ProZ.com Translation Forums

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | Would that be

Daryo — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 20:58:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Daryo
Post title: Would that be

[quote]Zea_Mays wrote:

... among the posts above... [/quote]

Would that be the spiritual heir of that Frenchwoman who few years ago was so busy promoting herself and her agency all over the place that she couldn't find time for such mundane tasks as paying translators?

It would take some time, but I could dig up the whole old story for any doubting Thomases - OTOH the new version is plain to see...

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | Guess which is the AI bot contribution

Zea_Mays — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:03:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Zea_Mays
Post title: Guess which is the AI bot contribution

... among the posts above...

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | Advice about getting a good night sleep

Daryo — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:46:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Daryo
Post title: Advice about getting a good night sleep

[quote]Circle Translations wrote:
...
At the same time, there are still many professionals and companies that value quality translation and fair collaboration.
...
[/quote]

Like this one?
[url removed] #:~:text=A%20lot%20of,company%3A%20stay%20away.

I don't know how you would feel about it, but I don't think I would want advice about getting a good night sleep from someone playing loud music all night.

Just a completely unrelated digression.

Proof/ Line Editing a Novel | @Zea

Jennifer Levey — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:13:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: Proof/ Line Editing a Novel
Poster: Jennifer Levey
Post title: @Zea

[quote]Zea_Mays wrote:

What's the point of those AI slop posts you seem to publish randomly?

On this page there's another of your bot pearls: [url removed]

[Bearbeitet am 2026-07-30 14:25 GMT] [/quote]

And here's (yet) another one:
[url removed] #3115684

It's all pretty amateurish - the bot can't even be bothered to invent a 'title' for its posts - it simply repeats the title written by the OP when starting the thread.
JL

Proof/ Line Editing a Novel | @Circle Translations = AI bot?

Zea_Mays — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:20:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: Proof/ Line Editing a Novel
Poster: Zea_Mays
Post title: @Circle Translations = AI bot?

What's the point of those AI slop posts you seem to publish randomly?

On this page there's another of your bot pearls: [url removed]

[Bearbeitet am 2026-07-30 14:25 GMT]

Proof/ Line Editing a Novel | Proof/ Line Editing a Novel

Circle Translations — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:47:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: Proof/ Line Editing a Novel
Poster: Circle Translations
Post title: Proof/ Line Editing a Novel

Hi,

The cost for proof/line editing of a fantasy novel depends on several factors, including the word count, the condition of the manuscript, and the level of editing you’re looking for.

For a basic proofread (grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting), pricing is usually lower. Line editing, however, involves a deeper review of sentence structure, readability, tone, flow, and consistency, so it typically costs more.

If you can share the approximate word count, your deadline, and whether you need proofreading only or a full line edit, I’d be happy to provide a more accurate estimate.

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership

Circle Translations — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:28:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Circle Translations

I can understand why you feel exhausted after so many years in the industry. The challenges you describe — unpaid test translations, excessive qualification requirements, low review rates, and agencies changing terms after collecting work are issues that many freelance translators have raised over the years.

At the same time, there are still many professionals and companies that value quality translation and fair collaboration. It may be worth stepping back from platforms that are causing frustration and focusing on direct clients, specialized niches, professional networks, or communities where translators have more control over their work and pricing.

Your experience and years of expertise are valuable, and the industry does need more discussions about fair compensation and ethical practices. Thank you for sharing your perspective, and I hope you find a path that brings back some of the satisfaction that made you stay in translation for so long.

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | First things first

Gregor Trebec — Sun, 10 May 2026 18:40:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Gregor Trebec
Post title: First things first

It makes me think most buiseness was running behind the scenes and we newcomers were just scraping the top. Now, i believe it is so bad that european agencies are paying asian ones to get data of translators here on Proz.com. That's why there are so much fishy job ads from Asia - to collect data. That's my 5 cents.

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | The quality debate: adapting or resisting?

Rodolfo Abachi — Sun, 10 May 2026 13:46:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Rodolfo Abachi
Post title: The quality debate: adapting or resisting?

I understand the frustration expressed in this thread. As a technical translator (EN-PT) specializing in commodities, petroleum, and legal/financial texts, I've observed a notable quality decline in the editing and reviewing space too.

On the 'quality standards dropping' discussion: I believe the editorial/reviewing market has become bifurcated. There's a growing 'good enough for mass consumption' tier (where AI and low-cost options thrive) and a shrinking but still valuable 'precision matters' tier.

For proofreading and editing in specialized fields - patent filings, commodity contracts, technical manuals where precision is legally and commercially critical - clients still need and pay for quality human review. The challenge is positioning ourselves in that tier and communicating our value clearly.

The 'careless writers meeting careless readers' observation rings true for marketing and general content, but not for regulated industries (finance, pharma, legal) where every word can have contractual or regulatory consequences.

