Post-editing services for machine-translation output
Post-editing is the process of reviewing, correcting and improving the output generated by a machine translation system. A professional post-editor compares the automatic translation with the source text and makes the necessary changes so that the final document reaches the quality level agreed with the client.
LinguaVox provides post-editing services for companies that use machine translation but cannot deliver its output as final text. This is common in technical documentation, internal content, product information, software, help centres, web content and multilingual materials where speed matters, but quality still needs human control.
Post-editing is not a shortcut for every translation project. In many cases it can save time and reduce cost. In others, a human translation from scratch is safer. Before recommending this workflow, LinguaVox analyses the text, the languages, the sector, the intended use, the terminology and the quality expected.
What post-editing means
Post-editing means modifying the machine-translation output. The post-editor does not work only with the target text. They compare the machine translation with the original and decide what must be corrected, reformulated, rewritten or translated again.
The result depends on the quality level required. Some projects only need a text that is understandable for internal use. Others require a result comparable to a professional human translation. The second case is what we normally call full post-editing and is the focus of ISO 18587.
Machine translation and human intervention
Machine translation has improved considerably in recent years. Neural systems can produce fluent sentences and handle many common structures. This has made them useful in large-scale multilingual projects, especially when the content is repetitive and terminology can be controlled.
Human post-editing exists because of that gap. The machine can generate a base. The post-editor decides whether that base is usable and corrects it until it meets the agreed purpose.
More information is available on machine translation and on machine translation with post-editing.
Light post-editing and full post-editing
Post-editing can be light or full. Light post-editing corrects the most serious errors so that the text is understandable. It may be enough for low-risk internal use, quick information access or cases where stylistic quality is not important.
Full post-editing is more demanding. It aims to produce a final text comparable to human translation. This means checking meaning, terminology, grammar, syntax, punctuation, style, formatting, local conventions and compliance with the client’s instructions.
ISO 18587 focuses on full post-editing by a qualified linguist of machine-translation output. For that reason, a service provided under ISO 18587 should not be confused with a quick reading or a superficial clean-up of machine translation.
When post-editing is effective
Post-editing is effective when the machine-translation output is good enough to be corrected efficiently. This often happens with clear, well-written, repetitive texts and language combinations where the engine performs reasonably well.
It can be appropriate for technical manuals, product sheets, catalogues, knowledge bases, help articles, software documentation, e-learning content, internal procedures, maintenance instructions, web content and recurring corporate documents.
It can also be useful when there are translation memories, glossaries, previous approved translations or style guides. These resources help reduce variation and give the post-editor clearer criteria for decisions.
If the source text is poorly written, highly ambiguous or heavily creative, post-editing may not be efficient. In those cases, human translation may be the better option.
When post-editing should be avoided
Post-editing should not be chosen just because it sounds cheaper. If the machine-translation output is weak, the post-editor may need to rewrite large parts of the text. The project can then take as much time as human translation, or even more.
We are cautious with sworn translations, sensitive legal documents, high-risk medical reports, creative campaigns, advertising slogans, contracts with important consequences and texts where a small nuance can change the meaning. These materials may require human translation from the start.
Post-editing can still play a role in some mixed projects, but the decision must be made document by document. A provider should not force machine translation into a workflow where it does not fit.
How we prepare a post-editing project
A badly prepared project can destroy the efficiency of machine translation and increase the cost of post-editing. That is why we use a preliminary, operational and final workflow.
1. Material analysis
First, we review the source text and the information available. We check whether there is a translation memory, a glossary, style instructions, previous translations, editable files and delivery requirements. We also look at tables, tags, variables, screenshots, code, complex layout or non-editable text.
At this stage we decide whether the project can follow a machine translation with post-editing workflow or whether human translation is more appropriate. This decision should not be based on price alone. It must be based on feasibility, expected quality and intended use.
2. Project preparation
If the document is suitable, we prepare the necessary resources. We can work with translation memories, terminology glossaries, client instructions, machine translation engines and computer-assisted translation tools. When the source text has repeated problems, pre-editing can be effective to improve the automatic output.
This preparation is especially useful in multilingual projects. If the original will be translated into several languages, improving the clarity of the source text can reduce later errors and make the work easier for post-editors.
3. Human post-editing
The post-editor reviews the machine-translation output against the original. They correct content, adjust terminology, rewrite sentences where necessary and check that the final text follows the project instructions. If an automatic segment is not usable, it is translated again.
In sensitive projects, the tool should not be assumed to be right. Human intervention is needed precisely because machine translation can produce plausible errors that are difficult for a monolingual reader to detect.
4. Final verification
Before delivery, we check the document according to the agreed scope. Formal elements, consistency, formatting, specific instructions and recurring issues are reviewed. In more demanding projects, an independent review or an additional internal check can be added.
