One thing that has made a huge difference in my work as a freelance translator is creating style guides for my clients. It may sound like a task reserved for large companies or agencies, but trust me, even small projects benefit from a solid style guide. It saves time, avoids confusion, and ensures consistency—something all clients appreciate (even if they don’t realize it yet).
So, what exactly is a style guide in the context of translation? It’s basically a reference document that outlines preferences for tone, formality, spelling, punctuation, and other language choices. It can be client-specific, project-specific, or even tailored for a particular type of content, like marketing copy, legal documents, or software localization.
Here’s how I typically go about creating one:
- Start with the basics. I include the language pair, subject area, and any client notes on brand voice or tone. Is the tone formal or casual? Should contractions be avoided? Do they want British or American English? These are simple things, but they make a huge impact on the final product.
- Define stylistic choices. This includes things like number formatting (10,000 or 10.000?), date formats (DD/MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY?), and quotation marks (“ or « »?). If I’m working on Spanish content, I also clarify regional preferences (Latin American Spanish vs. European Spanish, for example).
- Include terminology and examples. I create a mini glossary of terms, especially for repeated phrases, industry jargon, or brand-specific wording. If a client calls their product a “solution” and not a “tool,” that’s important to note.
- Keep it editable. I usually prepare a simple PDF or shared doc that can be updated as we go. The idea is to make this a living document that evolves with the project.
Creating a style guide might take an extra 30 minutes upfront, but it’s one of those things that pays off every time you revisit a project or collaborate with others. It also shows professionalism and helps you stand out as someone who truly cares about delivering high-quality, consistent translations.
If you haven’t created one before, start small—just a page or two. Your future self (and your clients) will thank you!
Thanks to Day Translations for sponsoring this post! Make sure to click the link to find out more about the services they offer.
Until next time, take care and stay safe!
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Translation Expert 