How Clients Can Write a Better Translation Brief

Explain the audience and purpose Say who will read the content and what they need to do or understand. A customer-facing page, internal policy, research instrument, and product interface may require different choices.

Identify the target language and locale Where relevant, specify the language variety, country or locale, script, and any audience considerations that affect terminology or tone.

Share references Provide glossaries, style guides, prior approved translations, product names, and any terms that must remain unchanged. Note which source files are authoritative.

Specify the deliverable Confirm file format, layout requirements, word-count assumptions, deadline, review stages, and how questions will be handled.

Define quality expectations Agree on review, terminology checks, formatting, and acceptance criteria before work begins. Clear briefs reduce rework and make project outcomes easier to assess.