For colleagues considering leaving: I'd suggest specializing more deeply rather than broadly. The generalist market is indeed under severe pressure. But specialists with deep domain knowledge in high-stakes fields still have a defensible position.

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | ROI

kd42 — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:52:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: kd42
Post title: ROI

[quote]Epameinondas Soufleros wrote:
Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency!
Careless writers meet careless readers, so everyone is happy, and the boss makes more money faster.[/quote]

This is not very damaging in fiction, but is lethal in farming, for example, where they have these "efficient managers" CEOs, shareholders, and banks who care only about ROI who will poison the land, the rivers, the lakes, the air, kill 90% of pollinators in order to meet the set numbers, until it all implodes, because if you treat farming and nature that way, the environment is going to change in a way which leads to human extinction.

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | Is it different

kd42 — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:43:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: kd42
Post title: Is it different

[quote]PAS wrote:
So, I guess, nobody cares anymore [/quote]
You are fundamentally wrong.
They perceive your message as whining of a mosquito, they are completely dumb, they miss the point that a human is trying to help them, they don't regard you as an intelligent being, but a translation apparatus.
They are incomplete, defective.
This is going to end very badly.

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | Sums it up

Lingua 5B — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:12:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Lingua 5B
Post title: Sums it up

[quote]Epameinondas Soufleros wrote: Careless writers meet careless readers, so everyone is happy, and the boss makes more money faster.

[Edited at 2026-05-06 17:26 GMT] [/quote]

This sums up the whole AI philosophy and generally the content consumption online - careless, shallow, no substance.

It’s about mass psychology. Go to a mass tourist venue and offer them to choose between some relaxing shallow evening fun event and a deep poetry read and then see where you get more people. And when it comes to sales and profit, it’s always about the quantity of consumers, not quality.

[Edited at 2026-05-06 18:44 GMT]

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | Good enough and other tales

Epameinondas Soufleros — Wed, 06 May 2026 17:25:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Epameinondas Soufleros
Post title: Good enough and other tales

[quote]PAS wrote:

My company issued a brand book recently and I politely told the issuers about typos and other minor problems in the text. I didn't even get a response to my email. Nobody said thank you, or piss off or anything (and no, the errors have not been fixed). [/quote]

Management gurus keep telling them that good enough is all they should care about. Efficiency is the top priority. A text does not need to be perfect. Most people are not going to read carefully. Why read when they can skim? Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency! Careless writers meet careless readers, so everyone is happy, and the boss makes more money faster.

[Edited at 2026-05-06 17:26 GMT]

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | It’s been measured

Lingua 5B — Wed, 06 May 2026 17:18:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Lingua 5B
Post title: It’s been measured

These things have been meticuoulsy measured by marketing experts, and yes, people don’t read, photos sell. It’s about statistical odds, a higher % of people watch.

I’m not talking about people who enjoy a good read, that has nothing to do with commerce, sales and trade.

Also it’s not about a subjective perception or subjective projection, but research results on a large group of subjects.

[Edited at 2026-05-06 17:18 GMT]

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | ..

ipv — Wed, 06 May 2026 17:13:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: ipv
Post title: ..

[quote]Lingua 5B wrote:
People don’t read, they rather look at photos. In marketing campaigns, photos matter more than lines not because they are worth more but because buyer’s attention is drawn towards them. They are easier, they boost dopamine reaction, reading is considered an unnecessary annoyance. Reading, imagining things in your mind, that’s so last century.

[Edited at 2026-05-06 14:54 GMT] [/quote]

I wouldn't agree.
(Un)Fortunately, "There is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NIV). In 1947 (if I'm not mistaken), Sartre wrote: "They read quickly, badly, and pass judgment before they have understood."

(If) We have survived it once; we can do it again. "After all... tomorrow is another day" ;-)

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | People don’t read

Lingua 5B — Wed, 06 May 2026 14:51:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Lingua 5B
Post title: People don’t read

[quote]PAS wrote:

As years go by, I see a gradual deterioration in attention to quality of written text. I think that we have become numb to all kinds of language atrocities due to our prolonged exposure to all kinds of written sewage being spilled on us in industrial quantity everywhere - from social media to text printed in what one would think would be a quality publication.
I sometimes point out to authors inconsistencies or logic issues in text I translate and more often than not all I get is a blank stare - they seem to not understand what is wrong with their precious document. My company issued a brand book recently and I politely told the issuers about typos and other minor problems in the text. I didn't even get a response to my email. Nobody said thank you, or piss off or anything (and no, the errors have not been fixed).
So, I guess, nobody cares anymore - it's done, it's understandable more or less, so why am I whining about insignificant stuff?

[Edited at 2026-05-06 13:26 GMT] [/quote]

People don’t read, they rather look at photos. In marketing campaigns, photos matter more than lines not because they are worth more but because buyer’s attention is drawn towards them. They are easier, they boost dopamine reaction, reading is considered an unnecessary annoyance. Reading, imagining things in your mind, that’s so last century.

