Scientific Translation
Translation of research papers, lab reports, protocols and datasets, with nomenclature, units and numbers carried over exactly.
The short answer
Scientific translation keeps the parts of a text that are already international: chemical names follow IUPAC rules, species names stay in Latin under the zoological and botanical codes, and SI units and symbols do not change. The SI allows a point or a comma as the decimal marker, so numbers are converted to the target convention with care.
Rules that apply
Each rule links to its source. Checked 4 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the office that will receive your documents.
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| Chemical names follow IUPAC nomenclature recommendations, which have standard forms in English. | IUPAC, Nomenclature |
| Scientific names of animals are Latin binomials governed by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and are not translated. | ICZN, The Code |
| The SI Brochure permits either a point or a comma as the decimal marker, and recommends grouping digits in threes with a thin space, not a comma. | BIPM, The International System of Units (SI Brochure) |
| Republishing a paper in another language is acceptable secondary publication only with approval of both journals and citation of the original. | ICMJE Recommendations |
| Research findings filed in a US patent application in another language need an English translation with an accuracy statement. | 37 CFR 1.52(d) |
What scientists send us
Papers and preprints for a second journal or a funder, lab reports and certificates of analysis from foreign partners, study protocols and SOPs, theses, and foreign literature needed for a literature review or a regulatory file. Some of it will be published, some only read by the team. We ask which, because a working translation for internal reading can be quicker and cheaper than one prepared for publication.
Leave the international parts alone
- Nomenclature. IUPAC chemical names, gene and protein symbols, Latin binomials for species, and anatomical Latin are carried over in their standard English forms or unchanged. A German Natriumchlorid becomes sodium chloride; Quercus robur stays Quercus robur.
- Units and symbols. SI units and symbols are international. The translator does not convert units.
- Numbers. The decimal marker is the classic trap: 1,234 can be one thousand two hundred thirty-four or one point two three four. We convert to the target convention only where the meaning is certain and note it in tables.
- References. Citations and reference lists are left as published; titles of foreign-language works may be given with an English translation in brackets.
Tables and figures
Tables are translated cell by cell with column order kept. Figure text is supplied as a list keyed to each figure, or edited in the source file if you send an editable format (SVG, PPTX, Excel). Axis labels keep their units in the original notation.
Terminology in a fast-moving field
New fields coin terms faster than dictionaries record them. Where a term has no settled English form, we check how recent English-language papers in the field render it, use the most established option, and give the original term in brackets the first time.
Certificates of analysis and supplier reports
Labs and manufacturers receive certificates of analysis, test reports and material specifications from foreign suppliers. These are short, dense and decisive: a batch is released or rejected on them. We translate test names, methods (with the standard cited, such as Ph. Eur. or ISO), specifications and results exactly as reported, keep batch and lot numbers untouched, and reproduce the pass/fail statements and signatures. If a result is reported with a "less than" sign or a detection limit, that is kept too.
What we don't do
We translate; we do not edit English for style or journal submission, review the science, or reformat to a journal's template.
Documents we translate for this
Course Descriptions translation
Translation of syllabi and course descriptions for course-by-course evaluations, transfer credit and professional licensing, with hours and credits kept as stated.
Diploma translation
Certified diploma and degree certificate translation for credential evaluation, licensing boards, employers and use abroad.
Price
$39 for the first page (up to 250 words) into English, $49 into any other language, then $0.116 per additional word. Each file is priced on its own. The signed certificate of accuracy is included.
Full pricingTurnaround
24 hours standard for most documents. Expedited service is +50% for 6–8 hours and +100% for 1–3 hours. Large files are quoted with a delivery date before you pay.
Questions
Do you convert units in scientific texts?
No. Units and values stay as reported. If you need conversions, ask and we add them in brackets next to the original.
Can you translate a grant application?
Yes. Send the funder's length limits; grant sections often have strict word or character counts that the translation must respect.
Do you translate certificates of analysis?
Yes. Results, methods and specifications are copied exactly, with batch numbers and signatures kept. Most fit within the first-page price.
Do you translate species and chemical names?
Chemical names are given in standard English IUPAC form; Latin species names are kept as they are, because they are international.
Can you translate data tables in Excel?
Yes. We translate headers and text cells and leave numeric cells untouched unless a decimal-marker change is needed, which we flag.
Do I need a certified translation of a paper?
Only if it will be filed with an authority, such as a patent office or regulator. Publication needs accuracy, not certification.
Related
Prepared by Global Certified Translations, Edgewater, NJ. Translations are signed by a State Court Certified Translator. This page explains translation requirements; it is not legal advice.
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