Low Quality Output: What to Do

If your results don't meet expectations, here's how to diagnose and address the issue.

Translation Quality Issues

Symptoms

• Awkward phrasing or "translationese"
• Inconsistent character names or terminology
• Missing sections or incomplete translation
• Formatting issues

Common Causes and Solutions

Source File Quality

Problem: Poorly formatted source files produce lower quality output.

Solutions:
- Use EPUB format when possible (best structure preservation)
- Remove headers/footers from DOCX files
- Ensure chapter breaks are clear
- Fix major typos in the original before translating

Very Long or Complex Books

Problem: Extremely long books may have consistency issues.

Solutions:
- The system builds a continuity guide, but very complex books benefit from review
- Use the Proofreading for Translations mode after translation
- Check the DOCX output and make manual edits as needed

Genre-Specific Content

Problem: Some genres have specialized terminology or style needs.

Solutions:
- Fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction are fully supported
- Very technical content may need manual review
- The system handles explicit content appropriately

What to Expect

• Multiple refinement passes during translation
• A consistency guide built from your manuscript
• Full refund if a translation job fails to complete

If Quality Is Genuinely Poor

1. Download the DOCX and review specific issues
2. Note the problems (specific passages, consistency issues)
3. Contact support with:
   - Job ID or book title
   - Specific examples of problems
   - Source file if different from what was submitted

Options may include:
- Re-translation at no cost
- Credit refund
- Manual review and correction

Proofreading Quality Issues

Symptoms

• Changes that don't improve the text
• Missing obvious errors
• Over-correction of intentional style choices

Common Causes and Solutions

Wrong Mode Selected

Problem: Using Standard mode for a translated manuscript.

Solution:
- Use Translation mode for translated texts
- It checks for translation-specific issues

Style Preferences

Problem: Proofreader "corrects" intentional stylistic choices.

Solution:
- This is expected—proofreaders flag potential issues
- Use tracked changes to accept or reject each suggestion
- The proofreader doesn't know your intentional style breaks

Continuity Not Enabled

Problem: Character or plot inconsistencies missed.

Solution:
- Enable Continuity Check for consistency analysis
- Particularly important for long novels or series

If Output Is Unusable

1. Review the tracked changes - Some suggestions may be valid
2. Contact support with specific examples
3. Bookshift may offer re-processing or credit adjustment

Cover Quality Issues

Symptoms

• Text placement doesn't match original
• Font or style differs significantly
• Image quality degradation
• Design elements lost

Common Causes and Solutions

Low Resolution Source

Problem: Uploading a small or compressed image.

Solution:
- Always upload the highest resolution available
- Re-export from original design files

Complex Design

Problem: Very intricate designs may not translate perfectly.

Solution:
- Simpler designs translate better
- Consider using cover generation for a fresh approach
- Minor touch-ups in image editing software may be needed

Explicit Content Moderation

Problem: Cover rejected due to content.

Solution:
- Use cover generation instead
- Generation can create appropriate covers for any genre

If Output Is Unusable

1. Try generation instead of translation
2. Contact support if you believe there was a technical error
3. Regenerate with different style hints

Transcription Quality Issues

Symptoms

• Many transcription errors
• Character names misspelled
• Missing words or sections
• Poor formatting

Common Causes and Solutions

Audio Quality

Problem: Background noise, poor recording quality, or unclear speech.

Solutions:
- Record in quiet environments
- Use a quality microphone
- Speak clearly and at consistent volume

Unusual Names or Terms

Problem: AI doesn't know your character names.

Solution:
- Add names to your project glossary before transcription
- Define preferred spellings

Very Long Recordings

Problem: Quality degrades on long sessions.

Solution:
- Use chunked mode for recordings over 30 minutes
- Break long dictation into multiple files

If Output Is Unusable

• Transcription has no automatic refunds due to variable audio quality
• Contact support if you believe there was a processing error
• Improving audio quality usually resolves issues

When to Contact Support

Always Contact Support If:

• A job fails to complete (you're entitled to a refund)
• Output is genuinely unusable due to technical issues
• You see error messages you don't understand
• Credits were deducted but you received no output

How to Contact Support

1. Go to your Dashboard
2. Click Messages or Contact Support
3. Include:
   - Job ID or book/file name
   - Description of the issue
   - Specific examples if possible
   - What you expected vs. what you received

Response Time

• Typically within 24 hours on business days
• Faster for urgent issues (failed jobs, billing problems)

What Support May Offer

• Re-processing at no cost
• Credit refund or adjustment
• Technical guidance
• Escalation to development team for bugs

Helpful Links

• Common Errors and Fixes
• Low Quality Output: What to Do
• Contact Support
• Help Center Home
• Bookshift Guides Hub
• Translate by Language Hub
• Publishing by Market Hub