Composition Editor Linguistic QC Error Codes

Awkward line break in a subtitle in which space is available for a better line break.
Example of when to use: An article or preposition is left at the end of the top line of a subtitle.

The translation contains inconsistencies.
Example of when to use: Unjustified inconsistent use of formal/informal address between two characters, inconsistent translation of a character name or a key phrase.

Inappropriate use of a culture-specific reference that will not be understandable to the intended audience.
Example of when to use: Transliterating Martha Stewart's name to mean someone who's a great cook.

Text of a forced subtitle is not formatted correctly.
Example of when to use: If the sentence case was used in a forced subtitle when the style guide says to use ALL CAPS.

Grammatical errors, including incorrect use of capital letters.
Example of when to use: Incorrect use of pronouns, incorrect sentence structure, unidiomatic use of language, capitalization rules of the target language are not adhered to, for example in titles of books, films, etc.

The translation is objectively wrong.
Example of when to use: The translator has misunderstood the original text. When a literal translation was used instead of the intent. E.g., play on words, idioms, jokes, etc. Do not use this error code if the translator altered the meaning of the translation slightly in order to make the subtitle readable or due to space constraints but the general meaning is conveyed. In such cases use the Stylistic error code.

Italics are not used according to the style guide of the target language.
Example of when to use: Italics weren’t used when the language style guide stipulates they should be used for off-screen narrators, voices over the phone, etc. Or for titles of books, films, etc.

Plot-pertinent translation missing.
Example of when to use: A required subtitle was omitted or the translation in a subtitle is missing plot-pertinent information from the source language.

Numbers are incorrect in the translation.
Example of when to use: A number does not match the template/source. Inappropriate unit of measurement/currency for the target language (e.g., not converting miles to kilometers or gallons to liters) or the conversion is incorrect. Time expressed with numbers is incorrect. Numerals were used for numbers 1 to 10 (if the style guide stipulates they should be written “one,” “two,” … “ten”).

Incorrect or missing punctuation.
Example of when to use: Incorrect usage or missing end punctuation, indicating questions unnecessarily, missing opening question mark in certain languages, etc.

The reading speed is too high.
Example of when to use: There is too much text in a subtitle to be comfortably read by the audience. The translation needs to be edited down.

The translation is not required.
Example of when to use: The translation of the on-screen text would be the same as the original, a forced subtitle is not needed for the audience to understand the on-screen text. Translation of a word on its own like “yes” or “no” is not necessary because the target audience will understand it, etc.

Incorrect formatting of subtitles which include dialogue for two speakers.
Example of when to use: There is no space after the dialogue dash when the style guide stipulates there should be, or vice versa. There are two dashes (one for each speaker) when the style guide says only the second line should have one.

Speaker ID or sound effect/music cue missing.
Example of when to use: In hard of hearing subtitles, the speaker ID for a character speaking off-screen is missing or the description of a sound effect of music cue is not present.

Misspelled word or repetitions in the translation.
Example of when to use: Typos, spelling mistakes, or incorrect repetition of words.

Improvements to the translation.
Example of when to use: The translation accurately conveys the meaning of the dialogue but you feel there is a better way to translate the text of the source language.

Issues with the translator credit.
Example of when to use: The translator credit is missing when there is a subtitle present in the template to include it. Translator credit subtitle was not omitted when instructions were given not to include it.