[Edited at 2026-05-06 14:54 GMT]

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | It's gonna get better (or not?)

PAS — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:26:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: PAS
Post title: It's gonna get better (or not?)

As years go by, I see a gradual deterioration in attention to quality of written text. I think that we have become numb to all kinds of language atrocities due to our prolonged exposure to all kinds of written sewage being spilled on us in industrial quantity everywhere - from social media to text printed in what one would think would be a quality publication.
I sometimes point out to authors inconsistencies or logic issues in text I translate and more often than not all I get is a blank stare - they seem to not understand what is wrong with their precious document. My company issued a brand book recently and I politely told the issuers about typos and other minor problems in the text. I didn't even get a response to my email. Nobody said thank you, or piss off or anything (and no, the errors have not been fixed).
So, I guess, nobody cares anymore - it's done, it's understandable more or less, so why am I whining about insignificant stuff?

[Edited at 2026-05-06 13:26 GMT]

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership | Not to renew membership

Elaine Bossoni — Wed, 06 May 2026 10:50:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Elaine Bossoni
Post title: Not to renew membership

I understand you and believe that some people are struggling to continue in this profession, but I'm optimistic and I believe things will get better. The managers in the companies will see that the human being job is important and that machines can't do some jobs that we can due to feelings and purpose.

After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership

Andries Conradie — Wed, 06 May 2026 09:11:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: After nearly 20 years as Proz member: Forced to not renew membership
Poster: Andries Conradie

We all know what happened since January 2025. Jobs dried up. Companies like Schnellübersetzer announced insolvency starting a day before a large job had to be paid. I am saying goodbye to Proz, not because I want to, but because I have lost the will to fight. I have seen and experienced blood-chilling tactics by members: I will single out two. A book needs to be translated. We all apply and the best 10 of us systematically translate each one of the 10 chapters as "test translations". The book is translated for free by us and, I guess, the final reviewer of our "test translations" get paid. Secondly, a huge project is announced, I am contacted. Lots of forms are filled in, certified scans of my 10 degrees and diplomas, test translations. The outcome? The agency is awarded the project and they decide to do the work internally or with cheaper translators. We never learn because we have no choice, but to carry on, filling in forms, scanning degrees, translating test translations without compensation. Two weeks ago I reviewed a translation in Afrikaans of an important software banner for a medical trial. I retranslated the piece. I withheld a negative evaluation of the translator's work, because I always felt that he or she did the ground-breaking work. I worked for 5 hours, also because I work in Trados Studio and had to change the MEMOQ file. The PO afterwards announced my reward: $1.13. Out of experience I did not complain. They cannot continue with the translator, I thought. I was right, nearly right! They contacted me again to review the rest of the project starting 11 May, in other words that translator was still working. I accepted, but emailed following: "I “retranslated” the important banner sentence of the project for Eva xxxx for a “stupefying” $1.13 after 5 hours of work! Perhaps we should talk about the PO before you (company name) shock me out of my wits again." This I normally don't do because they will just award the job elsewhere. Then, 2 days later I received this reply: "Kindly note that you were assigned to review 2 tasks and client change the scope fir this project and they no longer need review 2." Look at the grammar and the diplomacy. I am still decent enough not to name the company.
Don't give up the good fight! My Proz membership expires today after nearly 20 years so I will not see anything anymore, I guess.

European Parliament - Call for expression of interest | Thanks!

Gerard Barry — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:49:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: European Parliament - Call for expression of interest
Poster: Gerard Barry
Post title: Thanks!

[quote]Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:

The European Parliament has recently launched a call for expression of interest for editors/proofreaders (temporary agents and officials, not freelance positions) in certain languages (Bulgarian, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Irish, Lithuanian, Maltese, Romanian and Swedish). In case any of my colleagues might be interested, here’s the link:

[url removed]
[/quote]

Thanks for this, looks very interesting!

European Parliament - Call for expression of interest

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:05:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: European Parliament - Call for expression of interest
Poster: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida

The European Parliament has recently launched a call for expression of interest for editors/proofreaders (temporary agents and officials, not freelance positions) in certain languages (Bulgarian, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Irish, Lithuanian, Maltese, Romanian and Swedish). In case any of my colleagues might be interested, here’s the link:

[url removed]

ATA Certification | Of course, but...

Peter Motte — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:22:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Peter Motte
Post title: Of course, but...

[quote]Michele Fauble wrote:

[quote]Alisha Rice wrote:

I actually do have plans to enter a doctoral program in the future and become an academic researcher as I do see the industry becoming more challenging. [/quote]

Read this:

[url removed]

[/quote]

He tells us AI is capable of doing the most complicated jobs all on its own, and he ends with

[quote]I know the people who will come out of this best are the ones who start engaging now — not with fear, but with curiosity and a sense of urgency. [/quote]

But what does he mean by that? Certainly not "learning how to use AI", because AI will replace everybody, even those using AI.

