Understanding Edit Time in Translation

In today’s translation world, where machine translation tools and post-editing are becoming essential, understanding the true effort behind a translator’s work is more challenging than it seems.

A common way to measure this is through edit distance—the number of changes a translator makes to refine machine-suggested content. For example, if a machine suggests a six-word sentence and three words are changed, the edit distance is 50%.

While edit distance provides some insight into the translation process, it only tells part of the story. That’s where edit time comes in. However, despite sounding simple, measuring time accurately is far more complex than you might expect.

The Reality of Measuring Time

Tracking time seems like a straightforward task: measure how long it takes a translator to click on a segment and confirm it. But life isn’t always that linear. Consider this:

• A translator might pause halfway through a sentence to grab a coffee.
• They may leave in the middle of a task to pick up their child from school.
• Perhaps they take a break and come back the next day to finish the task.

In each case, the timer keeps running, but the extra hours don’t reflect the actual effort involved in the translation. When you scale this across teams and projects, time tracking quickly becomes messy. Asking translators to manually log their breaks is unrealistic, and no automated system can truly capture when someone is focused versus when they’ve stepped away.

The Art of Smart Post-Editing

Post-editing—where translators refine machine-generated text—is about more than just effort; it’s a skill in its own right. The goal is to make meaningful edits that significantly improve the content, not to rewrite everything from scratch. A seasoned post-editor can scan a sentence, make a handful of precise changes, and confirm it quickly.

Meanwhile, someone else might take much longer, not because the task requires it, but because they over-edit. The real art of post-editing lies in knowing when a machine-generated translation is "good enough" and only making the changes that truly matter.

More Time Doesn’t Mean Better Results

It’s easy to assume that spending more time on a translation results in better quality. However, experienced translators often prove that’s not always true. Specialists working within their area of expertise can breeze through translations and still deliver high-quality results with just a few well-placed edits.

Meanwhile, a translator unfamiliar with the topic might spend hours struggling with a single segment—not because they’re being meticulous, but because they’re unsure about the content. Everyone works differently—some take their time to ensure every word feels just right, while others can confidently edit on the fly. This variability shows why time alone doesn’t reliably reflect quality or effort.

A Better Way to Measure Effort

Metrics like edit distance and edit time provide useful insights, but they only capture part of the picture. Translators bring much more to the table—experience, subject knowledge, and personal working styles—all of which influence how much effort a task requires. These nuances are hard to measure with numbers alone.

To truly understand the work behind translation, it’s essential to take a more balanced approach. A combination of metrics—such as edit distance, time, and qualitative assessments—can provide a fuller view of the effort involved. Translation isn’t just about being fast or efficient; it’s about capturing meaning and making sure it resonates in another language.

The Key Factors That Affect Translation Effort

Since neither edit distance nor time can tell the full story on their own, it’s important to recognize the other factors that impact how much effort a task requires:

• Subject Matter Expertise: Translators with deep knowledge of a specific field can work faster and make more effective changes.
• Content Complexity: Highly technical or creative texts take more time and effort than simple, straightforward content.
• Language Pairs: Some languages are harder to translate between, leading to more edits and longer processing times.
• Working Style: Some translators are naturally fast, while others prefer to take their time and review everything carefully.

Familiarity with Tools: Translators who are comfortable with translation tools and platforms can often complete tasks more efficiently.

Why Translation is More Than Just Metrics

As the world becomes more interconnected, accurate and thoughtful translation is more important than ever. Understanding that translation requires both human expertise and machine assistance allows us to appreciate the complexity of the process. It’s not just about getting the job done—it’s about doing it well, with meaning and cultural relevance.

By valuing the nuanced nature of translation work, we can ensure that translators are recognized not just for their speed but for the thoughtfulness and precision they bring to every word.