English to French translation is vital in the modern world. French has a significant global population, measuring 260 million speakers. It is also the second most-spoken business language and in the top ten most-used languages online. With statistics like this, it is no surprise that French translation services are one of the most requested translations in the UK and worldwide!

Most businesses think there is no need for professional French translation services. After all, a massive 45% of English words are of French origin. Yet despite the similarities between both languages, French translation fails are more common than you’d think.

With many individuals and businesses seeking English to French translation services (and many making mistakes), we are here to offer advice from our qualified French linguists. Here are ten tips to help ensure that your English translation to French is accurate and professional.

1. Compare Both Texts

Many people are so focused on doing an accurate French translation that they neglect the English version of their content. However, the worst thing to do is to ignore your original text, particularly important fragments that explain necessary details.

Therefore, our first tip is always to compare! You can improve the quality of your English to French translation dramatically by comparing both texts. A French translation services provider will always assess each segment of translated material against the original. This helps ensure that the translated version not only makes sense – it replicates the intended meaning.

2. Avoid Preposition Traps

Prepositions are placed before nouns and indicate time, place, and location. The majority of prepositions typically depend on a noun or a verb. Always translate the prepositions and nouns together when you perform an English to French translation. Translating them independently often loses meaning, as with word-for-word machine French translation services.

3. Reread Your French Translation

Agencies offering professional French translation services know that the best translation has been read several times. Your English to French translation should sound harmonious and clear to the readers. Reading sentences out loud can highlight any mistakes or incoherent speeches so they can be corrected before publishing.

4. Focus on the Original Language

When performing an English to French translation, you shouldn’t allow the differences between languages to affect your work. Translating is all about balancing two languages, ensuring that the message in one isn’t lost in the other. This means focusing on the original text without altering the content, which professional French translation services can help you with.

5. Pay Attention to Punctuation

If you’re performing your translation yourself, don’t assume that just because the same alphabet is used, there are the same rules on punctuation. All languages have their own punctuation uses. For instance, English capitalises the names of foreign languages, while French does not.

These rules must be considered when conducting a translation from English to French. Minor changes might be overlooked but are crucial for ensuring professional results. Companies offering French translation services understand these unique rules and are attentive to a language’s peculiar features, but individuals performing their own translations should take care.

6. Be Cautious of False Friends

English and French have both evolved from Latin. Due to this, both languages have overlapping vocabularies. For example, “absence”, “brilliant”, and “champagne” all mean the same in both languages. However, French and English also contain words in their vocabularies that appear similar but have wholly different meanings.

For instance, the word “pain” in English means discomfort or soreness, while in the French language, “pain” means “bread”. Linguists call these terms false friends because they can result in substantial English to French translation errors. When you see a word in French similar to English, don’t assume its meaning! And when it comes to important documents (such as financial statements or legal documents), always invest in professional French translation services.

7. Understand French Formality Levels

Undergoing a French to English translation will highlight the various levels of formality in both languages. Peers and close friends get addressed differently than professors, customers or strangers in French, for example. When using professional French translation services, the agency will create a translation glossary or guide to help ensure consistency.

8. Consider Grammatical Differences

Grammar is one of the major complexities when conducting a French to English translation or vice versa. The French language has gendered nouns that can change according to the speaker. There are also different agreement rules for adjectives and verbs, along with the varying punctuation rules we have already covered.

The best way to manage the differences in both languages is to hire a professional French translation services provider. A native French translation company will have a greater command of the French language. Otherwise, you have a lot of grammar rules to learn!

9. Account for Text Expansion

Not every language has the same length; some languages are shorter, while others are longer. When it comes to English to French translation, you can expect your sentences to expand by around 18%. On the converse, your text shrinks by this amount when translating from French to English.

The length of your content may seem trivial, but all providers of French translation services know it is an essential consideration. The expanded text can affect your document’s layout significantly! Be prepared to reformat your document or use shorter sentences while retaining the original message. Pay particular care to social media translations, which are often restricted by a strict character limit.

10. Choose the Right French Dialect

The French language is the official language of over 25 nations. These nations are spread over five continents, with every country having its own variation or dialect. The most notable differences are in the pronunciation of words, but there are also differences in formalities, grammar, and slang words.

It is essential to consider these cultural differences when you undergo a French translation. Using the correct version ensures your target audience can understand your English to French translation. The best way to avoid this is to have an audience profile with language or region preferences. If you’re still struggling, professional French translation services are advisable.

English to French Translation You Can Trust

If you’re struggling with your English to French translation even with these tips, call on the professionals. We are a leading translation agency offering high-quality French translation services in all industries and technicalities. No matter your requirements, our professional team of French translators can help you with your project.

Our company is member of the Association of Translation Companies in England and SDL LSP Partner Programme. If you have a document you need to translate, please contact our project managers today. Alternatively, click here to get a quote for your project and we will be in touch shortly.