翻譯或者寫文案總是需要校稿。文字功力若發揮得比較好,則第二天校稿祇需要將稿件讀一次就好了。若第一稿不是很有把握,則之後的校稿會比較辛苦,二校、三校亦不出奇。

校稿亦講究時機。若是檢查文件,我最佳的時機是上午時段。由於睡醒之後的思路比較清晰,這個時候校訂自己前一天譯或寫的文字,總是比較容易找到錯誤並且選用比較好的文字。有些急件必須早上寫完,中午、下午時間交稿,則可以趁午睡之後審稿。

當然,有些文件譯完就馬上交,則必須確保譯和審都頭腦清晰,才能應付十萬火急的商業文案。

Translation and copywriting require proofreading. If you have good writing skills, you might be able to submit your documents after proofreading for one time. If you are not very sure about your first draft, your proofreading would require more effort. And second and third time of proofreading are common.

Proofreading requires timing. My best timing is morning session when it comes to checking my own works. Thanks to the clear mind after a good night’s rest, I find it easier to identify my own mistakes and select better wording when proofreading translation pieces and copies written the day before. For documents that need to be done in morning and submitted in the afternoon, it is good to run a proofreading check after an afternoon nap.

Of course, some documents need to be submitted immediately after translation. In that case, I have to make sure I have a clear mind during translation / writing and proofreading stages. This is how I deal with very urgent business documents.