Post-editing and ISO 18587 quality
ISO 18587 focuses on full post-editing by a qualified linguist of machine-translation output. This means that not every review of automatic output can be presented as a service in accordance with the standard. There must be a process, a preliminary assessment, clear instructions, qualified post-editors and final verification.
LinguaVox is certified to ISO 18587 and can manage projects where machine translation is combined with full human intervention. This certification is particularly relevant for companies that want to use language technology without giving up professional control.
The standard also has limits. It does not guarantee that every document is suitable for machine translation or that every engine will produce useful output. Quality depends on the source text, the language combination, the sector, the terminology, the tool used and the post-editor’s intervention.
See our service as an ISO 18587 certified company.
To place this service within the broader quality framework, you can also consult the comparison between ISO 18587, ISO 17100 and ISO 5060.
Post-editing for companies and multilingual projects
Post-editing offers more value when it is part of an organised language strategy. If a company regularly translates manuals, technical sheets, internal documentation, web content or support materials, it can combine translation memories, glossaries and post-editing to improve turnaround times and control costs.
It can also be useful in update workflows. For example, when a previous translation already exists and only some parts of the document have changed, or when the content is repetitive and terminology is well defined. In these cases, human effort is concentrated where it adds the most value.
However, post-editing should not be treated as an automatic discount on any translation. If the material requires legal precision, refined commercial style, cultural adaptation, creativity or documentary responsibility, it must be assessed case by case. Poor machine-translation output can increase revision time and harm the final result.
Difference between post-editing, revision and proofreading
Post-editing is not the same as revising a human translation. In conventional revision, the professional checks a translation produced by a person. In post-editing, the professional works on output generated by a machine translation system, with different and often less predictable errors.
It is not simply the same as proofreading either. Correcting spelling, punctuation or surface style is not enough when the problem may involve meaning, terminology or correspondence with the original. Post-editing requires translation competence and knowledge of common machine translation errors.
For that reason, the post-editor must be a professional. They need to understand the language, the sector, translation tools, machine translation engines and the applicable quality criteria.
What a post-editor checks in practice
A professional post-editor checks much more than grammar. The work normally combines bilingual comparison, terminology control, style decisions, formatting checks and an understanding of how machine translation errors appear in real documents.
Meaning and completeness
The first task is to confirm that the target text says the same thing as the source. Machine translation can omit words, reverse relationships between clauses, mistranslate negatives, simplify technical expressions or add information that was not in the original. These errors can be hidden inside fluent sentences.
The post-editor must therefore check whether all relevant information has been preserved. If a segment is incomplete or misleading, it is corrected or translated again.
Terminology and sector usage
Terminology is one of the main reasons why post-editing requires a professional profile. A general machine translation engine may choose a common term that is wrong in a technical, legal, medical, financial or software context.
The post-editor must follow the client’s glossary, the approved translations used in previous projects and the terminology of the field. If there is no glossary, the professional must research the terms and keep decisions consistent across the document.
Style, format and consistency
The final text must also fit the intended reader. A support article, a technical manual, a product page, a training module and an internal procedure do not need the same style. The post-editor checks whether the text sounds natural, whether the register is appropriate and whether repeated terms are handled consistently.
Formatting also matters. Tags, variables, numbers, units, tables, hyperlinks, product names, file names and user-interface strings must be handled carefully. A linguistically correct sentence can still be unusable if it damages the format or alters a variable.
Frequently asked questions about post-editing
What does post-editing mean?
Post-editing is the modification and correction of machine-translation output. A post-editor compares the text generated by the tool with the source and corrects it according to the quality level agreed with the client.
Does post-editing replace human translation?
Not always. Post-editing may be appropriate when the machine-translation output is usable and the project allows this workflow. If the text requires creativity, critical precision or deep adaptation, human translation may be better.
What is the difference between light and full post-editing?
Light post-editing aims to make the text understandable. Full post-editing aims for a result comparable to professional human translation. For publishable or higher-risk projects, full post-editing provides more control.
What documents are suitable for post-editing?
Texts that are clear, repetitive, terminologically consistent and not highly ambiguous are usually better candidates. Manuals, technical sheets, internal documentation, extensive web content and software documentation may work well if the language combination allows it.
Can you post-edit machine translation produced by the client?
Yes, but the quality of the machine-translation output and the file format must be reviewed first. If the automatic translation is very poor, it may be more efficient to translate again from the source.
Is ISO 18587 post-editing always cheaper?
Not necessarily. It can reduce costs in suitable projects, but it is not automatic. The price depends on the quality of the machine-translation output, the revision effort, the language, the sector, the format and the quality level required.
Request a post-editing quote
You can send us the source document, the machine-translation output if you already have it, the languages, the intended use and any glossary or reference material. We will assess whether post-editing is feasible and tell you which option is most appropriate.