Glossary of Translation Terms

If you don't order translations regularly there might be some terminology you are unfamiliar with. This guide provides definitions for common terms you might run across.

Have questions? Contact us

Terms

If you don't order translations regularly, there might be some terminology you are unfamiliar with. This guide provides definitions for common terms you might run across. At RushTranslate, we have worked with tens of thousands of clients with diverse needs and uses for the translations we provide. We know that the circumstances and language barriers that have brought them to us already present significant challenges, usually mixed with meaningful hopes and concerns. That is why we do our very best to offer friendly, thorough customer service and to make sure each step along the way is explained patiently and well.

One area we confront frequently concerns the various terms that accompany the translation process. Any activity is more difficult if someone doesn't understand the words being used to describe it—especially if it involves official and other critical documents. To make our clients more comfortable with the work we will be doing together, we have put together this glossary of terms. And of course, feel free to ask our support team for a more in-depth explanation of any term or concept.

Term Description
Affidavit A sworn statement often required for court proceedings. Also, the Certificate of Translation Accuracy included with a certified translation is a type of affidavit.
ATA The American Translators Association (ATA) is the largest professional association of translators and interpreters in the US. RushTranslate is a corporate member (#263976) of the ATA.
Apostille A specialized certificate issued by the secretary of state or the US Department of State depending on the origin of the document. The apostille authenticates the signer of the document so it will be accepted in one of the other countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. More details in our apostille guide.
Certified Translation A word-for-word human translation of documents delivered on RushTranslate letterhead including a signed and stamped Certificate of Translation Accuracy for official use as required by US Immigration (USCIS), universities, courts, and many local, state, and federal governments. More details.
Credential Evaluation The process of examining the academic or professional achievements or rankings bestowed upon a client in one country and determining their equivalence and suitability in another country. Evaluations typically address academic courses, education degrees and/or work experience. More details in our credential evaluation guide.
Currency Conversion The process of determining the value of one monetary sum when it is moved to a different monetary system. Determining the equivalent of an amount of dollars in euros is one example. Usually time-dependent, owing to the fluctuating value of monetary units.
Editable Format Documents are editable when they are delivered to the client in such a way that the client makes additional changes to them. Word documents (DOCX) and text (TXT) documents are examples. Non-editable refers to a type of document to which the client cannot make changes. PDF and JPG are examples.
Expedited Turnaround An optional service that reduces the turnaround time of a translation by approximately 50%. The order will be prioritized by the translator and extended hours worked.
File Format The type of file that makes up the document or contains information for a document such as DOCX, JPG, PDF, or TXT.
Hard Copy An optional service where the original translation with wet ink signatures is shipped via USPS Priority or Express mail.
Notarization The notary public is authenticating the signer of the translation certification that comes with a certified translation. This creates a chain of authentication and validation that receivers of the translation can rely on. More details in our notarization guide.
Page Count In the context of a certified translation, a page is defined as 250-words or fewer, including numbers. More details in our how to count pages guide.
Revision Once the translation is complete clients can request revisions from their order status page. Revisions will be reviewed by the translator and applied if appropriate.
Standard Translation A human translation of documents or text-based content delivered in an editable format for business or personal use. Perfect for legal documents, employee manuals, business communications, blog posts, product descriptions, and many other documents and types of content. More details.
Turnaround Time The amount of time between when an order is assigned to the translator after being processed by our support staff and when the digital copy of the translation is available for the client to download. Since we only offer human translation, we provide estimated turnaround times and not guaranteed turnaround times, though our estimates are very accurate. More details in our translation turnaround times guide.
USCIS The United States Customs and Immigration Service. The department that oversees the approval process for individuals wanting to visit or move to the US as a student, long-term resident or potential citizen. This is the most frequent recipient of certified translations that we provide.
Word Count The total number of words in a document to be translated. The total word count of the documents in an order determines the price of the order. If you are unsure of your word count, please request a quote.
All guides