Translation Style Guides and Glossaries
What is a Style Guide and why you need to have one for successful translations.
In This Article:
Why is a Style Guide essential for your organization?
What kind of "rules" are in a Style Guide?
Three Reasons Why Your Style Guide and Glossary are Game-Changers
What is a Style Guide?
Think of a Style Guide as the "how-to-speak" manual for your organization.
It’s a simple, non-technical document that tells our translators and our translation technology exactly how your content should sound, look, and be worded in every language.
When you work in healthcare or law, every word is critical. Your Style Guide is the tool that ensures consistency across all your translated documents, making sure everything sounds like it came straight from your team.
Why is a Style Guide essential for your organization?
We know your organization deals with important, sensitive information—and when you translate that content, you can't afford misunderstandings.
A Style Guide is your best way to lock in that precision. It tells our translators exactly how to handle your unique terminology and tone, guaranteeing that every document, policy, or communication aligns perfectly with your brand standards. It removes all guesswork and ensures you get reliable results quickly.
What kind of "rules" are in a Style Guide?
This guide focuses on the specific preferences and language choices unique to your organization. It's not about basic grammar, it’s about your brand.
When you fill out your Style Guide, you are making powerful, empowering choices that guide every translation. Here is a breakdown of the key decisions you'll define:
| Category | Client Decisions | Why It Matters (The Jeenie Difference) |
| Brand Voice |
The subject you should be? (Informal/Formal) Colloquial expressions are generally? (Appropriate/In Appropriate) |
We ensure the feeling behind your words is never lost. This choice dictates how we adapt the language so your message lands with the perfect cultural and emotional tone. |
| Language Conventions |
Encourage the use of? (Active Voice/Passive Voice) Abbreviations? (Acceptable/Not Acceptable) |
These structural choices maintain consistency in your writing style. This is where you specify if your brand's voice leans toward direct communication (Active Voice) or a more passive style. |
| Key Terminology |
What is the background of your organization or brand? What product and/or services are being presented? |
This crucial background information helps our linguists truly understand who you are and what you do. The more context you provide about your mission, the better we can ensure the translated content aligns with your brand's core values. |
| Glossary Note |
If you already have an existing translation glossary or list of key terms, please share it! |
We make it simple: We can load your existing Glossary right into our platform immediately. This saves time and ensures instant consistency for your most important terms. |
| Audience Focus |
What audience or group(s) are you addressing? (e.g., Clinicians, staff, patients, general public). |
Crucial Input. Your audience dictates the vocabulary and formality. We tailor the language to the person reading it—from highly technical to warm and empathetic—to guarantee effective human connection. |
| Tone |
What is the tone of the text? (e.g., Approachable, confident, empathetic, authoritative.) |
We ensure the feeling behind your words is never lost. This defines your brand's personality, ensuring we adapt the language so your message lands with the perfect cultural and emotional tone. |
| Untranslatable Elements (Do Not Translate - DNT) |
For items like Website names, URLs, Branded names, Times, Numbers, Currencies, and Email addresses, you select: TRUE (Do Not Translate) or FALSE (Translate/Localize). |
Certain elements should never change. By selecting TRUE, you set a hard rule telling us to leave that item exactly as it is in the source language. By selecting FALSE, you authorize us to localize or translate that element (like dates or specific location names). |
| Formatting & Punctuation |
You set the rule by selecting TRUE or FALSE for statements like: Begin each bullet point with a capital letter. If a bullet point is a complete sentence, end it with a period. Abbreviations must end in a period. Do not use periods after units of measure (g, km, m). |
These detailed choices make sure the look of your content is polished and professional across all languages. You confirm which punctuation standards apply to maintain clean, consistent formatting throughout all your translated documents. |
Three Reasons Why Your Style Guide and Glossary are Game-Changers
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Stop Guesswork, Start Clarity (Clear & Simple): For complex professional fields, the meaning of a single word can be critical. Your Style Guide often paired with a Glossary of Key Terms, ensures precise terminology. If you already have a Glossary, please share it! If not, we'd be happy to help you build one. This precision ensures your content is accurate, clear, and easily understood by all your stakeholders, minimizing potential confusion or risk.
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Consistency Builds Trust (Confident): Imagine a client or regulatory body seeing slightly different wording in two separate documents—it can hurt credibility. The Style Guide ensures your voice, formatting, and key phrases are perfectly consistent across all languages and all projects, helping you maintain a professional, reliable brand image worldwide.
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Faster Results, Easier Approvals (Empowering): When our translators have your rules defined up front, they can get started immediately and nail the project on the first try. This means quicker turnaround times for you and less time spent reviewing translations, letting your team focus on their core mission.