MSO Canada

General

How can I receive a quote?

Please complete the form on our Contact page or send us an email with the content you’d like to get translated, edited, proofread or localized.

We’ll then assess the work and send you an official quote by email.

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What services do you offer?

We provide the following services:

• Certified translation of official documents (French-English, other languages)
• Translation (French-English, English-French)
• Editing and proofreading (English, French)
• Localization (Canadian English, Canadian French, Quebec French)

For more information, please see our Translation page.

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What are your standard rates and turnaround times?

We need to see your documents or files to prepare a quote.

Rates and turnaround times are based on the content, format, layout, length, degree of difficulty and specialization, etc.

Please fill out our form or send us an email to receive a quote.

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What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept payment by Interac e-Transfer, credit card, debit card or PayPal.

For more information, please see our Payment page.

Certified Translation

What is a certified translation?

A certified translation is an official, word-for-word translation of a document from a source language to a target language.

Certified translations are used in formal procedures and other situations that require certification to verify that the translation is complete and accurate. This gives the translated text the same legal value as the original.

Certified translations must include the translator’s name, contact information, statement, signature and/or seal.

Please note that in Canada an affidavit is not necessary if the translation is done by a certified translator in Canada.

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What is a certified translator?

A certified translator is a professional translator who meets the requirements in the country in question. In Canada, a certified translator must be a member in good standing of a provincial translators’ association. This accreditation is recognized in other countries as well.

Certified translators have extensive experience and have undergone rigorous specialized training. They are also well-versed in the linguistic, legal and cultural standards of both the source and target languages.

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What do your certified translations include?

All of our certified translation packages include the following:

• Translator’s declaration, with the certified translator’s name, contact information and statement of accuracy and completeness
• Official translation
• Copy of the original document

Each page of the translation package bears the signature and seal of the certified translator.

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What are the steps to get a certified translation?

First of all, we ask that you send us your documents so we can assess the work and provide you with a quote. To do this, please fill out our form or send us an email.

Once you’ve approved the draft, we’ll prepare the certified translation package. You’ll receive an electronic copy (PDF) by email. If you requested a hard copy as well, it will be sent to the mailing address you provided by ground mail or courier service, depending on the delivery method you selected.

Once you’ve approved the quote and made the payment, we’ll get started on the translation. We always perform a quality control check before sending you the final draft for approval.

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Do I need to provide the original documents?

No, you do not need to provide the original documents. We can work directly with scanned copies or photos.

Please make sure that the files you send us are clear, legible and complete.

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What cities or countries do you provide services to?

We can provide services to every city and country in the world.

We are based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, but have clients throughout all of Canada and abroad (USA, Europe, etc.).

We can work directly with scanned copies or photos of your documents, so no need to provide the originals.

We will send you an electronic copy (PDF) of the certified translation by email. If you also need the hard copy, we can send it by ground mail or courier service.

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What language pairs do you work in?

We specialize in French-English translations.

However, we also work with a network of experienced and reliable translators in other languages, such as: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Ukrainian, just to name a few.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will let you know if we can help you.

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What types of documents do you translate?

We translate a wide variety of documents in the fields of administration, government, education, law and immigration, as well as audio recordings, just to give a few examples.

Please see the list below for more details.

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I have a request for a language or document that isn’t listed on your website, what should I do?

Please fill out our form or send us an email.

We will assess the work and let you know if it’s something we can help you with.

Translation, Editing and Proofreading

What types of documents do you translate, edit or proofread?

We work with a wide variety of documents, such as:

• Letters, emails and communications
• Press releases
• Newsletters
• Website content
• Social media posts
• Product descriptions
• Blog posts and articles
• Résumés, CVs and cover letters
• Labels and packaging
• And much more

Please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will let you know if we can help you.

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What file formats do you work with?

We work with most file formats, including:

• Images: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, ico, webp
• Documents: pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, pps, ppsx, odt, xls, xlsx, xml
• Web: html
• Audio: mp3, m4a, ogg, wav

If you have another type of file, please don’t hesitate to send us an email and we will let you know if we can help you.

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Certified translation vs. regular translation: what’s the difference?

A regular translation is done by a professional translator with experience in the subject matter. It is usually delivered in the same file format as the original. The translation can be adapted according to the client’s instructions and preferences (style guides, word choice, vocabulary, etc.).

A certified translation is done by a certified translator who is a member in good standing of a Canadian translators’ association. It includes the certified translator’s official declaration, contact information, signature and/or seal. It is sent in a non-editable PDF format and/or hard copy. The translation must be a word-for-word, complete translation to meet the requirements for formal applications.

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Editing vs proofreading: what’s the difference?

Editing takes place before proofreading. It can include copy editing, stylistic editing and comparative editing.

Copy editing involves carefully correcting and polishing language, such as grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax and vocabulary.

Stylistic editing involves adjusting and refining style, such as language level, tone, flow, clarity, coherence and sentence structure.

Comparative editing involves comparing the content of the source text to the translated text, line by line, to check the accuracy of the translation and to correct any omissions or mistranslations.

Proofreading takes place after editing. It is the careful examination of the document in its final format before it goes to print, to correct errors in textual and visual elements (typos, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, formatting and page layout, for instance).

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How do you select your linguists?

All of our linguists have passed a thorough vetting process, including a credentials check, test and/or work sample assessment. Most of them are professionals with whom we’ve worked for many years and have built a relationship of trust.

Our linguists have completed studies and training in translation and have extensive experience in their areas of expertise. They are proficient in the source language and only translate into their native language. They are also well-versed  in the linguistic, cultural and legal specificities of both languages.

Our Areas of Expertise