postedit

Post-editing, or postedit, is a term used in translation and localization to describe the editing of content produced by machine translation or low-quality draft translations after initial generation. The aim is to produce text that is accurate, fluent, and appropriate for the target audience, while conforming to the client’s style and terminology.

There are two common levels of post-editing. Light post-editing seeks to render the content comprehensible and acceptable in accuracy and readability with minimal changes. Full post-editing aims for publishable quality, meaning substantial revision of wording, terminology, and tone to meet professional standards. Some workflows also recognize a minimal or “zero-edit” approach, where MT output is deemed ready with little or no editing.

Typical post-editing workflows include assessing the machine-translated text for factual and linguistic errors, correcting terminology and phrasing, aligning with glossaries and translation memories, and performing quality assurance checks. Post-editors often work with computer-assisted translation tools and terminology management systems, guided by style guides and client requirements. ISO 18587:2017, titled Machine translation — Post-editing, provides formal standards for the post-editing process and related services.

Post-editing is widely used in localization of software, websites, manuals, and customer support content, enabling rapid localization of large volumes while controlling cost. Its effectiveness depends on the quality of the machine translation, the robustness of terminology resources, and the skill and training of post-editors. Critics note risks such as errors carried from MT, inconsistent terminology, and the need for skilled editors to preserve nuance and accuracy.

See also: machine translation, translation memory, terminology management, localization, ISO 18587.