Poll: How do you usually handle terminology consistency across projects?
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ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
STAFF DO SÍTIO
Apr 15

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you usually handle terminology consistency across projects?".

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Enrico Zoffoli
Enrico Zoffoli  Identity Verified
Itália
Local time: 07:26
Membro
Alemão para Italiano
+ ...
A mix of these Apr 15

Though now that I think about it, memory is surprisingly important in my case.

Christine Andersen
Philip Lees
 
Sebastian Witte
Sebastian Witte  Identity Verified
Alemanha
Local time: 07:26
Membro (2004)
Inglês para Alemão
+ ...
Concordance Search, dedicated Multiterm termbase, TM results Apr 15

See above.

expressisverbis
Christine Andersen
Luis M. Sosa
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Michelle den Boer
Michelle den Boer
Holanda
Local time: 07:26
Inglês para Holandês
TM Apr 15

Oh, I voted for memory, but I mean translation memory in CAT tools. 😅 It's more useful than a glossary or termbase, because it'll show the context, and matching different forms of words will work better too.

[Edited at 2026-04-15 15:55 GMT]


Luis M. Sosa
expressisverbis
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Dinamarca
Local time: 07:26
Membro (2003)
Dinamarquês para Inglês
+ ...
Definitely CAT features including the termbase Apr 15

My own memory often prompts me that there is something I should be looking for, and even tells me what it is, but I rely on CAT features, partly because they save typing! Once checked, the spelling is always correct, and I can insert whole strings with just a few keystrokes.

I have spent time entering terminology I have received from clients into the database or Autotext - it is usually well worth the effort.


expressisverbis
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 06:26
Membro (2007)
Inglês para Português
+ ...
A mix Apr 15

Except for CAT tools (I'm one of the last dinosaurs)...

 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 06:26
Inglês para Português
+ ...
My termbases, my glossaries and research Apr 15

In addition to what my colleagues mentioned, having a style guide and clear client guidance/instructions on preferred terminology is very helpful for maintaining consistency across projects.

Christine Andersen
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Michelle den Boer
Michelle den Boer
Holanda
Local time: 07:26
Inglês para Holandês
Outdated glossaries Apr 17

One downside of glossaries or termbases is that they might not be up-to-date, especially when they're maintained by the end client. Then you'll get repeated instructions to ignore the glossary for certain key terms.

 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Dinamarca
Local time: 07:26
Membro (2003)
Dinamarquês para Inglês
+ ...
Do you have a better solution? Apr 19

Michelle den Boer wrote:

One downside of glossaries or termbases is that they might not be up-to-date, especially when they're maintained by the end client. Then you'll get repeated instructions to ignore the glossary for certain key terms.


Glossaries and termbases are not carved in stone.

I have actively contributed to client termbases, or informed the client when I found terms that needed updating.
I make an effort to keep my own glossaries updated. In quiet periopds I check them, and as a matter of principle I add a note to some entries, giving the date when they were last checked. Then, when the term comes up, I can check again if it was a while ago, and update the note and the entry if necessary.

Other tems don't change so often!
I think this is the kind of thing humans wil have to do for some years yet - I would not rely on AI to do it!


expressisverbis
 
jyuan_us
jyuan_us
Estados Unidos da América
Local time: 01:26
Membro (2005)
Inglês para Chinês
+ ...
Across projects for whom? Apr 19

I believe the question can be rewritten as "How do you usually handle terminology consistency across projects for the same end client?" This is because each client may have its unique glossary, and different clients could have different preferences over the translation of particular terms. For example, "creditable coverage" is translated very differently in the glossary of each of my three health insurance clients. In this case, maintaining terminology consistency across projects assigned by dif... See more
I believe the question can be rewritten as "How do you usually handle terminology consistency across projects for the same end client?" This is because each client may have its unique glossary, and different clients could have different preferences over the translation of particular terms. For example, "creditable coverage" is translated very differently in the glossary of each of my three health insurance clients. In this case, maintaining terminology consistency across projects assigned by different clients can work against you.

[Edited at 2026-04-19 16:24 GMT]
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Michael Newton
Christine Andersen
Maria Laura Curzi
 


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Poll: How do you usually handle terminology consistency across projects?






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