Because this doesn't hold up:

[quote]The person who walks into a meeting and says "I used AI to do this analysis in an hour instead of three days" is going to be the most valuable person in the room.[/quote]

He will be replaced, just as the others, because his manager will do it - and will get an end-of-year-bonus for firing him.

[Edited at 2026-02-21 09:25 GMT]

ATA Certification | ATA Certification

Michael Newton — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:02:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Michael Newton
Post title: ATA Certification

Some interpreting jobs, especially medical, require certification and the linguist must be bilingual, accustomed to working in both directions

ATA Certification | Interpreting seems a better option

Robert Forstag — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:34:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Robert Forstag
Post title: Interpreting seems a better option

[quote]Liviu-Lee Roth wrote:

Alisha, I have been in this field (translation AND interpreting) for over 35 years in the US.

When entering this field, you have to take into account the competition. In the US there are over 50,000 Spanish language linguists (compare to 52 in my language pair).

I suggest to consider judicial interpreting (court interpreter). I think your chances are much higher.

As my colleagues pointed out, the ATA certification is helpful, but not a guarantee to get a job. There are 570 certified Spanish translators registered with ATA.

Good luck!
Lee [/quote]

As a halfway decent side gig that doesn't reduce a linguist to the role of a mere clerical drudge, I would also recommend freelance interpreting over freelance translating.

[Edited at 2026-02-17 23:42 GMT]

ATA Certification | Added value of ATA certification

Robert Forstag — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:25:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Robert Forstag
Post title: Added value of ATA certification

[quote]Michael Newton wrote:

ATA certification is by no means a guarantee of jobs. There are people who are ATA certified who have trouble landing projects. [/quote]

This is such an (amusingly understated) important point, that it merits being amplified in something more than a mere "Agree."

In today's AI-dominated reality, ATA certification does not afford the prestige it once did. And given how expensive it has become to sit for the exam - and also considering the cost of maintaining certification (not just the annual dues but the courses to acquire needed CEUs), I would question whether all the effort and expense is worth it.

The point here is not to throw even more cold water on your quest for certification, but rather to ask that you pause and consider whether the game is worth the candle.

[Edited at 2026-02-17 21:50 GMT]

ATA Certification | Consider interpreting

Liviu-Lee Roth — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:09:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Liviu-Lee Roth
Post title: Consider interpreting

Alisha, I have been in this field (translation AND interpreting) for over 35 years in the US.

When entering this field, you have to take into account the competition. In the US there are over 50,000 Spanish language linguists (compare to 52 in my language pair).

I suggest to consider judicial interpreting (court interpreter). I think your chances are much higher.

As my colleagues pointed out, the ATA certification is helpful, but not a guarantee to get a job. There are 570 certified Spanish translators registered with ATA.

Good luck!
Lee

ATA Certification | Interesting...

Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:40:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
Post title: Interesting...

good article... but the author seems to contradict himself right at the end, where he says...

[i]Thank you to Kyle Corbitt, Jason Kuperberg, and Sam Beskind for reviewing early drafts and providing invaluable feedback.[/i]

You would have thought it wouldn't need that...

:D
[quote]Michele Fauble wrote:

[quote]Alisha Rice wrote:

I actually do have plans to enter a doctoral program in the future and become an academic researcher as I do see the industry becoming more challenging. [/quote]

Read this:

[url removed]

[/quote]

[Edited at 2026-02-14 12:44 GMT]

ATA Certification | Not just translation

Michele Fauble — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:17:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Michele Fauble
Post title: Not just translation

[quote]Alisha Rice wrote:

I actually do have plans to enter a doctoral program in the future and become an academic researcher as I do see the industry becoming more challenging. [/quote]

Read this:

[url removed]

ATA Certification | Sorry, Alisha

Samuel Murray — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:24:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Samuel Murray
Post title: Sorry, Alisha

[quote]Alisha Rice wrote:
For those who have replied or wish to reply further, my only request is for someone to review my translations and not to get feedback on whether I should take the exam or not. [/quote]
Sorry if we misunderstood your request, Alisha. Your post is titled "ATA certification" and the bulk of your original post appears to focus on the value of getting an ATA certification.

Have you thought of posting your request in the Spanish-language forum?
[url removed]

ATA Certification

Alisha Rice — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Forum: Proofreading / Editing / Reviewing
Topic: ATA Certification
Poster: Alisha Rice

I actually do have plans to enter a doctoral program in the future and become an academic researcher as I do see the industry becoming more challenging. Translation is something I want to continue to do but it won't be my main occupation, so thanks for the advice, but I already have a plan in place.