Martin Hemmings

Editor (EN) & translator (FR-EN). International relations, development & humanitarian affairs, corporate & financial communications.

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

Job alert:

The David Suzuki Foundation, an environmental NGO, is hiring a Canadian French-native translator and editor.

Location: Montreal, Quebec (hybrid).

Closing date: 19 September 2025.

https://t.co/qdbhtZAEyw

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@GrammarTable Insert the (implied) commas before and after "she had learned" and the only correct answer (IMO) is "who". But... who/what is in pursuit of the rival industry executive? Louise or the bat (small flying mammal)? The first part of the sentence needs some attention.

[Steve Dyson @DysonSdc]

Recommended reading for into-English translators and En communicators working on #ESG: Link (free access): The language of #ESG is killing ESG, by Michael Maslansky https://t.co/QqkchjDT0O
@Glossarissimo, #xl8, #t9n, #xl8or

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@ChrisDurbanFR This is my favourite part of Seth's blog here: “This might not be for you”. Not every (potential) client wants what you're offering. And that's fine. Find (and nurture!) the ones who do.

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

Looking forward to @astti_ch Financial Translation Summer Conference – especially the FR>EN translation slam on Friday afternoon. @MDPFCT has picked a fiendishly tricky text. Can't wait to see what Juliet Baur has done with it! https://t.co/L0yIG7Pw3K

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

Portfolios on display @EIB for #UETF2023 @SFTfr. Show your work!

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

He also described SNCF as an "ornithorynque", in reference to its hybrid status as a state-owned enterprise. Quite possibly the first time I've ever heard the word in the wild (west)... #UETF2023

[Chris Durban @ChrisDurbanFR]

@IntermarkLS Clearly a premonition: this morning @SNCF's head of capital mkts N. Marchessaux used "le far west" twice -- spontaneously -- in describing green bonds to #UETF2023 attendees. (Tom was ecstatic.) @SFTfr @IntermarkLS

[SFT @SFTfr]

#UETF2023 : #traduel français > anglais avec Anne Fox et Michael Dever
Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation à la modération
@EIB #translationslam

[Chris Durban @ChrisDurbanFR]

#UETF2023 Fr>En slam under way @EIB, w/more proof that we're not just replacing words here, folks. @MAH_Translation moderating, @AFoxTranslation and Mike Dever slamming. @SFTfr

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@IntermarkLS @Kevin_Hendzel Depends on context (doesn't it always?). My wife works in mental health. Here in the UK, she's a qualified "mental health first aider". In the US the equivalent qualification is "mental health first responder". First aid (response) isn't just about patching physical injuries...

[Chris Durban @ChrisDurbanFR]

Financial translators -- earlybird registration for @SFTfr's UETF (July 17-19 at @EIB in Luxembourg) ends at midnight tonight. If you're thinking of attending, now's the time! https://t.co/uOFCDtpJLA (Reductions for members of @FIT_Europe @fit_ift associations).

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@anglopremier @GrammarTable Yikes. Do I *say* "I've been stood/sat" in casual conversation with people from the area where I grew up? Of course. Would I *write* "I've been stood/sat" in a text I'm selling to a client, or say it in a formal setting? Hell no. Context and all that...

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@GrammarTable It's real! Check out this from a local newspaper: "The defendant was said to have been lay on the sofa before suddenly jumping up and running to the kitchen..." https://t.co/G4DVFIg58u

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@MLautmer British English native speaker. In this specific construction, only ever B: "This is the first time I've done this". As others have said, I could use A as follows: "I'm doing this for the first time". I'd never use C.

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@GrammarTable Likewise, I remember my grandparents (born 1920s-30s) saying it when I was young. Haven't heard/thought about this turn of phrase for at least 30 years though (Manchester, UK - if that helps).

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@anglopremier Instantly made me think of this: https://t.co/aOJlWioMP1

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@GrammarTable I voted 4 (have, has) but if I were (was? - another poll?) editing these sentences I'd bypass the issue altogether: introduce an agent (People/buyers/etc. have spent) or switch around (Spending on grammar books has hit/reached/amounted to/topped) if I have to keep it passive.

[Martin Hemmings @MAH_Translation]

@GrammarTable Brit here: always "are" for me. And not just for sports teams. My instinct is to use a plural verb for, e.g., "staff" and "team" in a business context ("Our staff/team have worked hard this year"). However, "government" is a potential outlier: I could write "is" or "are".