French term
La certitude de faire bonne impression !
I've translated some text to do with office stationery (different types of paper) and the client has come back and said that some translations are too litteral. The problem I'm having is that the translation is quite "salesy" and several plays on words are used in French which do not work in English.
I've translated the phrase above as "Be sure to make a good impression!" but the client doesn't like this (the comment is: On joue en français sur le double sens du mot « impression », en anglais cela ne marche pas…)
Can anyone think of a better alternative? Any comments would be appreciated as there are several phrases like this which the client has complained about and wants a more "marketing" translation...help!
| Extra services |
kashew
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| Film Titles |
gsloane
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Non-PRO (1): writeaway
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Proposed translations
India
Satisfait ou remboursé
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France) 
, English (Variant: UK)
Works in: French to English, English to French, English to Hindi, and 3 more.
make an imprint on quality
| agree |
Hermien Desaivre
: Snap!
11 mins
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| agree |
mimi 254
35 mins
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| agree |
gsloane
: This is by far the snappiest for me.
5 hrs
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Austria
Cristina Bufi Poecksteiner, M.A.
BDÜ Law Marketing Med Techn - since 1990
Native in: Italian
Works in: German to Italian, English to Italian, French to Italian, and 11 more.
(Don’t forget) best quality (/paper) makes a good (first) impression
- (Don’t forget) best quality /paper makes a good (first) impression
- Don’t forget your paper / working environment also can make a good impression
[PPT]QUALITY
For the Staff; Greater job satisfaction; Job security; Less Stress ... ***Don’t forget your working environment also can make a good impression*** ... Quality Customer Service. Customer Care Prayer. Lord, I beg you, give me strength ...
www.fermanagh.gov.uk/pubuploads/Quality Customer Service.pp...
France
Une traductrice fiable et experte
Native in: English (Variant: UK)
Works in: French to English, English
Sure of leaving a lasting impression
| agree |
Hermien Desaivre
: I also agree that this should have been good enough, but the client obviously wants a pat phrase.
16 mins
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many thanks
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| agree |
cmwilliams (X)
: "lasting impression" is good. How it's phrased depends on the rest of the text.
1 hr
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thanks!
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kashew
: I'd cut out "leaving" for snappiness - if that's what the guy wants?
1 hr
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| agree |
Yolanda Broad
: I think it's even been used before! (It looks awfully familiar to me!)
12 hrs
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South Africa
Reliable, dedicated, professional
Native in: Afrikaans , English
Works in: German to English, Afrikaans to English, English to Afrikaans, and 4 more.
imprint/stamp
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Note added at 36 mins (2009-04-24 07:50:09 GMT)
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I like Shankaran's version of "imprint on quality".
Put your stamp on your clients / Stamp out the competition for your clients
Leave a lasting imprint on your clients' business.
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French, Turkish to English, and 1 more.
Paper to write home about!
Leave its mark could be another way of putting it, but in this context it maynot be quite appropriate (smudges etc.).
Be sure of making your mark!
For reams of top quality
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Note added at 56 mins (2009-04-24 08:10:58 GMT)
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None of these are playing on words ...
When you buy REAMS OF QUALITY PAPER also but a couple of reams of low cost budget copier paper.
Fortunately, the resulting REAMS OF QUALITY CONTROL DATA can now justify discontinuing a wasteful laboratory procedure. ...
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3230/is_v16/ai_3122125
www.squidoo.com/office-paper--laser-paper--copier-paper--80...
(quality inspectors will crawl into every nook and cranny and will provide you with REAMS OF QUALITY INFORMATION about the home you wish to buy). ...
www.homeinsight.com/details.asp?url_id=22&WT.cg_n=Publicati...
I remain in awe of my co-conspirators, er, co-bloggers and their ability to churn out REAMS OF QUALITY PROSE in short order. But now I have time to noodle ...
pusware.com/rdct/?p=297=1 -
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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-04-24 10:01:39 GMT)
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"We don't do A4; all our paper is A OK."
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-04-24 13:18:19 GMT)
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Eureka! (after all, this did come to mind while I was in the bath):
- The paper that carries more weight with your clients (paperweight, get it?) (graphic showing a sheet of paper held by the ends and carrying a weight for one of those old scales ( octagonal with a ring in the middle), or even a sheet of paper printed as a stock certificate and carrying a gold ingot), etc.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-04-24 13:24:55 GMT)
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Forgot this one, also a bathtime experience:
- The paper that wins every time - graphic showing a sheet of paper covering a closed fist, and a pair of fingers attempting, unsuccessfully to cut it like scissors (take-off of the stone/paper/scissors game). Or, a shot of crumpled up ball of paper going through the net of one of those basketball type nets on top of a wastepaper basket (very second degré ...).
Morocco
Style is the dress of thought
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, Arabic to French, and 3 more.
highly impressionistic impression
Reference comments
Extra services
| agree |
gsloane
: 100% in agreement. One of the reasons why I steer clear of marketing translations. Here in Canada, it's the concept that's translated, not the actual content. What works in English Canada doesn't necessarily work in French Canada!
3 hrs
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And what about film titles?! Some of that is wierd.
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Discussion
Les papiers d’impression créatifs
La certitude de faire bonne impression !
Offerts la feuille de test et le logiciel PrintPraticTM l’assistant d’impression
Jouez la carte professionnelle !
That could affect the choice of words also