You search for something and miss the right page because the author wrote billow where you typed wave. Or you have a stack of English text that says the same thing in a dozen different ways, and you want it all reduced to one consistent vocabulary. That is the problem English into plain English Machine Translation from Langsoft is built for.
Quick facts
- Vendor: Langsoft (Switzerland)
- Platform: Windows. One build covers 16-bit and 32-bit Windows, and a second build covers 16, 32 and 64-bit Windows including Windows 7.
- Trial: an evaluation copy that works ten times
- Download size: about 3.5 MB to 3.8 MB depending on the build
Key features
One chosen word for each group of synonyms
The program picks a single word to stand for a whole group of synonyms, depending on context. For example, wave can replace billow, ripple, undulate and undulation. The meaning of the text is preserved.
A much smaller vocabulary to deal with
The vendor says the program uses up to 10 times fewer different words to express the meaning of the original text. Whatever words people use, the output stays the same, which makes searching easier.
Interactive and batch translation
You can translate text interactively or in batch mode. You can also select text on the Internet, copy it and paste it in for translation.
British and American spelling handled together
Words are translated regardless of British or American spelling. Most spelling and grammar errors are corrected automatically.
A companion spelling checker
An additional program highlights spelling errors and suggests corrections. It also highlights some correctly written words so you can choose a better synonym.
Who it's for
It suits people who work with large amounts of English text and want it standardized: people building searchable text collections, researchers in language processing, and anyone who wants simpler, more widely used wording.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Standardizes wording so different phrasings of the same idea come out the same.
- Handles both British and American spelling.
- Small download, and you can try it before buying.
Cons
- The evaluation copy only works ten times.
- It is a machine translation tool, and the vendor describes the output as needing post-editing.
- Windows only.
FAQs
Which download should I pick?
The build named eng-eng.exe is for 16 and 32-bit Windows, except 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit. The build named enenwin.exe covers 16, 32 and 64-bit Windows, including Windows 7.
Can I try it first?
Yes. The evaluation copy works ten times.
Does it translate into another language?
No. It rewrites English as simpler English, using one chosen synonym for each group of words.
Does it fix spelling mistakes?
It corrects most spelling and grammar errors automatically. A separate program highlights errors and suggests corrections.
System requirements
Windows. The enenwin.exe build runs on 16, 32 and 64-bit Windows, including Windows 7.