Format and Procedure

Document format

The Smart Octopus can process all major file formats, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), text files (TXT), rich text files (RTF), PDFs, and source files (web content).

For the editing of a manuscript, in particular, I prefer receiving the document in Word format (.doc, .docx), although I can also work with TXT and RTF files. Please also send me the figures and/or tables (if any), including figure and/or table legends, as it can be very difficult to interpret the text without them.

Procedure followed

For the editing of a document, I use the “Track Changes” tool in Word, which can be assessed through the review menu (from MS Word 2007 onwards). When Track Changes is activated, all the editing work in the document is visible, including deletions and insertions, and format changes. You can accept or reject changes by simply right-clicking on the highlighted text and choosing the appropriate option. If issues arise while I am editing, I may contact you or add comments for you to address when you review the edited document. Once the revision is complete, I will send you two files of the document: i) the first file will be marked by the changes made for you to accept or reject; ii) the second file will be a clean, unmarked and edited copy of the document in which all changes have been accepted. This copy offers you the opportunity to read the corrected document without the interference of editing marks.

In a translation assignment, I first produce a fuzzy translation of the document by using professional computer-assisted translation software that ensures consistency throughout the document. I then personally fine-tune the translation to improve accuracy and correct errors, improve quality and respect the specific expressions and nuances of the source vs. target language. The final goal is to make your translation unambiguous, clear and effective as the original. The completed translation will be returned to the client in the agreed format.