You can also hire me to review texts or translations. . I check whether a text is correct, clear and consistent. I pay close attention to language use, grammar, terminology, and whether the translation remains faithful to the original message. Where necessary, I correct mistakes and suggest improvements.
What a text reviewer does in practice
When you ask a professional translator to review an existing text, it is far more than a quick spellcheck. I read the text critically for correctness, consistency, tone and style, and assess whether the message comes across as intended. That means I look not only for language errors, but also for factual inaccuracies, awkward phrasing and passages that may be unclear or confusing for the target audience. The result is a text that is not only error-free, but also professional and credible.
Practical examples
A common scenario is a company writing its own text in a second language — for example, a Dutch-speaking business creating an English-language website or brochure. The text may be understandable, but it often lacks the natural flow of a native speaker, and small errors can undermine the reader’s confidence. Another example is a text translated internally by an employee with basic knowledge of the target language but no professional translation experience. Machine-translated texts that have not yet been checked also fall into this category. In all these cases, I help raise the text to a professional standard without having to redo the entire translation.
The advantages of a professional review over checking it yourself
Checking your own text is notoriously difficult because, as the writer or translator, you already know what it is supposed to say and can easily overlook errors. A professional translator reads with fresh eyes and a trained feel for language, spotting issues others would miss. I am also familiar with specialist terminology, stylistic conventions and cultural nuances that someone without a translation background may not recognise. By asking me to review your text, you can be confident that it is not only correct, but also aligned with the expectations and language instincts of your target audience. It is an investment that pays off immediately in the quality and credibility of your communication.
When is a professional review the right choice?
A review is the right choice when you already have a text that is largely sound, but still needs an expert’s critical eye. This could include press releases, quotations, contracts, product descriptions, newsletters or website copy you want to publish or send to an international audience. It is also a smart option if you are unsure about the tone or style of a text, or want to be certain that a translation does not contain unintended errors. In short, when the quality of your text directly affects how your business is perceived, a professional review is a wise and necessary step.
Very professional and knowledgeable.
Alessandra Pigliasco
Senior Project Manager
Sjoerd is one of the best English-Dutch translators I have had the pleasure of working with.
Ramy Hana
Egypt Office Director & Senior Project Manager
Euro-Com International B.V.
Excellent quality, always reliable and flexible.
Mathijs Mekes
Co-Owner
Helena Technical Translations
He effortlessly adapts when there are project changes and always asks the right questions, in some cases highlighting errors in source texts which clients then correct.
Thomas Boettger
Senior Project Manager
Localization at Summa Linguae Technologies
