ISO 18587

ISO 18587 defines the process by which professional translators or post-editors review and improve machine-generated text to meet the quality standards of human translation.

The standard focuses on ensuring that post-edited content is accurate, consistent, and fit for purpose, while clarifying the roles and responsibilities of translation service providers (TSPs), clients, and post-editors. It does not cover raw machine translation output without human intervention.

🧑‍💻 Who is it for? #️⃣

ISO 18587 is designed for translation service providers, post-editors, and organizations that integrate machine translation into their workflows. It is valuable for project managers who oversee MT + post-editing pipelines, as well as clients who want assurance that the output will reach professional translation quality.

☝️ Why is it important? #️⃣

As machine translation becomes more common in the language industry, the need for clear quality benchmarks has grown. ISO 18587 provides a recognized framework that distinguishes between raw MT and professionally post-edited MT. When following this standard, organizations reduce inconsistencies, set realistic expectations with clients, and guarantee that the final deliverables are comparable to human-only translation.

📌 Key points about ISO 18587 #️⃣

• Defines the post-editing process for machine translation output
• Specifies requirements for post-editors’ competence and responsibilities
• Clarifies the role of translation service providers in MT workflows
• Ensures that post-edited content achieves human-quality translation standards
• Excludes raw MT output without human post-editing

Note: The most recent edition is ISO 18587:2017, which is the first and only edition published to date. It was confirmed in 2022, meaning the current version remains valid. Since ISO standards are reviewed regularly, always consult the official ISO catalogue entry for the latest status.