Brief for a Professional Translator
Write a clear brief to get a better translation.
Added October 15, 2026. Written with AI assistance and checked for clarity and placeholders; not reviewed by a lawyer, accountant, clinician or other professional. How these prompts are made
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Write a translation brief for a human translator. The text and its type: [TEXT_TYPE]. Languages and variants (for example Latin American Spanish or Canadian French): [LANGUAGES_VARIANTS]. Audience and use: [AUDIENCE_USE]. Deadline and budget range: [DEADLINE_BUDGET]. Produce a one-page brief with: purpose, audience profile, tone and style instructions, terms that must not be translated, glossary of key terms with preferred translations, format instructions, reference materials, queries process, delivery format, review steps, and confidentiality expectations. Add a list of ten questions the translator may ask and answers based on my input; mark unanswered ones [TO_CONFIRM]. Include a short checklist for evaluating the translation on delivery. Remind me to agree on rates and rights in writing. Add a sample of the glossary table with three invented entries so the format is clear, and a note on what sample or reference translations to attach. Include a section on how to give feedback to the translator after delivery and a reminder to ask whether the translator uses machine translation tools, so expectations on process and confidentiality are explicit.
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Text: product manual (4,000 words). Languages: English (UK) to Spanish (Mexico). Audience: home users, non-technical. Tone: friendly, direct (use "tú"). Do not translate: product name SoloBrew, button labels in English as shown on the device. Glossary: descaling = descalcificación; drip tray = bandeja de goteo. Format: keep numbering and tables; deliver as the same file type. Queries process: send questions in one list within 48 hours. Review: second reader checks safety warnings. Confidentiality: unreleased product; do not use online tools. Agree rates and rights in writing. [TO_CONFIRM] deadline.
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