Why a translation rate per word?

Defining the cost of a service and of an “intangible” asset is never easy. The rate per word in the field of professional translations is the most popular and accurate method for working out a fair and proportionate cost for the volume of text to be translated. It is applied to the number of words in the source text and enables the customer to easily verify the final cost.

The rate “per word” does not mean that each word has its own cost.It is simply a measure recognized by professionals internationally to calculate the volume of text and the effort required to do the job properly.

Along with the simpler words or phrases that enable us to proceed swiftly in our work, in specialist translations we often come across complex terms or concepts, elaborate texts that require specific expertise and can mean hours of research, in-depth study and discussion with the customer.

Some people measure this effort by counting characters and therefore use a translation rate per page; however, for decades there has been a debate as to what a translation page actually is: a unit of measurement more suited to the era of typing, but which now seems outdated by writing and assisted translation tools.

Rates per word may vary according to the complexity of the source text: the same conditions will not apply to a short business letter as to an essay on art criticism.

Finally, let’s consider that the rate does not only “contain” the work of transposing a single word into another language: it is the work and expertise of many people (project managers, translators, revisers) who work together to achieve the best possible results in terms of quality, while also incurring significant costs due to technology, training, IT security and other working tools.

Applying a rate per word therefore means using the best available criteria to achieve a fair result, balanced with the skills and time required for the entire project.