Correct grammar is a crucial feature of any piece of good writing. It lets your readers focus on the content and not on how an idea is expressed or the skills of the writer. Incorrect grammar can ruin credibility and ultimately the client’s. Therefore, correct usage of grammar is one of the important skills expected of a translator and translator checker. Given below are illustrations and tips on grammar issues and tips on how to work around them.

I.Maintain grammatical correctness and usage

II.Use active voice in English translations

I.Maintain grammatical correctness and usage

II.Use active voice in English translations

Because Japanese writing generally uses a lot of passive voice, translators tend to transfer the same structure into English. But passive voice in English writing may hamper fluency, and thus the English translated text may sound very much like Japanese. The following examples are typical cases of changing passive voice into active voice for better fluency. However, please be careful not to change the meaning when modifying the voice.

TIPS:

Where possible, break down a lengthy sentence without altering the meaning.

Use word(s)/phrase(s) that fit the purpose of the document, e.g., formal words in a research article.

Trim wordy expressions.

Use first-person plural pronouns, if there is more than one author or if the pronoun usage is suitable for the discipline.

Use first-person plural pronouns, if there is more than one author or if the pronoun usage is suitable for the discipline.

Be aware of discipline-specific trends in active–passive voice usage.

Additional Resources:

Grammar

http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules/20-Rules-of-subject-verbagreement.html for a quick glance through 20 rules of subject–verb agreement

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/hyphens.asp for a lowdown on the basic rules for hyphenation, including hyphens between words and hyphens with prefixes