English language guide
Understand the context before translating into or out of English.
Practical guides for translating files, emails and reviewing results
Language overview
English is listed in the translation catalog under the language identifier en. Selecting this entry sets the source or target language; it does not specify every regional variety or specialist vocabulary.
Writing system
The default writing system associated with this catalog entry is Latin. Preserve accents, punctuation and personal names. This default script information is derived from Unicode locale data and is not an exhaustive list of scripts used by speakers.
Common usage
Use the English translator to understand correspondence, study material, travel information and short workplace drafts. For a specialist text, supply a complete sentence rather than an isolated term, and retain any context that identifies the subject.
Make an English source easier to translate
Before translating an English message, replace unclear references with the thing they refer to. “Please send it there by Friday” is less useful than a sentence naming the document, destination and actual date. Spell out an unfamiliar abbreviation on its first use. This does not mean removing necessary technical vocabulary; explain enough context for the reader to identify the subject.
When translating into English, decide which audience will use the result. Keep one spelling convention consistently, but do not change a person’s name or an official document title merely to fit it. For an international message, writing the month in words helps avoid a numeric date being read in the wrong order. Compare deadlines with the source before sending.
Further reading: GOV.UK: dates and clear writing in its style guide
Translation tips
Use clear subjects and avoid ambiguous idioms.
Check negation and the subject of each sentence. Compare quantities, currencies and dates with the original. A fluent reader should review important text for meaning and tone before it is published.