What is Machine Translation Post-Editing?
Machine translation (MT) can be a fast, cost-effective option when time and budget take priority over quality. While MT has improved significantly since the first attempts all the way back in 1933, it still struggles with nuance, idioms and implied meaning. The result can range from slightly unnatural phrasing to complete gibberish. That's where machine translation post-editing comes in – refining an MT output to improve accuracy and readability.
Machine translation post-editing (also called MTPE or PEMT) involves checking a translation done by a machine and improving it. It's different from revision, review, and proofreading in that the aim is not always to produce a perfect text. A post-edit might mean just tweaking a text slightly so that it makes sense. Or it could mean rewriting it to make it indistinguishable from human translation.
Please note that MTPE does not include a full proofread. If the text is for external or long-term use, I strongly recommend having it proofread. Even with this extra step, post-editing can still be more cost-effective than a full human translation. To find out what post-editing and proofreading cost, see the revision & proofreading rates page.
Levels of post-editing
I offer three levels of MTPE to suit different needs:
Light post-edit – Minimal intervention to ensure the text is comprehensible. Best for internal or short-lived content.
Fixes major spelling, grammar and punctuation errors
Ensures everything is translated and removes obvious mistranslations
Does not include stylistic improvements or terminology consistency checks
Standard post-edit – A more polished version for short-lifespan or external content.
Fixes major and minor spelling, grammar and punctuation errors
Makes minor stylistic changes to improve readability
Ensures key terminology is used correctly (if a glossary is provided)
Full post-edit – A high-quality, human-like translation.
Refines structure, tone, flow and localisation
Rewrites sections for clarity and natural style
Ensures consistency and accuracy across the text
Includes a full manual check for spelling and grammar
Recommended for long-term use
