Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE)
Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) is a hybrid workflow where content is first translated by an AI engine (Machine Translation) and then reviewed and refined by a human linguist (Post-Editing). This combines the speed of AI with the nuance and quality assurance of a human, creating the optimal balance for high-volume content.
The Modern Standard for Scalable Translation
MTPE is the evolution of translation: it's 40-60% faster than human-only translation but dramatically better quality than raw AI. Neural machine translation (NMT) handles 85-90% of the work instantly, and humans focus on fixing idioms, cultural nuances, and brand voice—the 10-15% where AI struggles. This workflow is ideal for high-volume content like product descriptions, help documentation, and news articles. For premium content (marketing campaigns, legal contracts), you might skip MT and use full human translation. For low-stakes content (support tickets), raw MT without editing is acceptable.
Raw MT vs. MTPE vs. Full Human
Real-World Impact
News site uses full human translation for all articles
High quality, but articles published 24 hours late
Loses traffic to competitors with faster coverage
Switch to MTPE workflow for breaking news
Articles published in 2 hours, 98% quality maintained
Captures trending traffic, revenue +45%