Translating content for the web can be a tricky business.  We grab the copy as-is  send it out to a vendor and just throw it on the web, hoping for the best.

That’s a best case scenario. Those on a really tight budget or deadline will resort to using tools like Google Translate or Yahoo! Babel Fish. This isn’t a good idea. Although those tools are a great starting point, they are far from perfect.

Before you dust off your content to send to a translator, it could only help to give it another look.  Is there any lingo or jargon that you can take out? You should definitely check for idioms.

It might sound like a hassle. But, it’s worth the effort for you, your translator, and your audience.

Just for giggles and to give you a better idea, here’s a Spanish idiom translated into English.

Al toro pasado, veo que fue mi error.

Literal translation: With the bull passed, I see it was my error.

Actual meaning: In hindsight, I see it was my error.

There’s no definitive number, but it’s estimated that the English language has thousands of idioms. So go ahead, clean up your copy, it’ll help keep you from alienating or confusing your international audience.