the work will take. As English is my native language, it will definitely take longer than proofreading English, of course. Is there a way to count words in PDF files? I would appreciate any advice on how to estimate in advanc... See more Hi everyone,
I have been offered a job to proofread files that have already been translated from English into French. The client has sent me the English files, which are in PDF format.
She would like for me to give her an estimate for how long the work will take. As English is my native language, it will definitely take longer than proofreading English, of course. Is there a way to count words in PDF files? I would appreciate any advice on how to estimate in advance the work time for proofreading in this case. The texts are not really technical. Thanks in advance.
Scott ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Try some of the clock counting tools | Oct 19, 2004 |
For example, I am using Time Stamp for proofreading on hourly rate.
You can download it from www.syntap.com
| | | | monitor 
Local time: 09:57
英語 から ドイツ語
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Hi
You can easily mark all text and copy paste it into a word file in order to use the word count feature there.
There is also a chance for using professional tools, like practiline or others.
Imho the standard count for one hour proofreading should be around 2200 - 2500 words.
Kind regards
Marcel
[Edited at 2004-10-19 18:07]
| | | | | If transalting in a non native language.. | Oct 19, 2004 |
...is very "dared", proofreading is at least a imprudence.
Scott de Lesseps wrote:
...As English is my native language, it will definitely take longer than proofreading English, ...Scott
Only a opinion
Regards
[Edited at 2004-10-19 20:05]
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Toledo wrote:
...is very "dared", proofreading is at least a imprudence.
This is definitely my opinion too...unless there are doubts about what the source really meant and needs to be checked by a native of the source language...however, once this is sorted, the final proofreading should be done by a native of the target language.
and as for ..
Imho the standard count for one hour proofreading should be around 2200 - 2500 words.
I'm very used to proofreading and this seems like a lot to revise per hour.
It obviously depends on the quality (which has to be very well evaluated before giving any kind of quotation), but I would never quote for more than 1000-1500 words per hour.
Maybe I'm a bit too meticulous...
Regards,
Grace.
| | | | 00000000 (X)
英語 から フランス語
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I find your client very strange to have you proofread in a language that's not your own. You can't possibly make the right calls on some prepositions, to take just one example.
Did you, by any chance, lead her to believe French was your native language? It's not like French is such a rare language that you have to make do with a non-native speaker.
Best,
Esther
| | | | Thierry Lafaye (X)
Local time: 09:57
英語 から フランス語
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| hourly rate/per word rate + proofreading to non-native language | Oct 19, 2004 |
Though you are the only judge to assess if you feel capable of doing it, I agree with Toledo, Grace and Esther as per the non-native language proofreading topic. I think it would rather be left to a native speaker to do so.
As per the estimate, I am always quite impressed about anything which is higher than 1,200 words per hour. Like Grace, I may be too meticulous, but I am actually much lower, about 1,000 words per hour (at best ... See more Though you are the only judge to assess if you feel capable of doing it, I agree with Toledo, Grace and Esther as per the non-native language proofreading topic. I think it would rather be left to a native speaker to do so.
As per the estimate, I am always quite impressed about anything which is higher than 1,200 words per hour. Like Grace, I may be too meticulous, but I am actually much lower, about 1,000 words per hour (at best ) when checking into French, my native language (both source and target matching, researches in any doubt, making sure absolutely all the ideas are somewhat well rendered... yes, I may be too much of a pain in the neck though I try not to ) but I may be overdoing it too, I would agree.
The numbers that I heard more often are indeed about the range Grace mentions.
I hope it helps a bit.
Thierry ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I agree with you. | Oct 20, 2004 |
I agree with Graciela in her two points and with the others after her.
Like Toledo quoted by Graciela, I do think proofreading, even more than translation, has to be done by a professional who is native of the target language.
Graciela wrote:
I\'m very used to proofreading and this seems like a lot to revise per hour.
It obviously depends on the quality (which has to be very well evaluated before giving any kind of quotation), but I would never quote for more than 1000-1500 words per hour.
Maybe I\'m a bit too meticulous...
Maybe I am too perfectionist. According to my experience too, 1000-1500 words/hour is a good amount for a work well done. Depend on the topic of the text, I would work with even smaller number.
It is my opinion.
Best,
Heloísa Mafra Ferdinandt
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Heloísa Mafra wrote:
Maybe I am too perfectionist. According to my experience too, 1000-1500 words/hour is a good amount for a work well done. Depend on the topic of the text, I would work with even smaller number.
I'm not alone!!!
Well, that amount quoted is my very maximum, given the best conditions (very simple subject, good translation).
Otherwise, 500-800 is what I normally do (always into Spanish, my mother tongue), and had a few occasions when even less because of the technicality of the subject.
Stay well,
Grace.
| | | | | Couldn't agree more | Oct 20, 2004 |
I completely agree with Grace and the others - I would never even think about proofreading a text that is not in my mother tongue, no matter how well I know the language. I'd always be afraid that I might introduce further errors rather than correcting them.
Regarding the time estimate, 1,000 - 1,500 words per hour is quite realistic but I wouldn't give the client an estimate without having seen the translation. If it's poor quality it might take you ages to fix everything, which mi... See more I completely agree with Grace and the others - I would never even think about proofreading a text that is not in my mother tongue, no matter how well I know the language. I'd always be afraid that I might introduce further errors rather than correcting them.
Regarding the time estimate, 1,000 - 1,500 words per hour is quite realistic but I wouldn't give the client an estimate without having seen the translation. If it's poor quality it might take you ages to fix everything, which might result in a proofreading speed of just 500 words per hour or even less.
Just my 2 cents...
Claudia ▲ Collapse
| | | | Italiano (X)
Local time: 09:57
ポーランド語 から イタリア語
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It's very strange.. I'm curious what is PROOFREADING in your opinione.. i translate at 600-800 words/hours from POLISH to ITALIAN (i'm italian) and i this time is ALSO my proofreading..
may be i'm a MONSTER!
Anyway polish agency pay so few, that you MUST be a monster
to survive here in Poland, where i live...
| | | | | read above for clues ;) | Oct 20, 2004 |
Hi "Italiano",
Italiano wrote:
It's very strange.. I'm curious what is PROOFREADING in your opinione..
your answer is in Thierry's reply:
(both source and target matching, researches in any doubt, making sure absolutely all the ideas are somewhat well rendered...
Also, proofreading someone else's work takes longer than your own work (which in my book is included in the translation concept).
And the speed of translation will depend, among other things, on the degree of technicality / formatting of the document.
Everything's relative in this life
Cheers,
Grace.
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| Ask to see all of the documents before giving an estimate. | Oct 20, 2004 |
Hi,
Your client has given you the documents in English but that doesn't really help you decide on the time needed to proofread the translation. I have refused to proofread work translated by a non-native (after seeing the document I told the client that it would be easier to forget about it and let me do it again from scratch) and, of course, texts which are not in my mother tongue. I would encourage you to do the same.
Good luck.
John
| | | | | no misleading | Oct 20, 2004 |
Thanks to everyone for all your helpful comments. Just for the record, I never, at any time, led the client to believe that French is my native language. She is perfectly aware that English is my mother tongue.
Peace,
Scott
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