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  whenever you see it.
* Please do not forget **capital letters** and **punctuation.**
2. You can add **alternate translations**. ()
* 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" () 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></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) [[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  whenever you see it.
* Please do not forget **capital letters** and **punctuation.**
2. You can add **alternate translations**. ()
* 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" () 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></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