GlossaryConsistencyProfessional translation
Why Glossaries Are Critical in Professional Document Translation
Doc2Trans Team
2026-02-01
In legal, technical, and medical documents, consistency often matters more than style. A glossary is the foundation.
Why glossaries are critical
- Prevent multiple translations of the same term
- Reduce compliance risk and review cost
- Improve reader trust and clarity
What a good glossary includes
- Source term and approved translation
- Context notes and prohibited variants
- Industry standards or regulatory references
How to implement
- Extract terms from legacy documents and client standards
- Confirm preferred translations with stakeholders
- Enforce glossary usage during translation
- Run consistency checks after translation
FAQ
Q: Will glossaries hurt fluency?
A: No. Properly managed glossaries improve accuracy and consistency.
Q: What if we don’t have a glossary yet?
A: Start with high‑frequency and regulated terms.
Q: Do glossaries work across languages?
A: Yes, they are essential for multilingual alignment.
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