Common Mistakes in IT and FA Translation Part 1: How to Use "which" and "whose"

When reviewing delivery data from translators, we often see unnatural usage and errors with "which".

In addition, we sometimes receive feedback from our clients asking why we use "whose" to modify "things".

"Whose" is an expression that can modify not only "people" but also "things". Many people may not know this.
Because the expression contains "who", they may have such a mistaken understanding.
Let's take a look at some examples.

Table of Contents

1. Example sentence using "Whose"①
2. Example using Whose

1. Example sentence using "Whose"①

・Original text: "Refill the film in the magazine when the remaining number becomes "000"."
・Translated Text (Before Correction): Load a film pack into the magazine of which the number of remaining films is “000”.
・Translated text (after correction): Load a film pack into the magazine whose number of remaining films is “000”.

"Of which" is not grammatically incorrect, but it gives a formal impression. In such cases, it is more natural and easier to read to use "whose". Also, "of which the number" becomes "whose number", making it simpler and easier to read in terms of parts of speech.

Next, let's take a look at an example where we replace "preposition + which" with "whose".

2. Example using Whose

・Original Text: "For users belonging to companies with an organizational level of 4 or higher."
・Translated text (before correction): For users who belong to a company whose organization level is 4 or higher
・Translated Text (Revised): For users who belong to a company whose organization level is 4 or higher

・Original text: "Click on the user to follow their profile."
・Translation (before correction): Click the user for which you follow the profile.
・Translation (revised): Click the user whose profile you follow.

・Original text: "Stations that have stopped cyclic transmission with this function will not be treated as de-listed stations."
・Translation (before correction): Stations for which cyclic transmission was stopped with this function are not considered disconnected.
・Translation (revised): Stations that have had their cyclic transmission stopped with this function will not be considered disconnected.

・Original text: "Select the checkbox for clearing error history and click the [Execute] button."
・Translation (before correction): Select the checkbox of the item whose error history is to be cleared and click the [Execute] button.
・Translation (after correction): Select the checkbox of the item whose error history is to be cleared and click the [Execute] button.

"Preposition + relative pronoun" is never a wrong usage. On the contrary, in technical writing, the usage of "preposition + relative pronoun" can be helpful in making complex modifying relationships easier to understand and read.
However, the usage is not easy, so caution is necessary when using it.
If "whose" can be used instead of "preposition + relative pronoun", it is recommended to use "whose".
In Japan, there is a low awareness of the usage of "whose", but it is a very useful usage, so let's get used to using it.

Author Information

Andy ParkMultilingual Translation Group
Japanese-English Translation Reviewer

・In my previous job, I worked as an IT engineer for about 4 years, and then I worked as an English conversation instructor for 8 years, where I was involved in developing educational programs and training instructors.
・Translation experience of 11 years, specializing in IT and business fields.
・Currently engaged in translation work and translation quality management, primarily focusing on FA-related products such as product manuals, help documents, and operation manuals.
- Responsible for evaluating and verifying the translation quality of machine translation engines.