22. Is proofreading really necessary?

Yes! The reason is: no translator is 100% accurate 100% of the time. To ensure a high-quality translation, make sure it gets proofread.

If you only want the gist of a translation or do not need it for professional purposes, then no proofreading may be necessary. But if you need an accurate, faithful translation that projects a competent, professional image for you or your business, you should get everything proofread by at least a second qualified translator. Your translation agency should offer this option.

The latter is especially true of legal, scientific, or medical translations, where an incorrectly translated word may spell disaster. These types of translations should undergo a quality assurance process involving several layers of proofreading.