A good translation starts with good source content. These slides show you the most common oversights made when writing content in English. Good source content is critical to the success of global marketing campaigns.

1. 13 Tips on
Writing for Translation
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

2. 1. Be consistent in word choice
Insert the DVD into the player
Place the DVD in the player
Load the DVD into the player
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

3. 2. Stick to primary meanings
Meet = Encounter
Meet = Satisfy
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

4. 3. Avoid Idioms
John’s new product was a big success!
John hit a home run with his new product!
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

5. 4. Use articles where possible
Place a screw in the hole
Place screw in hole
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

6. 5. Avoid using nouns as adjectives
The color of that dress suits you.
That dress color suits you.
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

7. 6. Don’t omit “that”
I knew that he bought a car.
I knew he bought a car.
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

8. 7. Avoid phrasal verbs
John erected the display.
John set up the display
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

9. 8. Use nouns, not pronouns
John erected the display. *** John
was happy with the result.
John set up the display. *** He was happy
with the result.
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

10. 9. Identify the actor
This room was painted by John.
This room was painted.
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

11. 10. Use parallel construction
Her job is filing, typing, and opening the mail.
Her job is filing typing and to open the mail.
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

12. 11. Use punctuation correctly
A koala bear eats shoots and leaves.
A koala bear eats, shoots, and leaves.
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

13. 12. Be careful with modifier
placement
Washington wrote his speech on the back of an
envelope while riding to Philadelphia.
Washington wrote his speech while riding to
Philadelphia on the back of an envelope.
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

14. 13. Convert lists to freestanding
phrases
The job involves:
• filing,
• typing, and
• opening mail.
The job involves the
following tasks:
• Filing
• Typing
• Opening mail
www.mtmlinguasoft.com

15. Download our white papers
www.mtmlinguasoft.com/white-papers
Find related articles on our blog
www.mtmlinguasoft.com/blog
www.mtmlinguasoft.com