Common mistakes to avoid in English translation

A well-written text or article possesses some basic qualities such as correct grammar, proper sentence construction, and the absence of spelling errors. When attempting the English translation, the translator must also comply with these rules. Reproducing material written in another language is almost like writing it all over again. So a good translator must first be a good writer.

There are certain qualities that make a writer a good writer; one of them is to avoid common errors in writing in English. Writing simply and concisely is considered a virtue of a good writer. On top of that, being aware of the common mistakes that many writers make is also a plus.

Here we will discuss some common mistakes writers and translators should be aware of when translating into English. Let’s take a look at some of these very common spelling mistakes in English:

Use passive expressions

Too many passive expressions in writing often rob it of its beauty. Passive constructions make a sentence sound dry. It is a better idea to use passive expressions only when the doer is unknown or you are intentionally avoiding their name. Except for these situations, it is good to avoid them. An example,

Instead of “I fixed the broken part of the toy”, use “I have fixed the broken part of the toy”.

‘Because of’ and ‘Because of’

Sentences like ‘because of’, ‘because of’ make a sentence unnecessarily complicated without adding much value to the meaning. It often makes the prizes less clear. For example,

Instead of, “Because of excessive cold, he felt ill”, “Excessive cold makes him ill” is clearer.

Use ‘if’ alone

The word ‘either’ cannot be used alone, as the whole phrase is ‘either or not’. When used alone, it does not complete the meaning. For example,

“You must first decide if you want to join the college band” is incorrect. “You must decide first if you want to join the college band or not” is the correct expression.

Inappropriate use of ‘different’

It is not always enough to say that something is different, as it can be vague. When you are saying that something is different from another it is important to say in what way. For example, ‘different cultures’ is meaningful but ‘different software’ does not convey complete meaning.

Quality: good or bad?

Using the word ‘quality’ before a noun is incomplete since the quality of the product can be good or bad. To make full sense, one needs to mention that as well. For example, “This is a quality smartphone” is misleading. Rather “This is a high quality smartphone” is correct.

incorrect comparisons

When writing comparative sentences, writers often miss a crucial word that changes the meaning of the sentence. It is important to be clear about what things are being compared. For example, “Japanese cars use less fuel than American cars” is incorrect, while “Japanese cars use less fuel than American cars” is appropriate.

be too complex

Using too many complex sentences can unnecessarily complicate the text and make it difficult to understand. It is certainly a better idea to use simple and direct sentences so that everyone can easily understand.

wrong sentence

Writers often use some of the wrong phrases despite knowing, like ‘I could care less’ instead of ‘I couldn’t care less’. Such errors alter the meaning of the award. Therefore, it is important to watch out for such errors.

conclusion

English translation services are a very important aspect of the global business scene. English translators so experienced that they are not only expert linguists, but also have an eye for mistakes. To err is human. So, a good translator is one who learns from mistakes and tries to avoid them in his writings. The errors mentioned above are some of the most common, while there are many more. To constantly improve, the translator must be aware of them and keep learning until the end.