Ask a Colleague to Confirm Whether a Translated Phrase Changes a Commitment

Before you write

Use this example when a translation uses stronger wording than the original and you need the intended commitment verified before sending it. Gather the details below so the recipient can act without asking you to reconstruct the situation.

• Original phrase
• Proposed translated wording
• Person responsible for the actual commitment

An email you can adapt

The subject “Meaning check before sending [message]” identifies the request. Replace each bracketed field with a checked detail and remove any sentence that does not describe your situation.

Subject: Meaning check before sending [message]

Hi [name],
In the translated draft, [phrase] appears to promise [commitment], while the original says [more limited meaning]. Could you confirm the intended position and have the translation checked by someone competent in the relevant language and context? We should not send the stronger wording simply because it reads smoothly. I will keep the draft on hold until the responsible owner approves the actual meaning.
Best, [sender]

Check the boundary

A fluent translation can still change certainty, obligation or permission, especially in consequential statements.

What a useful reply should settle

The response should establish the intended commitment and the competent review needed for the translated version.

Compare the approved translation with the original meaning before sending it to the intended recipients.