Check source-file readiness before introducing a translation project

Confirm completeness and version

Ask whether the material is final and whether all pages are present, including reverse sides, appendices and attachments. Record the file name or version supplied. If the client has several similar files, ask which one controls the enquiry rather than choosing one yourself.

Explain the available formats. An editable document, a flattened PDF and a phone photograph offer different starting points. If layout recreation is required, mention whether source design files, fonts and linked assets can be supplied through an agreed process.

Flag quality issues without rewriting the source

Look for cut-off edges, blurred text, missing sections or protected files that cannot be opened. Ask the client for a better copy where possible. Do not fill unreadable text with assumptions or silently replace a document with an older version.

The referral brief should state what is available now and what remains outstanding. Enuncia can then review the actual work and confirm next steps. This preparation supports a clearer quotation conversation while preserving the client's source and intended scope.

Keep exploring

• A clearer scan can make a document translation enquiry easier to assess
• Flag names and dates clearly in a document translation enquiry
• Why your referral brief needs a language direction