Version at: 04/10/2014, 01:35 vs. version at: 04/10/2014, 01:48
11#A Quick Start Guide for New Contributors
22
33
44## The Aims of the [Tatoeba Project](http://tatoeba.org/home/)
55* We are collecting sentences and their translations into other languages.
66* Sentences we create are used by [various projects](http://a4esl.com/temporary/tatoeba/links.html) under the Creative Commons - Attribution 2.0 license.
77
88
99## The 2 Ways You Can Be the Most Helpful
1010
11111. You can translate from a foreign language you know into your own native language or strongest language.
1212
13132. You can create natural-sounding sentences in your own native language for others to translate into their native languages.
1414
1515
1616## The 6 Basic Rules
1717
1818 You can click the links to read **[Translations]** or read the **[Source]** documentation.
1919
20201. We want complete sentences.
2121[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611372)      [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule1)
2222
23232. Don't change sentences that are correct.
2424[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611373)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule5)
2525
26263. Don't add sentences from copyrighted sources.
2727[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611374)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule8)
2828Also see [Legally valid content](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2011/01/legally-valid-content.html)
2929
30304. We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.
3131[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611375)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule4)
3232(Of course, we don't want computer translations.)
3333
34345. Make a good translation of the sentence that you are translating. Don't let translations into other languages influence you.
3535[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611376)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule3)
3636
37376. Don't include annotations as part of sentences.
38Don't include things like the following inside your sentences.
38Don't include things like the following inside your sentences :
3939 * _He/she_ (as in _He/she said it was hot_.)
4040 * Instead, you should submit 2 sentences.
4141 * He said it was hot.
4242 * She said it was hot.
4343 * _(By Mark Twain)_ (as in _Don't let schooling interfere with your education. (By Mark Twain)_)
4444 * Instead, put this as a comment and ask for someone to add it as a tag (or if you have tagging rights, then tag it yourself).
4545
4646For more details, see the [Rules and Guidelines](guidelines) page.
4747
4848
4949
5050<a name="users"></a>
5151## Things a Contributor Can Do
52521. You can **translate a sentence** by clicking on this icon ![](http://flags.tatoeba.org/img/translate.png) whenever you see it.
5353Please do not forget **capital letters** and **punctuation.**
5454
55552. You can add **alternate translations**. (![](http://flags.tatoeba.org/img/translate.png))
5656If 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.)
5757
58583. You can **proofread sentences** and "adopt" (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/adopt.png?1271500434)) sentences that you think are good.
5959If a sentence is "unowned," you can adopt it.
6060 * 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)")
6161 * _I suggest only adopting sentences that seem 100% natural to you. If it seems "less than natural," don't adopt it._
6262
63634. You can **correct mistakes** that you find, if the sentence is not "owned" by another user. To do this…
6464 * Adopt the "orphan" ("unowned") sentence.
6565 * Then click the text to edit it.
6666 * 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.
6767 * Special Note
6868 * Tatoeba.org prefers that you DO NOT CHANGE any sentence that could be considered correct.
6969 * Instead of changing correct sentences, you should add an alternate translation.
7070
71715. You can **add comments to sentences**.
7272 * If you find a mistake, but it's "owned" by another user, then leave a comment telling the "owner" how it can be corrected.
7373 * If you see something that seems strange or you don't understand, you can leave a comment and someone may explain it to you.
7474 * 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.
7575
76766. You can **add new sentences**.
7777The best approach is to search first to make sure the sentence is not already in the database.
7878 * 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.
7979
8080
8181
8282## Warning! There are errors!
8383* Some sentences **sound unnatural** and are likely contributed by members who are overconfident in their abilities in their non-native langauges.
8484* Some sentences use **archaic and/or old-fashioned** language and perhaps aren't really suitable for people learning a foreign language.
8585* Some sentences contain **grammar and vocabulary errors**.
8686* Some linked sentences **may not be good translations**.
8787
8888
8989
9090## Recommendation
9191
9292* To help maintain the quality of our sentences, it is recommended that you only translate from a non-native language into your native language.
9393* It is also recommended that you should be careful to only translate from sentences "owned" by native speakers. This helps to avoid problems.
9494* 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.
9595
9696
9797## Link to This Page
9898
9999There is an easy-to-remember, short bit.ly link to this page.
100100
101101http://bit.ly/tatoebaquickstart
102102
103103
diff view generated by jsdifflib

Version at: 04/10/2014, 01:35

#A Quick Start Guide for New Contributors 


## The Aims of the [Tatoeba Project](http://tatoeba.org/home/)
*   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 (or 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!
* 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

version at: 04/10/2014, 01:48

#A Quick Start Guide for New Contributors 


## The Aims of the [Tatoeba Project](http://tatoeba.org/home/)
*   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 (or 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!
* 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.

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