Version at: 10/07/2014, 23:26

#A Quick Start Guide for New Contributors 


## The Aims of the [Tatoeba Project](http://tatoeba.org/home/)
 *   Briefly, ...
    *   We are collecting sentences and their translations into other languages.
    *   Sentences we create are used by [various projects](http://a4esl.com/temporary/tatoeba/links.html) under the Creative Commons - Attribution 2.0 license.


## The 2 Ways You Can Be the Most Helpful

1.  You can translate from a foreign language you know into your own native language or strongest language.

2.  You can create natural-sounding sentences in your own native language for others to translate into their native languages.


## The 6 Basic Rules

 You can click the links to read **[Translations]** or read the **[Source]** documentation.

1.  We want complete sentences.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611372)      [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule1)

2.  Don't change sentences that are correct.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611373)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule5)

3.  Don't add sentences from copyrighted sources.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611374)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule8) 
Also see [Legally valid content](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2011/01/legally-valid-content.html)

4.  We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611375)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule4)
    * Of course, we don't want computer translations.

5.  Make a good translation of the sentence that you are translating. Don't let translations into other languages influence you.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611376)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule3)

6.  Don't include annotations as part of sentences.
    * Don't include things like the following inside your sentences.
       * _He/she_  (as in _He/she said it was hot_.)
         * Instead, you should submit 2 sentences.
            * He said it was hot.
            * She said it was hot.
       * _(By Mark Twain)_ (as in _Don't let schooling interfere with your education. (By Mark Twain)_)
           * Instead, put this as a comment and ask for someone to add it as a tag.
           * If you have tagging rights, then tag it yourself.

For more details, see the [Rules and Guidelines](guidelines) page.



<a name="users"></a>
## Things a Contributor Can Do
1.  You can **translate a sentence** by clicking on this icon ![](http://flags.tatoeba.org/img/translate.png) whenever you see it.
    *   Please do not forget **capital letters** and **punctuation.**
2.  You can add **alternate translations**. (![](http://flags.tatoeba.org/img/translate.png))
    *   If you feel there are several possible translations, you can add them all.
    *   Just make sure you are adding the translations to the other language. (In other words, don't add an English translation to an English sentence.)
3.  You can **proofread sentences** and "adopt" (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/adopt.png?1271500434)) sentences that you think are good.
    *   If a sentence is "unowned," you can adopt it.
        *   Generally speaking, "owned" sentences are more likely to be error free, especially if owned by a native speaker (as requested, "[adopt any 'orphan' sentence you see in your native language, and correct it if necessary.](http://tatoeba.org/eng/activities/adopt_sentences/eng)")
        *   _I suggest only adopting sentences that seem 100% natural to you. If it seems "less than natural," don't adopt it._
4.  You can **correct mistakes** that you find, if the sentence is not "owned" by another user.
    *   To do this, ...
        *   Adopt the "orphan" ("unowned") sentence.
            *   Then click the text to edit it.
            *   Then, optionally, "unown" (<a>![Let go](http://flags.tatoeba.org/img/let_go.png "Let go")</a>) the sentence if you want others to be able to easily edit it again.
    *   Special Note
        *   Tatoeba.org prefers that you DO NOT CHANGE any sentence that could be considered correct.
        *   Instead of changing correct sentences, you should add an alternate translation.
5.  You can **add comments to sentences**.
    *   If you find a mistake, but it's "owned" by another user, then leave a comment telling the "owner" how it can be corrected.
        *   If you see something that seems strange or you don't understand, you can leave a comment and someone may explain it to you.
        *   If you find things that are absolute nonsense or are not sentences, you can leave a comment alerting moderators that perhaps the item should be deleted.
6.  You can **add new sentences**.
    *   The best approach is to search first to make sure the sentence is not already in the database.
        *   Note that the search on Tatoeba differs from familiar search engines (such as Google Search) in some important ways. See [How to Search for Text](text-search) for details.



## Warning! There are errors!
 * Briefly, ...
    * Some sentences **sound unnatural** and are likely contributed by members who are overconfident in their abilities in their non-native langauges.
    * Some sentences use **archaic and/or old-fashioned** language and perhaps aren't really suitable for people learning a foreign language.
    * Some sentences contain **grammar and vocabulary errors**.
    * Some linked sentences **may not be good translations**.



## Recommendation

 *   To help maintain the quality of our sentences, it is recommended that you only translate from a non-native language into your native language.
 *   It is also recommended that you should be careful to only translate from sentences "owned" by native speakers. This helps to avoid problems.
* If you want to experiment in a non-native language, perhaps you should try a site such as [http://lang-8.com](http://lang-8.com) instead.


