Making assumptions is what we do everyday. It helps us simplify daily tasks so we don’t jump out of the car to check the parking meter before parking for we always assume a meter works. However, there are situations when making assumptions is not a good idea. I have learned this from an interesting experience.

One day, a client sent me a SCANNED one-page document and asked for a quote. A SCANNED image doesn't allow the use of a word count tool (word count tool can count words automatically but it can be used only with documents that have text; a scanned document is like a picture and doesn’t have text). Since it is time-consuming to count manually, we usually prepare quotations based on an approximate word count and give clients an estimate. I stated in the quotation that the invoice would be based on the word count of the final translation. After delivering the translation, the client was upset and for two reasons. First, the invoice was different from the estimated cost. Second, the translation didn’t have the exact look as the original, for the English original had logos and the translation did not.

I was a bit surprised by this incidence. I realized later that I had assumed a client knew the difference between a TEXT document and a SCANNED image. A SCANNED image doesn’t allow automatic word count or any manipulation of its content such as copying the logos to include in the translation (one might manipulate an image in Photoshop but that is a different story from translation).

To conclude, assume NOTHING when it comes to communication with clients!