The editor’s task is not only to correct mistakes but also to make the text easy to read and meet modern norms and trends of literary language. The editor makes sure there are no factual errors and the author’s style is preserved.

That is, the editor has to be educated and well-rounded, attentive to detail, responsible and creative, have a good memory, and know very well where, how, and what kind of information to look for.

The editor’s responsibilities also include communicating with the authors. And for this task, sometimes being a linguist is just not enough – a diploma in psychology is what comes in more handy. Oftentimes, it is not that easy to explain to the author what is wrong with their text without offending their feelings.

Please, appreciate good editors, and don’t forget that a well-edited manuscript is much more likely to become a bestseller.

Proofreading is the process of carefully reading through the text to find and correct mistakes. A translation is often proofread by the native speaker of the target language in order to bring the text to perfection.

What are the most common mistakes spotted by native speakers of English when proofreading?

First of all, articles and prepositions. This is especially true for parenthetical words and expressions, such as “as well,” “thus,” etc.

Second of all, lengthy sentences. Ukrainians tend to like complex sentences, but in English, they are not very common, so the editor often breaks long sentences into shorter ones.

Number three: synonyms. The absolute rule for the Ukrainian language is that words should not be repeated many times, and we do our best, diligently looking for synonyms. In English, using the same words, sentence after sentence, is a normal thing to do. It does not cause flashbacks from primary school when an angry teacher yells at you for using the word “blue” twice in the same sentence.

While proofreading is not necessarily required when translating ordinary documents, native speakers must examine fiction, screenplays, and scholarly articles to ensure that the writing is natural, effective, and easy to read.

In times when the children in primary school already know how to use a computer, it may seem easy to prepare a text for printing. However, every printed magazine (from a black-and-white catalog of goods to a fancy photo album on glossy paper) must have a proper layout.

It is at the stage of layout design, as you put together all the elements, that the magazine gets its appearance and appeals to the readers.

If we are talking about a book where there is only text, the layout is all about placing the text on the page following the rules of composition (same format for pages and columns, matching lines of text on the face and back of the page, spacing between the sections in different fonts), hygienic (aimed at the health and comfort of a reader, i.e. the size of fonts and margins) and stylistic (artistic look: the homogenous appearance of the structural elements of the main and additional texts) requirements.

If the book or other material intended for printing contains tables, infographics, diagrams, or illustrations, the requirements for the qualification of the layout artist rise.

The newspaper layout is considered one of the most difficult types because it requires a single style when working with disparate materials (and this refers to the size of different articles and the fact that they are often heterogeneous).

Our layout artists have the necessary qualifications and technical expertise to assist you in preparing your manuscript for printing in any language.

Everyone needs texts. But what kind of text? Just any text will not do; it should be a correctly written text. Whether you want to promote your blog on social media, a channel on messenger, a website, or a store, you need text.

And we provide all kinds of copywriting services. That is, we do the following:

• rewriting (not exactly copywriting; rewriting is more about revamping previously created materials),
• informative copywriting (providing your readers with interesting, useful, and one-of-a-kind information);
• technical writing (creation of technical documentation and manuals);
• advertising copywriting (aimed at creating a positive image of the company);
• creative copywriting (writing short advertising texts and slogans);
• SEO copywriting (using keywords, a service or product can be easily found via search engines like Google.

So, if you know exactly what kind of text you need and for what purpose, but are unsure how to convey your message to the audience, contact us and our authors will assist you in creating textual content for any purpose.

Transcribing (audio to text conversion) is the professional transcription of audio and video recordings into text, such as lectures, webinars, seminars, conferences, speeches, etc.

Dubbing is NOT the SAME as voice-over.

What is the difference between a voiceover and dubbing? Although most people think that when there is only one voice, it’s a voice-over and everything else is dubbing, it’s actually a bit more complicated than that.

