asked to translate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "asked to translate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a request made to someone to convert text from one language to another. Example: "She was asked to translate the document from Spanish to English for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Translators were asked to translate the speech verbatim and not as 'corrected' speech.

BMJ Open

Translation: You'll be asked to translate a word or sentence out of English and into the other language, or vice versa.

WikiHow

In this process, experienced survey translators and survey researchers are asked to translate a pre-final version of the source questionnaire, and to comment on the problems encountered stemming either from the original questionnaire or related to the language into which it was translated.

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

Initially, four independent translators proficient in the German language were asked to translate the list very carefully and to find the best (defined as the most prototypical, most often used, and most emotional) equivalents in the Polish language.

Behavior Research Methods

Once agreement was reached between the translators and the proper versions of translations were chosen for all 2,902 words, two other, independent translators proficient in the German language were asked to translate the list back from Polish to German, in order to check the validity of the translations.

Behavior Research Methods

Also, participants were asked to translate words in order to provide estimates of the number of translations and meanings that were known by the bilinguals.

Behavior Research Methods

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Users can ask to translate bits of the site, which are then voted on by other users until a good localized version is created.

TechCrunch

In Step 2, another two native Japanese speakers worked independently and were asked to backward translate the Japanese translation in Step 1 into English.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Interviewers were also asked to back translate the interview guide as they had first-hand experience of the data and of the culture of the people being studied.

BMJ Open

They were asked to back-translate the Japanese version produced in Phase 1 without sight of the original version.

BMC Psychiatry

Havel, whose English is limited, asked Cerny to translate the documents; later, he asked him to become his national-security adviser.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the difficulty or complexity of the task, consider adding an adjective: "asked to painstakingly translate".

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by always specifying the source language. Saying "He was asked to translate the article" leaves the reader wondering from which language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "asked to translate" functions as a verb phrase indicating a request or instruction for someone to perform the action of translating text from one language to another. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

58%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "asked to translate" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that signifies a request or instruction for someone to perform translation work. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and utility across diverse fields such as science, news, and general communication. While predominantly neutral, the formality can shift based on the context, fitting within academic papers and informal conversations alike. When using the expression, specifying both source and target languages clarifies meaning, and considering alternatives like "tasked with translating" or "instructed to translate" can fine-tune the tone as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tasked with translating

Replaces "asked" with "tasked", suggesting a formal assignment or duty.

requested to interpret

Uses "interpret" instead of "translate", implying a focus on understanding and conveying meaning, not just literal conversion.

required to translate

Highlights the obligatory nature of the translation task.

instructed to translate

Replaces "asked" with "instructed", indicating a more authoritative request.

enlisted to translate

Uses "enlisted" to convey a sense of recruitment or seeking help for translation.

called upon to translate

Implies a formal request or demand for translation services.

appointed to translate

Suggests a formal designation or selection for the translation task.

commissioned to translate

Emphasizes a formal agreement or contract for translation services.

assigned to do the translation

Uses a more explicit structure, specifying the action as "do the translation".

directed to provide a translation

Uses "directed" to indicate instruction or command for providing a translation.

FAQs

How can I use "asked to translate" in a sentence?

You can use "asked to translate" to describe a situation where someone is requested to convert text from one language to another. For example: "The linguist was asked to translate the ancient text."

What's a more formal alternative to "asked to translate"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "instructed to translate" or "commissioned to translate", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "asked to translate" or "asked for translation"?

"Asked to translate" implies a direct request for someone to perform the action of translating. "Asked for translation" is a request for the finished product of translation. The correct phrase depends on the intended meaning.

Can I use "asked to translate" in passive voice?

Yes, "asked to translate" can be used in the passive voice. For example: "The document was asked to be translated by a professional translator."