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Re: Writing for translation: since/because, over/more than
Subject:Re: Writing for translation: since/because, over/more than From:Rosalma Arcelay <rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net> To:Kate Schneider <kateschneider42 -at- gmail -dot- com> Date:Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:02:01 -0600
In our style guide we make sure we use âafterâ instead of âonceâ to ensure our translations are clear.
e.g., âOnce the system updates your information...â should be âAfter the system updates your informationâ"
I donât think weâve had issues with since/because and over/more.
Rosie Arcelay
Technical Writer II
cPanel, LLC
rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net
> On Nov 23, 2019, at 12:27 PM, Kate Schneider <kateschneider42 -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Even when I'm not writing for translation, I don't use "since" or "over"
> like this because it bothers me. I especially don't do this when writing
> for translation, because it can be confusing. I would certainly establish a
> guideline here.
>
> I would also make a point to ask the translator how they handle words with
> multiple translations are not in your guidelines. Would they ask for a
> preferred translation during their question period? Or would they let their
> translation team make a judgment call? I've had translators do this without
> consulting me...and that was a real problem that resulted in wildly
> different (and often incorrect) translations for the same word across my
> project. Yikes.
>
> Kate
>
> On Sat, Nov 23, 2019, 9:58 AM Geoff Mann <geoff -dot- mann -at- uxwordsense -dot- com> wrote:
>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> For those who have experience writing for translation...
>>
>> An obvious best practice is to avoid using the same word to mean two
>> different things. I'm of the (old?) school that says terms like since and
>> because are not interchangeable. The same goes for over and more than.
>> However, since and over are becoming ubiquitous in mainstream content.
>> Even the AP relatively recently adopted since for cause & effect in its
>> style guide. I'm curious where people here stand on those particular terms
>> in the context of translation. Is it worth establishing guidelines that
>> allow since & over (while recommending choosing one and sticking to it), or
>> is it still worthwhile to distinguish between since & because and over &
>> more than?
>>
>> And if anyone cares to share a list of other common terms that are treated
>> synonymously but shouldn't be, please share.
>>
>> Thanks.
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