What to Do When You’re Asked to “Polish” Bad MT Output at Low Rates

It’s a scenario every MT post-editor eventually faces: a client sends you poorly generated machine translation and asks you to “just polish it”—often at a rate far below what the work deserves. The MT output is incoherent, mistranslated, or barely usable, yet you’re expected to deliver clean, publication-ready content with minimal time and compensation.

So, what should you do when this happens? Here’s a guide to navigating these requests professionally, confidently, and in a way that protects your time and your value. (See also the two email templates at the bottom)

1. Recognize Red Flags

If a client uses phrases like:

  • “Just a quick polish”
  • “It doesn’t need to be perfect”
  • “It’s already translated — just edit lightly”

…yet the output is clearly unusable, that’s a sign they may be undervaluing your work, and the work required.

2. Evaluate the Quality Before Accepting

Ask for a sample of the MT output before committing to the project. Review it for:

  • Mistranslations
  • Omitted or repeated segments
  • Structural or fluency issues
  • Style and terminology mismatches

Tip: If more than 30% of the content needs rewriting, the task is likely closer to re-translation, not post-editing.

3. Reframe the Task

Instead of accepting the job as-is, respond professionally and reframe:

“Thank you for the sample. Based on the quality of the MT, this would require substantial rewriting to meet your expectations. I recommend treating it as a full translation or a full post-editing task. Here’s my adjusted rate.”

This shows:

  • You’ve evaluated the content carefully
  • You’re offering an honest, quality-focused approach
  • You understand the value of your time and expertise

4. Know When to Say No

Sometimes, a polite no is the best business decision.

“Given the quality of the source, I’m unable to offer a light post-editing service at the proposed rate. I’d be happy to work on this as a full translation project if that’s of interest.”

Protecting your standards helps preserve your reputation, conserve your energy, and maintain your long-term earning potential.

5. Educate the Client (Tactfully)

Many clients genuinely don’t understand the difference between:

  • High-quality MT needing light edits
  • Poor MT requiring full rework

Offer a brief explanation or comparison:

“High-quality MT can often be polished quickly, but in this case, the errors affect meaning and readability. Fixing them takes time and professional judgment—more like full translation than editing.”

If they value quality, they’ll often respond positively.

6. Create a Rate Framework

To make things easier in the future:

  • Define rates for light PE, full PE, and re-translation
  • Offer to assess samples for free or a small evaluation fee
  • Include “MT quality threshold” notes in your terms & conditions

Having this structure in place sets expectations early and avoids awkward negotiations later.

How to reply

Here are two email templates you can use to reply when you’re asked to post-edit a bad MT output at low rates.

Email Template: Polite Decline of Low-Quality MT Post-Editing Request

Subject: Re: Post-Editing Request – Project Assessment & Recommendation

Dear [Client’s Name],

Thank you for considering me for this project and for sharing the sample of the machine-translated content.

After reviewing the material, I’ve found that the current MT output would require substantial revision to meet your quality expectations. Due to the number and severity of issues  (including mistranslations, inconsistent terminology, and structural inaccuracies), the task goes beyond the scope of light post-editing and is closer to full retranslation.

To ensure a polished and publication-ready result, I would recommend approaching this as a full post-editing or translation project. If you would like to proceed on that basis, I would be happy to provide a revised quote accordingly.

Alternatively, if your timelines or budget are better suited to light post-editing tasks, I’d be glad to revisit future projects where the MT quality aligns with that workflow.

Please let me know how you wish to proceed, and thank you again for reaching out. Best regards,

Email Template: Accepting MTPE Project with Adjusted Rate Due to Quality

Subject: Re: Post-Editing Request – Project Assessment & Revised Quote

Dear [Client’s Name],

Thank you for sending over the sample of the machine-translated content. I appreciate the opportunity to assess the material before starting.

Upon review, I’ve found that while the MT output provides a base, it contains a significant number of issues, including mistranslations, style inconsistencies, and terminology challenges. To ensure the final text meets professional standards, the editing required goes beyond light post-editing.

With that in mind, I’d be happy to proceed with the project under a full post-editing rate, which reflects the level of reworking involved. I’ve attached a revised quote for your consideration based on this scope.

Please let me know if this aligns with your expectations, and I’ll be happy to confirm availability and next steps.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Best regards,

Conclusion

Being asked to polish bad MT at low rates is frustrating, but it’s also an opportunity to educate, advocate, and reinforce your professional boundaries. By reviewing the content, reframing the task, and communicating your value clearly, you protect not just your income but the credibility of the entire MT post-editing profession. Always remember: your skills deserve fair compensation, especially when the MT doesn’t deliver.
Read also Client Education: What Clients Often Misunderstand About MT Post-Editing.

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