The demand for language services has soared with the advent of machine translation and globalisation. Yet in fields such as law and science, a translation error is not just a stylistic detail: it can cost a contract, invalidate an academic article or even jeopardise an institution’s credibility. Today we take a look at the most common errors and the keys to avoiding them.
Introduction
Translation is much more than transferring words from one language to another. In legal and scientific contexts, accuracy is synonymous with security. A poorly translated contract can trigger legal disputes, while a scientific paper with ambiguous terminology may be rejected by an international journal.
Legal and scientific translation errors not only obstruct communication — they also damage trust and reputation among clients, investors, and readers.
Common Errors in Legal Translation
Law is one of the fields most vulnerable to linguistic inaccuracies. Some of the most frequent pitfalls include:
– False friends: Words such as consideration (meaning “counter-performance” or “something of value exchanged,” not “consideración”) or injunction (meaning “court order” or “interim measure,” not “injunción”) are often mistranslated.
– Different legal systems: Translating notary public as "notario" may be correct in some contexts but misleading in others, because English common law notaries are not equivalent to Spanish notaries: the former only certify the authenticity of a signature and the signatory’s identity, while the latter are career lawyers who attest to the public authenticity, legality and form of documents.
– Ambiguous clauses: A single misplaced comma can change the scope of contractual obligations.
– Outdated terminology: Relying on obsolete glossaries can lead to translations that do not reflect current legal practice.
These are not innocent mistakes — they can render contracts void or trigger legal disputes or serious credibility issues.
Common Errors in Scientific Translation
Academic writing presents its own set of linguistic traps:
– False cognates: The adjective significant does not always mean “significativo”; in many cases, it refers to “statistically significant.”
– Excessive literalness: Rendering randomised trial as “juicio aleatorio” instead of the correct “ensayo clínico aleatorizado.”
– Inappropriate style: Scientific articles require a formal, clear register — not the rigid phrasing typical of raw machine translation.
– Loss of methodological precision: Confusing terms such as bias (“sesgo”) or sample (“muestra”) can alter the meaning of research findings.
Even minor translation errors in academic texts can lead to editorial rejection or misinterpretation of results.
How to Prevent Legal and Scientific Translation Errors
The good news is that these issues are entirely preventable with the right professional approach. Some key best practices include:
– Specialization: Work with translators trained in law or science who can interpret concepts within their proper context.
– Up-to-date terminology management: Use current glossaries and terminological databases.
– Peer review: In scientific translation, having another subject-matter expert review the text before submission is highly recommended.
– Professional post-editing: Combine the speed of machine translation with expert human revision to ensure accuracy and clarity.
– Clear communication with the client: Understanding the relevant legal system or scientific field is essential to choosing the right terminology.
Conclusion
Legal and scientific translation demands exceptional precision and domain expertise. Common errors — from false friends and legal system mismatches to ambiguous wording and excessive literalness — can have significant financial, legal, and reputational consequences.
Investing in specialized translation professionals is the best way to ensure accuracy, security, and credibility. In legal contexts, this safeguards contracts and legal opinions. In science, it enhances international reach and increases the chances of publication.
Expert Legal and Scientific Translation Services
At Hasting Traducciones, we provide specialized translation and post-editing services for the legal and scientific sectors. Our proprietary 4E Method — Experience, Exactness, Efficiency, and Empathy — ensures that every document communicates trust and precision. Do you need legal certainty for your contracts or greater visibility for your academic articles? Contact us and take your texts to the next level.
