Machine vs. Human Translation: What’s Right for Your Project?

In today’s fast-paced digital world, translation has become more accessible than ever. Thanks to artificial intelligence, you can translate entire web pages in seconds. But while machine translation tools like Google Translate or DeepL offer speed and convenience, they can’t always replace the nuance and precision of a professional human translator.

What is Machine Translation?

Machine Translation (MT) uses AI algorithms and neural networks to automatically convert text from one language to another. These tools have come a long way and are ideal for:

  • Getting the general meaning of a text

  • Translating casual or informal content

  • Speeding up internal communications

However, MT is far from perfect, especially when it comes to:

  • Complex sentence structure

  • Industry-specific terminology

  • Cultural nuances and tone

Even the best AI tools can misinterpret context — and sometimes, those errors can be costly.

Certified Means Trusted

When you work with PolyglotDocs, every certified translation:

What is Human Translation?

Human translation is performed by professional linguists who understand not just the language, but also the culture, tone, and purpose of the text. At PolyglotDocs, all our translators are certified experts with subject-matter knowledge in legal, medical, academic, and business fields.

Human translation is best for:

  • Certified or notarized documents

  • Legal, immigration, and academic materials

  • Marketing, branding, or creative content

  • Anything requiring perfect accuracy and compliance

Hybrid Approaches: The Best of Both Worlds?

In some cases, a hybrid approach works well — where machine translation is used for the initial draft, and a human translator edits and finalizes the content. This method balances speed with accuracy, especially for large projects.

At PolyglotDocs, we offer both options:

  • AI-Powered Instant Translations for fast, low-cost needs

  • Manual Certified Translations for official, business, and high-stakes content