## Link to This Page

There is an easy-to-remember, short bit.ly link to this page.

http://bit.ly/tatoebaquickstart

## Return

* Return to the [Tatoeba Project Home Page](http://tatoeba.org/home/)

version at: 04/10/2014, 01:00

#A Quick Start Guide for New Contributors 


## The Aims of the [Tatoeba Project](http://tatoeba.org/home/)
 *   Briefly, ...
    *   We are collecting sentences and their translations into other languages.
    *   Sentences we create are used by [various projects](http://a4esl.com/temporary/tatoeba/links.html) under the Creative Commons - Attribution 2.0 license.


## The 2 Ways You Can Be the Most Helpful

1.  You can translate from a foreign language you know into your own native language or strongest language.

2.  You can create natural-sounding sentences in your own native language for others to translate into their native languages.


## The 6 Basic Rules

 You can click the links to read **[Translations]** or read the **[Source]** documentation.

1.  We want complete sentences.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611372) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule1)

2.  Don't change sentences that are correct.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611373) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule5)

3.  Don't add sentences from copyrighted sources.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611374) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule8) 
Also see [Legally valid content](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2011/01/legally-valid-content.html)

4.  We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611375) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule4)
    * Of course, we don't want computer translations.

5.  Make a good translation of the sentence that you are translating. Don't let translations into other languages influence you.
    *   [[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611376) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule3)

6.  Don't include annotations as part of sentences.
    * Don't include things like the following inside your sentences.
       * _He/she_  (as in _He/she said it was hot_.)
         * Instead, you should submit 2 sentences.
            * He said it was hot.
            * She said it was hot.
       * _(By Mark Twain)_ (as in _Don't let schooling interfere with your education. (By Mark Twain)_)
           * Instead, put this as a comment and ask for someone to add it as a tag.
           * If you have tagging rights, then tag it yourself.

For more details, see the [Rules and Guidelines](guidelines) page.



<a name="users"></a>
## Things a Contributor Can Do
1.  You can **translate a sentence** by clicking on this icon ![](http://flags.tatoeba.org/img/translate.png) whenever you see it.
    *   Please do not forget **capital letters** and **punctuation.**
2.  You can add **alternate translations**. (![](http://flags.tatoeba.org/img/translate.png))
    *   If you feel there are several possible translations, you can add them all.
    *   Just make sure you are adding the translations to the other language. (In other words, don't add an English translation to an English sentence.)
3.  You can **proofread sentences** and "adopt" (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/adopt.png?1271500434)) sentences that you think are good.
    *   If a sentence is "unowned," you can adopt it.
        *   Generally speaking, "owned" sentences are more likely to be error free, especially if owned by a native speaker (as requested, "[adopt any 'orphan' sentence you see in your native language, and correct it if necessary.](http://tatoeba.org/eng/activities/adopt_sentences/eng)")
        *   _I suggest only adopting sentences that seem 100% natural to you. If it seems "less than natural," don't adopt it._
4.  You can **correct mistakes** that you find, if the sentence is not "owned" by another user.
    *   To do this, ...
        *   Adopt the "orphan" ("unowned") sentence.
            *   Then click the text to edit it.
            *   Then, optionally, "unown" (<a>![Let go](http://flags.tatoeba.org/img/let_go.png "Let go")</a>) the sentence if you want others to be able to easily edit it again.
    *   Special Note
        *   Tatoeba.org prefers that you DO NOT CHANGE any sentence that could be considered correct.
        *   Instead of changing correct sentences, you should add an alternate translation.
5.  You can **add comments to sentences**.
    *   If you find a mistake, but it's "owned" by another user, then leave a comment telling the "owner" how it can be corrected.
        *   If you see something that seems strange or you don't understand, you can leave a comment and someone may explain it to you.
        *   If you find things that are absolute nonsense or are not sentences, you can leave a comment alerting moderators that perhaps the item should be deleted.
6.  You can **add new sentences**.
    *   The best approach is to search first to make sure the sentence is not already in the database.
        *   Note that the search on Tatoeba differs from familiar search engines (such as Google Search) in some important ways. See [How to Search for Text](text-search) for details.



## Warning! There are errors!
 * Briefly, ...
    * Some sentences **sound unnatural** and are likely contributed by members who are overconfident in their abilities in their non-native langauges.
    * Some sentences use **archaic and/or old-fashioned** language and perhaps aren't really suitable for people learning a foreign language.
    * Some sentences contain **grammar and vocabulary errors**.
    * Some linked sentences **may not be good translations**.



## Recommendation

 *   To help maintain the quality of our sentences, it is recommended that you only translate from a non-native language into your native language.
 *   It is also recommended that you should be careful to only translate from sentences "owned" by native speakers. This helps to avoid problems.
* If you want to experiment in a non-native language, perhaps you should try a site such as [http://lang-8.com](http://lang-8.com) instead.


## Link to This Page

There is an easy-to-remember, short bit.ly link to this page.

http://bit.ly/tatoebaquickstart

Note

The lines in green are the lines that have been added in the new version. The lines in red are those that have been removed.