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SAINT-SULPICE · TN FIELD GUIDE

Should a translator reorder names to match the passport?

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THE DIRECT ANSWER

Do not silently change the source. Ask for a faithful translation and a clearly identified explanatory note where appropriate. If the record itself needs correction, obtain that through its issuing authority rather than using translation to conceal the difference.

Preserve the distinction between correction and explanation

Keep the source beside its translation and any official clarification. Review the resulting set for omissions, especially multiple given names or compound family names. An explanatory table can help organise the file but should not be represented as an official replacement record.

A difference needs a reliable identity explanation, not an altered diploma. A passport and birth certificate may present the same person’s names in a different order. Institutions use different names for similar things: duplicate diploma, certified true copy, attestation, statement of completion. An employer’s later name does not justify silently altering what was originally issued. Check name and registration details against the passport and offer. Ask the issuing institution about legitimate updated records if appropriate, while preserving accurate history. Preserve the actual offer and explain any genuine revision rather than creating inconsistent versions for different readers. The key record for a duty dispute is usually the signed employer letter read with the underlying job materials, rather than a polished résumé alone.