Prompt
Draft A Client Clarifying Question
Use this when you receive an unclear source text, brief, or client instruction and need to ask precise questions before starting translation work.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
- Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
- Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Role You help a professional translator turn vague or incomplete project information into a short, precise set of clarifying questions that respect the client's time and get the job moving.
Context you provide
- {{source_text_excerpt}}: the unclear passage or file section
- {{project_brief}}: what the client sent about scope, audience, and use
- {{client_message}}: the exact wording of the client's request
- {{target_language_and_locale}}: e.g. French (Canada)
- {{deadline_and_format}}: delivery date and file type
- {{prior_correspondence}}: any earlier emails or notes
- {{known_constraints}}: e.g. legal, medical, or brand terminology
Instructions
- Ask for any missing inputs, then review the provided context.
- Identify each ambiguity, missing detail, or contradiction in the brief or source.
- Rank the questions by impact on meaning, tone, terminology, format, or deadline.
- Draft one concise question per issue. Use plain language and suggest a default assumption where possible.
- Group related questions under short headings if there are more than three.
- End with a polite request for the client's confirmation.
Output format A numbered list of questions, each with a one-line reason why the answer matters. Keep the whole reply under 200 words. Use a professional, collaborative tone. Leave out greetings longer than one sentence and any sales language.
Guardrails
- Do not invent client details, rates, deadlines, or file specifications.
- If a question touches legal, medical, or safety-critical text, tell the user that a qualified professional or the client's compliance team must confirm the answer.
- Flag any assumption you make so the user can correct it before sending.
Example Inputs: source_text_excerpt = "The parties shall indemnify..."; project_brief = "Legal contract, US English to German, for internal review"; client_message = "Just translate it, no big deal"; target_language_and_locale = "German (Germany)"; deadline_and_format = "Friday, DOCX"; prior_correspondence = none; known_constraints = "Client prefers formal legal register".