I can translate roughly 2,000 words a day and revise, edit and proofread around 1,000 words an hour. These figures vary depending on the complexity of the text, as specialised texts may require more in-depth research, whilst repetitive or more general texts can be handled more quickly. Equally, proofreading and revision time can vary significantly depending on the quality of the content. Once I have reviewed your documents, I will agree a delivery time with you. I always do my best to accommodate any deadlines you may have.

My prices vary depending on your requirements and are influenced by factors including the subject area, complexity of the text, formatting and file type. I typically charge a per-word rate for translation (based on the word count of the content to be translated) and an hourly rate for revision, monolingual editing and proofreading. Unless agreed otherwise, my translation rate covers translation, revision by a second professional translator and final quality checks. To find out how much your project will cost, please email me a copy of your document(s) and I will send you a free, no-obligation quote. My terms of payment are 30 days and I can accept payments in pounds or euros.

Unless agreed otherwise, my services are subject to my Terms and Conditions of Business.

Professional translators always work into their mother tongue. No matter how good they are at their non-native language, errors and unidiomatic turns of phrase are bound to creep into their writing, leading to an unsatisfactory and unnatural-sounding end result. As a native English speaker, I have an inherent understanding of what it takes to produce fluent, idiomatic texts which fit the brief every time.

I have built up a strong professional network so if you need to have a file translated into German or another language, please contact me and I will do my best to put you in touch with someone who can help.

A professional translator is a true master of their craft and has devoted years to honing their language and writing skills. If you’ve spent hours writing your copy, it deserves no less than a human translator who will invest the time and effort needed to create a text which doesn’t sound like a translation, but like an original piece in its own right. Translation demands language, writing and research skills as well as cultural and contextual understanding, which machines simply do not possess. If you want to get the gist of something, then by all means run it through a machine. For anything else, a human touch is still highly recommended – and will almost certainly mean the difference between stilted, unnatural results and an accurate, polished text which is fit for purpose.

Translation is a collaborative process. And like all collaborative processes, communication holds the key to success. Before I begin working on your project, I will ask you for the following: the purpose of your document(s), your target audience, which variant of English you require (British or American English) and any in-house style guides, glossaries or reference materials you want me to use. As I work on your project, I will ask pertinent questions if anything is unclear or ambiguous. And I will flag up any errors or inconsistencies I spot in your original copy. It’s all part of the service! See my Services page for more information on what I offer and how the process works.

For more information on what to consider when buying translation services, see the Translation: Getting It Right guide, which has been put together by the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. It is available in various languages here.

I work on your content myself and do not outsource to anyone else. The only exception is if your project is particularly urgent and I am unable to work on it within your desired timeframe. In this case and with your agreement, I will collaborate with trusted colleagues to ensure I can deliver your project on time. All my translations are revised by a second professional translator. Over the years, I have built up a strong network of colleagues on whom I can rely. My colleagues will keep your content confidential at all times and will not share it with third parties. Please see my Privacy Policy for more information on this.

My first tip would be to read as widely as possible in both your native and foreign languages. Proficiency in your chosen foreign language(s), excellent writing skills and in-depth subject knowledge are vital to succeed in the translation profession. If possible, it really helps to spend a prolonged period of time living, studying and/or working in a country where your foreign language is spoken. This gives you a strong foundation on which you can continue to develop your language skills and helps you to grasp the finer nuances of a foreign language. If you are interested in working as a freelance translator, an internship or work experience in a translation company is an invaluable way of getting to know how our industry works and of building up a professional network.

There are plenty of helpful resources available online but if you have any specific questions or need some general pointers on where to look for advice, then please get in touch and I’d be happy to help.