Quality assurance · ISO 17100
Editing, Proofreading & Revision
Five clearly distinguished levels of review — monolingual or bilingual — for texts and translations: from linguistic fine-tuning to standards-compliant revision according to ISO 17100.
Five levels of review, clearly distinguished
In everyday language, the terms 'editing', 'proofreading' and 'revision' are often used interchangeably. At COMLOGOS, however, they are clearly defined according to ISO 17100, ensuring your text receives the level of review it needs.
Review
Checking a source or target text for errors, either monolingually (text only) or bilingually (translation compared against the source text). Both language (spelling, grammar and sentence structure) and content (consistency and completeness) are checked. For translations, localisation is also included.
Editing
Monolingual check of a source or target text by linguists, with fine-tuning of grammar, spelling and punctuation, as well as content and style.
Revision (ISO 17100)
Bilingual check of the target text against the source text (spelling, numbers, punctuation, terminology, style and content). This is a fixed component of the four-eyes principle in every specialised translation according to ISO 17100.
Proofreading
Monolingual review of a text that has already been edited. Recommended for texts that will be published or printed.
Specialised review
Monolingual check to ensure the text is suitable for the agreed purpose. For example, this could involve adapting a translation to meet the legal requirements of the target country.
Monolingual or bilingual?
Monolingual review
A text is reviewed in isolation.
- editing, proofreading, specialised review
- focus: language, style, consistency, suitability
Bilingual check
The translation is compared against the source text.
- Bilingual review and revision in accordance with ISO 17100
- focus: completeness, terminology and content accuracy
When are the additional services worth considering?
These services are particularly useful for important translations, especially for texts going to print or intended for public consumption. Revision in accordance with ISO 17100 is already included in the standard process. You can book proofreading and specialised review as additional services if required.
Request a project & get advice
Send us your text. We will recommend the appropriate level of review and provide a quote.
Technologies we use
Frequently asked questions about editing, proofreading and revision
What is the difference between editing, proofreading and revision?
Editing involves fine-tuning a text in terms of both language and style. Proofreading involves making a final check of a text that has already been edited, particularly before printing. Revision involves comparing the target and source texts according to the four-eyes principle set out in ISO 17100.
Is revision already included in a specialised translation?
Yes. For a specialised translation in accordance with ISO 17100, revision by a second qualified person is a fixed component of the process. Proofreading and specialised review can optionally be added.
What is the difference between a monolingual check and a bilingual check?
In a monolingual check, a text is reviewed on its own for language, style and consistency. In a bilingual check, the translation is additionally compared with the source text for completeness, terminology and content correspondence.
When is a specialised review useful?
When a text needs to be checked for suitability for a specific purpose, for example with regard to adapting a translation to the legal requirements of the target country.
Can you also check an existing text without translating it?
Yes. We also offer review and editing as standalone services for your source or target texts.
Are the review processes compliant with the standard?
Revision, proofreading and specialised review are described in ISO 17100; COMLOGOS is certified to ISO 17100.
Ensure quality before it really counts
Send us your text. We'll review, edit or revise it to the appropriate standard.
Review
You already have a document in the source language or as a translation and would like to have it checked for errors? Then a review by us is exactly the right choice for you. When it comes to reviewing a text (in the sense of proofreading), a distinction must be made between a monolingual check of a text and a bilingual check, in which the translation is compared with the source text.
In this process, the existing texts are checked for language (e.g. spelling, grammar, sentence structure) and content (e.g. consistency, completeness, correspondence with the source text in the case of a bilingual review). For translated texts, localisation must also be taken into account. This includes ethnic and local specifics as well as gender-sensitive wording.
Editing
Have you invested a lot of time into your creative text and want to be on the safe side when it comes to language? Our linguists will be happy to help you put the finishing touches to it. Editing is a monolingual check of a source or target text. In addition to linguistic criteria such as grammar, spelling and punctuation, we also check content and style.Â
We are happy to advise you
We’re happy to answer your questions about editing and review and to offer our recommendations. Your personal contact in our project management team will provide you with individual support.Â
