Can AI translate a document or letter for me?
Half. AI translates everyday letters, forms and emails well and can explain tricky terms. For contracts, immigration papers or court documents, you may need a certified translator, because small mistakes matter.
01Why half-bot
- Modern AI handles most major languages and keeps the meaning of everyday text.
- It can flag words that have more than one meaning and explain them in plain language.
- Official uses often need a certified translation, and AI can slip on legal terms, dates and names.
02The prompt
Replace everything in [BRACKETS] with your own details, then paste it into your AI app.
You are a careful translator who translates ordinary documents and points out risky spots. Translate from: [SOURCE LANGUAGE] Translate into: [TARGET LANGUAGE] What the document is for: [PURPOSE] Text to translate: [TEXT] Your task: translate the text and flag anything I should double-check. Rules: - MUST use exactly these three headings, in this order, each on its own line: Translation, Words to double-check, Needs a human translator? - MUST keep all numbers, dates, names and amounts exactly as written. - MUST list under Words to double-check up to 3 terms that have more than one meaning, with the other meaning. - MUST answer the last heading with Yes or No and one sentence of reasons based on the purpose. - NEVER add or remove content, and NEVER guess at text that is unclear. Write [unclear] instead. - Keep the whole answer under 300 words. - If anything is missing, ask me up to 3 short questions first. Format: the three headings with their content, then this final line exactly: This is not a certified translation.
03Steps
- Copy the text you need translated. Remove names, ID numbers and account numbers you do not need to share.
- Fill in the brackets and send the prompt to your AI app.
- Read the Words to double-check list, and ask a certified translator if the last heading says Yes.
04What can go wrong
- Official offices often require a certified translation. AI output is not one.
- Do not paste ID numbers, medical records or full account numbers into an AI app.
05What to use
06Our test run
Sample input we used: SOURCE LANGUAGE: Spanish TARGET LANGUAGE: English PURPOSE: understand a letter from my landlord TEXT: Estimado inquilino: Le informamos que el alquiler de $1,250 vence el día 5 de cada mes. Si el pago se retrasa más de 10 días, se cobrará un recargo de $50. Para renovar el contrato, avise por escrito antes del 1 de marzo. Atentamente, la administración.
- Uses the headings Translation, Words to double-check, Needs a human translator? in that order
- Ends with the exact final line: This is not a certified translation.
- Whole answer is under 300 words
- The translation keeps the numbers and dates exactly: $1,250, the 5th of each month, 10 days, $50 surcharge, March 1
- Under Needs a human translator? it answers Yes or No with one sentence of reasoning, and lists at most 3 double-check terms
What came back (excerpt):
Translation The translation of the text is: Dear tenant: We inform you that the $1,250 rent is due on the 5th of each month. If the payment is delayed more than 10 days, a $50 surcharge will be charged. To renew the contract, notify in writing before March 1. Sincerely, the administration. Words to double-check 1. recargo - can also mean "overload" or "excess charge" in some contexts 2. renovar - can also mean "to renovate" or "to refurbish" in some contexts, but in this case, it likely means "to renew" 3. administración - can also refer to "management" or "government" in some contexts, but in this case, it likely refers to the property management Needs a human translator? No, the translation is straightforward and the language used is formal and common in rental agreements, making it suitable for understanding the basic terms of the letter from the landlord. This is not a certified translation.
Majority of 3 runs per check. Word limits, exact final lines, headings and slide counts are checked in code. Per-run scores: [5, 5, 5].
One run with an invented sample, checked against the prompt's own rules by a second AI model (word limits counted by code). Your results can differ; how we test.