In practice, we see this often: technical documentation uses different terms than development, sales, or marketing. As long as the texts stay inside the company, it’s manageable. But once they go into translation or reach foreign markets, small differences start turning into ambiguities, delays, and unnecessary costs. That’s exactly why unified terminology plays such an important role. It is the foundation of accurate communication and a key requirement for high-quality translation.
Terminology as the Company’s Shared Language
Every field has its own vocabulary. If you don’t agree on basic terms, inconsistencies will appear in manuals, legal documents, marketing materials, and internal communication. In translation, this problem multiplies — the same expression may carry different meanings in different contexts, and without clear guidance, a translator can easily interpret something differently than intended.
Unified terminology helps a company speak with one voice. The result is texts that are accurate, clear, and professional — both at home and abroad.
What a Terminology Glossary Brings to Companies
A well-designed terminology set has an immediate impact on both quality and speed. Translators don’t need to ask as many questions, internal approvals are faster, and documentation feels more coherent.
It is a tool that helps companies:
avoid semantic ambiguities reduce the number of corrections and comments maintain consistent language across products and departments speed up translation and the creation of original texts improve the effectiveness of translation memories strengthen the professional image of the brand
Terminology is not a detail — it is a strategy.
How to Build a Quality Glossary 
A glossary is not a one-off document but an ongoing process. It typically emerges from a combination of internal materials, expert input from within the company, and suggestions from translators who understand how terms are used in practice. It is essential that the glossary is approved, accessible, and regularly updated. Only then will it truly become part of everyday work instead of ending up forgotten in a drawer.
How CAT Tools Keep Terminology in Check
Modern CAT tools (memoQ, Trados, Phrase…) help keep terminology consistent in real workflows. They suggest approved terms during translation, flag deviations, and maintain coherence even in large projects with multiple translators. Thanks to this, terminology truly lives in documentation — not just in a spreadsheet.
What Happens When Terminology Is Missing
Experience from projects is clear: the issue is rarely one big mistake but rather dozens of small inconsistencies that together undermine the quality of the text. Reviews take longer, corrections multiply, and documentation reads as if it were prepared by several different people. In technical or legal texts, this can have real consequences — from misunderstandings in production to certification problems
Terminology as a Competitive Advantage
Companies that keep their terminology under control work faster and more cost-effectively. They gain a solid foundation for translation, documentation, and marketing, and their texts appear more professional and trustworthy. At a time when processes are increasingly digital and documentation is created simultaneously in many languages, consistent terminology is a certainty that pays off more than ever.
terminology glossary consistent terminology terminology management CAT tools high-quality translation
Blog List
Why It Pays to Keep Your Terminology Under Control Translations for the Automotive Industry How to Prepare Texts for Translation Technical Documentation Translation for Export Not Just English Why AI Isn’t Enough Why Translation Takes Time Language Solutions for Startups Marketing Translations That Sell AI Translation: Benefits, Limits, and Key Considerations Website Translation? Not Enough. Translating Legal and Financial Documents What CAT Tools Can (and Can’t) Do How Translation Supports Your HR Department Translation or Localization? Types of Proofreading and When to Use Them Document Translation for International Expansion Professional Document Translation Step by Step How Much Does a Translation Cost and What Affects the Price? Technical and Engineering Translations Without Compromise How to Prepare for Business Interpreting What Translation Services Does Your Company Need? Common Translation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Why Work with a Translation Agency? How to Approach Technical Translation? When Accuracy Matters Efficient Translation with CAT Tools Dictionary or Translator? How to Choose the Right Tool When to Use Machine Translation – and When to Avoid It