Proofreading by a native speaker – is it truly necessary?
Some of our customers are quite surprised when we point out that texts intended for publication should always be proofread by a native speaker. ‘The translator isn’t proficient in the language?’ Don’t worry – they are. The proofreading of printed materials is about more than just correcting mistakes; above all, it ensures that the text sounds and looks good for other native speakers and that it fully complies with the current rules of the specific language. In other words, proofreading by a native speaker provides certainty that the material coming off the printing press is perfect. Only a native speaker understands the fine nuances of their mother tongue and is able to project its sometimes rapid development into a meaningful text.
We also commonly proofread Czech texts written by Czech creative copywriters for large advertising and marketing firms, and you would be surprised what many native speakers (including us at České překlady) miss at first glance. We therefore use genuine experts with a fine command of their native language at a level higher than standard usage so that we can guarantee that your promotional materials and product descriptions do not damage your reputation.
The Czech version of this article includes cases in which quality proofreading by a native Czech speaker would be beneficial. Feel free to send us a few ‘blunders’ in your own native language!