The film translated for voice-over only concerns the words of the characters. In a voice-over, the “background” conversations are often overlooked. For example, the conversation between a barista and a client standing in line in front of the character might be omitted if these phrases are not relevant to the storyline. However, it is much more comfortable to watch a voice-over film than a subtitled one. No matter how many voices there are in a voice-over, it is still not dubbing.

Dubbing is the most difficult method of translating a video, both in terms of technical difficulty and the complexity of the translation itself. First, it must contain all the sounds from the original track. And by “all,” we mean “ALL” sounds, such as sighing, sniffing, coughing, or even sipping water and slurping while eating lunch. Second, we should not forget about background sounds. Third, the technical aspect, because to do all that was mentioned before, you are going to need a recording studio and actors for every role.

Of course, viewers prefer dubbed videos, but we will get back to this matter in another post and tell you more about the features of each type of video translation, so you can choose the one that suits your goal and your budget the best.

Is it difficult to voice the film? Of course! Especially if you’re not sure where to begin.

But we do know: you need to start with the translation.

A voice-over should be done by someone who is familiar with the nuances of working with video translations.

First of all, you need to keep in mind the timing. If the original phrase is short, then the translation should be short too; otherwise, the words of the characters will overlap.

Second, you should be able to format text files for voice acting. Be sure to set timecodes at least once every 30 seconds and use different fonts for characters of different genders and captions (especially if the translation of titles is planned).

Third, no abbreviations or acronyms. All numbers should be written in words, not in figures. It is the task of the translator to make the work of the actor reading the text fast and easy. And it is the translator who must check and decipher all the abbreviations so that the actor does not “get stuck” on them.

Fourth, the word stress. That’s right! It is up to the translator to check where the word stress is placed in the last names or words like “synergy” or “Bergamo,” because this is the translator’s responsibility.

So choose qualified translators who understand how to work with video. And if you do not know where to find them, then contact us.

Audiobooks are becoming more and more popular because they can be “read” while waiting in traffic jams, playing sports, walking, or even spending time with a favorite hobby, such as drawing, puzzles, or knitting.

And more and more publishers are trying to publish their books in audio format in parallel with the printed and electronic versions, or at least with a slight delay. If you want the material to be of good quality and generate extra income, you should not wait until the audiobook is recorded by enthusiasts at home without proper equipment.

What does an audiobook consist of?

1. Choosing the voice of the speaker: We have a large base of speakers with whom we work, and we will help you choose the voice that will satisfy the author because our experience shows that it is not always easy.
2. Editing and cleaning: After the actual recording, it must be “cleaned” by the sound engineer to remove unsuccessful takes, inhales and exhales, and stuttering.
3. Design: Music and sound effects are frequently used to enhance audiobooks. All of this is something that we do as well.
4. Proofreading, or “proof-listening” in this case, is when an experienced and attentive proofreader compares the audio recording to the text and looks for inconsistencies.

If you want to release an audiobook from your publishing house quickly and efficiently, we are ready to help you.

You need to submit documents to the consulate of another country, and you are totally confused about what your next move should be: should the documents go through legalization or apostille? Let’s take a closer look at them both.

An apostille is a seal applied to documents for their further use abroad. Documents with an apostille are valid in all countries that signed the 1961 Hague Convention. The same convention specifies which documents are not subject to apostille. Among them are passports, employment books, military identity cards, etc.

If apostille applies to your document, in Ukraine it is performed by the following ministries:

• Ministry of Education and Science (diplomas, certificates, and so on);
• Ministry of Justice (certificates of all kinds issued by the registry office, notarial documents);
• Foreign Affairs Ministry (health certificates, certificates, and permits issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs).

If the country of destination has not signed The Hague Convention, the documents will have to be legalized.

Consular legalization is a more complicated procedure.

At first, the documents are certified by the Ministry of Justice, then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and only then by the Legalization Department of the consulate of the destination country.

Documents with an apostille are valid for all countries participating in the convention, while legalized ones are valid only for the specific country for which they have been legalized.

So the first step is to find out what the requirements of the consulate are, then contact us, and we will make it for you easy and pain-free.