Machine translation has become a powerful tool for scaling content across languages. But even with today’s advanced models, human refinement is still essential — and that’s where Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) comes in.
The challenge many teams face is simple:
Do we need Light MTPE or Full MTPE for this project?
Choosing the wrong level can lead to rushed content, damaged trust, or wasted budget. Choosing the right one helps your message land exactly as intended — clear, culturally correct, and consistently on-brand. This guide breaks it down in a practical, easy-to-understand way, with examples from sectors like fintech, NGOs, e-commerce, and healthcare.
If you choose the wrong level, you either waste budget polishing what didn’t need it, or you risk publishing content that damages trust. Below is a clear, practical guide to choosing the right MTPE level for your organization.
What is Light MTPE — and when it’s enough
Light MTPE (sometimes called “post-edit light” or “gisting”) focuses on clarity and basic correctness. The editor fixes obvious grammar, mistranslations, and confusing word order so the text is understandable, but they do not significantly change tone, style, or structure.
Use Light MTPE when:
- The text is for internal or rapid-use (internal reports, informal support tickets, draft social posts).
- You need speed and volume (large batches of user-generated content or backlogs).
- The goal is comprehension, not polished branding or legal accuracy.
Example:
An NGO translates community feedback from a chatbot. Light MTPE cleans the output so field teams understand the issues, but the text remains factual and direct — no marketing polish required.
What is Full MTPE — and when you must choose it
Full MTPE (a.k.a. “heavy post-editing” or “human-quality post-editing”) transforms machine output into content that reads like it was written by a native professional. Editors adjust tone, idiom, consistency, fluency, and cultural nuance. They may also restructure sentences, check facts, and ensure legal or medical accuracy.
Use Full MTPE when:
- The content is external-facing and brand-sensitive (marketing copy, product pages, press releases).
- The content carries high risk (medical instructions, legal text, financial terms).
- Your audience expects polished, culturally resonant text (customer-facing apps, ads, donor communications).
Example:
A fintech company translating onboarding text for a new market needs Full MTPE so financial terms, warnings, and call-to-actions are crystal clear and culturally appropriate. One wrong phrase and users may mistrust the product.
How to choose: the five decision criteria
Use this quick checklist to decide which MTPE level suits a given piece of content:
- Audience sensitivity — High-stakes audiences (patients, regulators, customers) → Full MTPE. Internal or exploratory audiences → Light MTPE.
- Purpose & channel — Legal/medical/financial and marketing content → Full MTPE. Internal notes, raw summaries, or logs → Light MTPE.
- Risk of misunderstanding — If a misread instruction could cause harm or financial loss → Full MTPE.
- Tone & brand voice — If you must maintain a specific brand personality → Full MTPE. For neutral factual content → Light MTPE.
- Budget & timeline — Full MTPE costs more and takes longer; Light MTPE is faster and cheaper.
Sector examples with practical recommendations
NGOs / Humanitarian (health alerts, evacuation notices)
- Recommended level: Full MTPE for public advisories and health instructions. Lives can depend on clarity. For internal situation reports, Light MTPE may suffice.
- Example: A health campaign message translated from English into several local languages must be carefully post-edited to preserve urgency, cultural context, and clear instructions.
Fintech (app UI, T&Cs, fraud warnings)
- Recommended level: Full MTPE for UI microcopy tied to transactions, security prompts, and legal notices. Light MTPE can work for internal analytics or aggregated logs.
- Example: A “Confirm Payment” flow needs Full MTPE so users understand fees and irreversible actions in local terms.
Healthcare (patient instructions, consent forms)
- Recommended level: Full MTPE always. Medical nuances, dosage details, and consent language require both precision and culturally sensitive phrasing.
E-commerce (product descriptions, FAQs)
- Recommended level: Light MTPE for catalog imports where speed is key; Full MTPE for hero product pages, marketing copy, and warranty or returns policies.
- Example: Bulk product feeds can be lightly edited for clarity, but a featured product description used in ads should pass through Full MTPE.
Typical MTPE workflow and quality checks
A reliable MTPE workflow keeps costs under control while protecting quality:
- Pre-edit (optional): Clean source text and simplify complex sentences before MT.
- Machine translation pass.
- Post-edit: Light or Full by an editor trained in the domain.
- Reviewer/QC: For Full MTPE, include a second reviewer or subject-matter expert for legal/medical/financial texts.
- Terminology check: Use glossaries and style guides to ensure consistency.
- User testing (optional): Pilot the translated content with a small group in-market for high-stakes communications.
Cost & turnaround expectations (rule of thumb)
- Light MTPE: faster, lower cost. Good throughput for large volumes. Turnaround can be hours to days depending on volume.
- Full MTPE: higher cost, higher quality—expect extra time for editing and review, especially with specialist reviewers.
Always budget both time and reviewer access for Full MTPE when compliance or safety is involved.
Quick checklist to paste into your localization brief
- Who is the audience? (internal / public / regulators)
- Purpose of the content? (inform / transact / market / legally binding)
- Is there safety/compliance risk? (yes → Full MTPE)
- Tone requirement? (brand voice required → Full MTPE)
- Volume & timeline (high volume/short time → Light MTPE preferred)
- Glossary available? (yes → improves both levels)
- Reviewers/SME available? (required for Full MTPE)
Final thought
Choosing between Light and Full MTPE isn’t about choosing “cheap” or “expensive.” It’s about choosing what your message needs to be effective.
Light MTPE gives you speed and clarity when you’re working at scale.
Full MTPE gives you precision, trust, and natural fluency when quality cannot be compromised.
When you match the right MTPE level to the right content, you get translations that do exactly what they’re meant to do — inform, guide, and connect with the audience you’re trying to reach.
Ready to Scale Your Content the Right Way?
Whether you need high-volume Light MTPE or precise, industry-ready Full MTPE, choosing the right level makes all the difference. At FYT Localization, we help NGOs, fintechs, healthcare organizations, and global brands deliver content that is clear, culturally accurate, and ready for impact across Africa’s diverse markets.
If your organization is expanding into new regions, improving multilingual communication, or building trust with multilingual audiences, let’s support you with the right MTPE approach.
👉 Contact us FYTLOCALIZATION to get a tailored MTPE recommendation for your project.
👉 Let’s make every word count — in every language you serve.
