What is considered an error?

We assume that an error is anything that violates the rules of a given languages, written down in reputable sources like dictionaries.
This includes grammar errors, spelling errors, punctuation errors, etc.
– misinterpretation of the source text, altering its meaning, omissions, additions
– factual errors
– non-compliance with style guides, preferred terminology or form of addressing the recipient (“You/Sir”,
gender neutrality), or any other reference materials provided by the Customer.

These are situations where one can clearly, objectively, and unquestionably prove that the translator made a mistake.

What is not considered an error?
In case of the majority of longer text, it is impossible to get two identical translations from different people.
Translators have their own unique styles, and it shows in their works.
That is why translation is considered to be creative work, which can easily be spotted even in case of highly technical texts.

So what is not considered an error? (Actual examples based on Customers’ feedback.)

– using synonyms (after receiving the translation, the client asked to change all instances of the work „notebook” to „laptop”, etc.)
– delivering a text that fully conveys the meaning of the source, yet in a different manner that preferred by the Customer (plus, purely stylistic changes),
e.g. ”the device offers 5 hours of operating time” (our version) vs “the device can be used for 5 hours straight” (client’s version)
– when we are unable to guess that the Customer expects us to change the www.XYZ.pl URL in their booklet to the new www.XYZ.com/pl address,
which has been in use since recently (and the Customer has failed to inform us about that)
– leaving a sentence that sounds good, instead of looking for one that would sound very good
(we don’t change good for better, as there’s no end to this).
– sticking to the original content. If the source reads ”Yes”, we treat it as „Yes”, not as „No” (because the author had made an error),
not as „Yes, of course, Sir”.

In other words, any preferential changes that do not breach objective linguistic rules are not considered errors.
Naturally, on request we can implement any such edits, but for an additional fee.