Professional post-editing of machine-translated content for accurate, natural and reliable results.
Machine translation can be useful, but raw machine output is not a finished professional translation. MTPE, or machine translation post-editing, combines machine translation with human linguistic review so that the final text is corrected, clearer and more suitable for its intended use.
At PangeaVox Translation, we provide MTPE for suitable content where machine translation can support the workflow without removing the need for human control. The level of editing depends on the quality of the machine output, the type of content, the target audience, the risk level and the final use of the text.
MTPE starts with assessment. If the machine translation output is too poor, a human translation workflow may be more efficient and reliable. For projects that require a full human translation process, clients can review our Translation Services.
MTPE can be useful when the content is structured, repetitive, high-volume or regularly updated, and when the machine output is good enough to be corrected efficiently by a human reviewer.
It may be suitable for internal materials, support content, knowledge base articles, product descriptions, e-commerce listings, technical updates, recurring documentation, structured corporate content and other lower-risk texts where the expected quality level is clearly defined.
A good MTPE project has a clear brief, suitable source text, usable machine output, terminology guidance and realistic expectations about the final quality level.
Best suited for:
Structured content, repetitive materials, high-volume documentation, support articles, product content, knowledge bases, technical updates and internal documents.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Source files, machine translation output if available, content type, target audience, intended use, expected quality level, terminology requirements, risk level and deadline.
MTPE is not suitable for every project. Some content requires a full human translation workflow from the start, especially when the risk level is high or the text depends heavily on nuance, creativity, legal meaning, safety-critical wording or brand voice.
High-risk legal, certified, medical, safety-critical, regulatory, highly creative, brand-sensitive or publication-critical documents may need human translation, specialist revision or an extended review process rather than standard MTPE.
Poor machine output can also make MTPE inefficient. If the reviewer needs to rewrite most of the text, a fresh human translation may be faster, safer and more cost-effective.
Best suited for:
Clarifying when a human translation or extended review workflow is more appropriate than MTPE.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Document type, intended use, risk level, target audience, publication status, any formal requirements and whether the text is legal, medical, safety-critical, creative or brand-sensitive. For full human workflows, clients can review our Translation Services.
Light MTPE focuses on making the machine-translated text understandable and usable for a limited purpose. The editor corrects major meaning errors, serious grammar issues, obvious terminology problems and content that could mislead the reader.
This level is usually not intended to produce polished publication-quality text. It may be suitable for low-risk internal understanding, quick information review or content where style and tone are not the main priority.
Light MTPE should be selected only when the client understands the limitations of the workflow and does not require a fully polished final text.
Best suited for:
Low-risk internal content, quick information review, internal understanding, draft-level support and non-public materials.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Purpose of use, target audience, expected quality level, whether the text will be published, terminology requirements and any sections that require special attention.
Full MTPE is a more thorough post-editing workflow. The goal is to produce a target text that is accurate, fluent, consistent and suitable for the intended use, provided that the machine output is good enough to support this process.
The editor checks meaning, terminology, grammar, style, consistency, completeness, formatting and suitability for the target audience. Depending on the project, additional revision or quality control may be recommended.
Full MTPE may be appropriate for client-facing or publishable content where machine translation quality is usable and the workflow is clearly defined from the start.
Best suited for:
Client-facing materials, structured publication content, product content, support articles, technical updates and recurring documentation where machine output is suitable.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Source files, machine translation output if available, publication status, target audience, expected quality level, terminology requirements, reference materials and deadline.
During MTPE, the reviewer checks whether the machine-translated text accurately reflects the source text and whether it is suitable for the intended use. A machine-generated text may sound natural while still containing errors.
Depending on the project, MTPE checks may include meaning, mistranslations, omissions, unsupported additions, terminology, numbers, names, dates, grammar, punctuation, style, consistency, formatting, tags, placeholders, links, instructions and client-specific requirements.
For structured digital or technical content, special attention may be needed for variables, UI strings, product names, commands, file names, character limits and formatting constraints.
Best suited for:
Machine-translated content that requires human correction, terminology control, consistency checks and suitability review.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Source files, machine output, glossary, style guide, previous translations, placeholders or tag instructions, formatting requirements, quality expectations and deadline.
AI-assisted translation workflows can increase speed in suitable situations, but they still require human control. A fluent text is not necessarily a correct text. It may contain inaccurate meaning, missing information, invented content, wrong terminology, inconsistent tone or unsupported additions.
Human review checks whether the output is reliable, complete and appropriate for its purpose. This is especially important for legal, technical, medical, financial, corporate, official or client-facing content.
For projects involving AI-supported translation workflows, clients can also review our AI Translation page.
Best suited for:
AI-assisted translation workflows, machine-generated text, large-volume projects and content where human review is required before use.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Source files, AI-generated or machine-translated output, intended use, risk level, target audience, terminology requirements, expected quality level and deadline.
MTPE can be used in different ways depending on the content type. Product descriptions, knowledge base articles, support materials, internal documents, e-commerce listings, technical updates and recurring content may each require different editing priorities.
For product content, terminology and consistency are often important. For support content, clarity and usability matter. For technical materials, numbers, commands, product names, variables and procedural accuracy may need closer checking. For internal documents, the expected quality level may be more flexible if the purpose is information only.
The workflow should be selected before the project begins, so that the level of editing matches the content type, risk level and final use.
Best suited for:
Product descriptions, knowledge bases, support articles, technical updates, e-commerce listings, internal materials and recurring documentation.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Content type, volume, file format, target audience, intended use, risk level, recurring terminology, reference materials and required delivery format.
Quality control for MTPE requires more than correcting obvious language errors. The reviewer checks whether the machine output is accurate, complete, consistent and appropriate for the expected quality level.
Terminology is especially important for technical, legal, medical, financial, corporate, software and product content. Glossaries, style guides, previous translations and client instructions help maintain consistency across files and projects.
Confidentiality also matters. MTPE projects may contain internal documents, product information, client data, commercial materials or sensitive technical content. For more information about our broader quality process, clients can review our Quality Assurance page.
Best suited for:
MTPE projects requiring terminology control, human quality review, confidential handling and consistent output across large or recurring content sets.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Glossary, style guide, previous translations, approved terminology, confidentiality requirements, intended use, expected quality level and any client-specific instructions.
MTPE may be the right workflow for some projects, but not for all content. Depending on the document type, risk level and final use, related services may be more appropriate.
For documents that require a full human translation workflow, clients can review Translation Services. For AI-supported workflows, clients can review AI Translation. For websites, apps, interfaces and digital customer journeys, Localisation may be required. For formatted files, manuals, reports, brochures or PDFs, Desktop Publishing can help preserve the final layout after editing.
Clients can also return to the main Linguistic Services overview to compare available service types.
To help us provide the best possible service, please share the following information:
Source language and target language
Source files
Machine translation output, if already available
Content type
Volume or word count
Target audience
Intended use of the final text
Expected quality level
Whether light MTPE or full MTPE is required, if known
Risk level
Publication status
Glossary, style guide or previous translations
Terminology requirements
Formatting, tag, placeholder or file handling instructions
Desktop publishing or localisation requirements, if applicable
Confidentiality or delivery requirements
Deadline
If you are not sure whether MTPE is suitable for your project, you can send the files through the Request a Quote page and we will assess the most appropriate workflow.
Send us your source files, machine translation output and project requirements, and we will assess whether light MTPE, full MTPE or another workflow is the most suitable option.