When assessing a quote, the first question to ask is not the figure but the unit. Character, word and page units express the same job in very different numbers; a comparison made without asking about the unit can hide the fact that the quote that looks cheap is actually expensive.
The unit is decisive
The fee is first tied to a unit. A figure gains meaning only with its unit. The question starts with the unit.
The character unit
The text is measured by its character count. Counting with spaces and without spaces gives different results. The distinction is written down.
The difference between with and without spaces
A marked difference arises between the two counts. Which one is used is stated explicitly. No uncertainty is left.
The word unit
The text is measured by its word count. It is common in international work. The usage is well established.
Differences in word structure between languages
In agglutinative languages a word is long and the word count is lower. The same text gives different numbers in different languages. The difference is structural.
The page unit
A certain number of characters counts as one page. The definition is written in the contract. It is not confused with a physical page.
Confusion with the physical page
The number of physical pages in a document differs from the number of calculation pages. The distinction is explained. False expectations are prevented.
Source or target
Whether the count is made on the source text or on the target text is determined. The difference is marked. The preference is written down.
The advantage of counting on the source
The fee is known at the start of the job, and the client sees it from the outset. Predictability is high. This practice is preferred.
The effect of counting on the target
If the target text grows longer, the fee rises too. The client cannot know the result in advance. Uncertainty arises.
Conversion between units
Units cannot be converted into one another at a fixed ratio. The ratio changes with the text. Conversion is misleading.
Method of comparison
Two quotes are compared by reducing them to the same unit. The calculation is made on a sample text. The method is reliable.
Testing with a sample text
The total of both quotes is calculated on a real document. The result is concrete. The decision rests on data.
Setting the counting tool
Which software's count is taken as the basis is written down. A different tool gives a different result. The source is fixed.
Objection to a difference in the count
How a difference in the count will be resolved is defined. The procedure is written down. Argument is shortened.
Elements that are not counted
It is stated whether code, tags and repeated system texts are included in the count. The scope becomes clear. The calculation is set up correctly.
Number and date fields
Fields that are not translated but are checked are assessed separately. The effort is made visible. An item is defined.
Keeping the chosen unit fixed
The unit chosen does not change throughout the contract. A change of unit during the period distorts comparison. The choice is kept fixed.
The first question in corporate purchasing
On the purchasing side the first question to ask is not the figure but the unit; an assessment of quotes made without clarifying the unit and the counting method can mistakenly turn the option that looks lowest into the most expensive one. The question is asked at the outset. The comparison is made after that.
Information on amounts
This page explains the types of unit; the current amount appears only on the canonical pricing page and in the quote. Figures are not repeated here. The rule is permanent.