The Linguist

Chartered Institute of Linguists SPRING 2025 The Linguist 33 OPINION & COMMENT Which are the best free productivity tools for translators? AI-powered tools can significantly enhance a freelance translator's workflow, boost productivity and even improve the quality of translations – provided they are used judiciously. They can help with many aspects of our business, from improving productivity and writing quality to managing finances and time effectively. And there are now some surprisingly effective free tools on offer. Nevertheless, vigilance is key. Free AI tools require careful oversight to ensure the final translation is accurate, culturally appropriate and aligned with the client's needs. Confidentiality remains a crucial aspect of the translation profession. It is vital to protect sensitive or private information shared by clients, so we should always ensure we are using reputable platforms and review their data security protocols. With this in mind, let's explore some of the best free productivity- boosting tools for freelance translators. 1 Writing assistants Freelance translators often work under time pressure and AI writing tools can help to improve clarity, paraphrase texts and refine the tone of translations. A few options I find useful include: • Grammarly. Checks for grammar, spelling and style issues, offering suggestions to improve fluency and readability. • Quillbot. Great for paraphrasing, refining drafts and enhancing the flow of your sentences. • Linguix. Focuses on grammar, punctuation and tone to ensure polished text. Managing finances For freelance translators, staying on top of finances is essential. These free accounting tools can help: • Wave. A popular accounting tool that offers invoicing, expense tracking and basic financial reporting. • Zoho Invoice. An intuitive platform to create and send professional invoices, track payments and manage clients. Time management and productivity Translation projects require careful time management and AI-powered productivity tools can help you to stay on track. Favourites include: • Toggl Track. Analyses your work habits and identifies productivity trends. This is ideal for tracking billable hours. • Clockify. A time-tracking tool with smart insights into how you allocate your time across projects. OCR and document conversion When working with scanned pdfs or non- editable formats, AI-powered OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tools are lifesavers. Among the best free options are: • Adobe Scan. A mobile app that converts images into editable text. • iLovePDF. Document conversion with some AI features for enhanced accuracy. • Google Drive OCR. Automatically extracts text from images and pdfs uploaded to Google Drive. AI should be seen as an assistant, freeing up more time for translators to focus on the creative and human aspects of their work. It's important to use technology thoughtfully and remain vigilant regarding data privacy and confidentiality. By embracing AI in a careful and informed manner, freelance translators can thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. Notes 1 For information on the AI-powered features of various CAT systems and AI-driven machine translation engines, see the previous instalment of 'The AI Toolbox' in the last issue (TL63,4). The AI toolbox ANNA RIOLAND Anna Rioland MCIL CL is a localisation expert and multilingual project management professional with a passion for languages and technology. TL © SHUTTERSTOCK

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