Version at: 20/10/2015, 09:57 vs. version at: 07/11/2015, 05:06
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
15## The "Edit" Bar: What the Icons Mean
16
17http://prntscr.com/8zyixo
1518
1619## The 6 Basic Rules
1720
1821 You can click the links to read **[Translations]** or read the **[Source]** documentation.
1922
2023 * **We want complete sentences.**
2124
2225[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611372)      [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule1)
2326
2427 * **Don't change sentences that are correct.**
2528
2629[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611373)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule5)
2730
2831 * **Don't add sentences from copyrighted sources.**
2932
3033[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611374)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule8)
3134
3235Also see [Legally valid content](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2011/01/legally-valid-content.html)
3336
3437 * **We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.**
3538
3639[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611375)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule4)
3740
3841(Of course, we don't want computer translations.)
3942
4043 * **Make a good translation of the sentence that you are translating. Don't let translations into other languages influence you.**
4144
4245[[Translations]](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/611376)     [[Source]](http://blog.tatoeba.org/2010/02/how-to-be-good-contributor-in-tatoeba.html#rule3)
4346
4447 * **Don't include annotations as part of sentences.**
4548
4649Don't include things like the following inside your sentences :
4750
4851 * _He/she_ (as in _He/she said it was hot_.)
4952 * Instead, you should submit 2 sentences.
5053 * He said it was hot.
5154 * She said it was hot.
5255 * _(By Mark Twain)_ (as in _Don't let schooling interfere with your education. (By Mark Twain)_)
5356 * 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).
5457
5558For more details, see the [Rules and Guidelines](guidelines) page.
5659
5760
5861
5962<a name="users"></a>
6063## Things a Contributor Can Do
61641. You can **translate a sentence** by clicking on this icon ![](http://tatoeba.org/img/translate.svg =16x16) whenever you see it.
6265Please do not forget **capital letters** and **punctuation.**
6366
64672. You can add **alternate translations**. (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/translate.svg =16x16))
6568If 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.)
6669
67703. You can **proofread sentences** and adopt (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/unadopted.svg =16x16)) sentences in your native language that you think are good.
6871If a sentence is unowned, you can adopt it.
6972 * 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)")
7073 * _We suggest only adopting sentences that seem 100% natural to you. If it seems less than natural, don't adopt it._
7174
72754. You can **correct mistakes** that you find, if the sentence is not "owned" by another user. To do this…
7376 * Adopt the orphan (unowned) sentence.
7477 * Then click the text to edit it.
7578 * Then, optionally, unown (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/adopted.svg =16x16)) the sentence if you want others to be able to easily edit it again.
7679 * Special Note
7780 * Tatoeba.org prefers that you DO NOT CHANGE any sentence that could be considered correct.
7881 * Instead of changing correct sentences, you should add an alternate translation.
7982
80835. You can **add comments to sentences**.
8184 * If you find a mistake, but it's owned by another user, then leave a comment telling the owner how it can be corrected.
8285 * If you see something that seems strange or that you don't understand, you can leave a comment and someone may explain it to you.
8386 * 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.
8487
85886. You can **add new sentences**.
8689The best approach is to search first to make sure the sentence is not already in the database.
8790 * 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.
8891
8992
9093
9194## Warning! There are errors!
9295* Some sentences **sound unnatural** and are likely contributed by members who are overconfident in their abilities in their non-native langauges.
9396* Some sentences use **archaic and/or old-fashioned** language and perhaps aren't really suitable for people learning a foreign language.
9497* Some sentences contain **grammar and vocabulary errors**.
9598* Some linked sentences **may not be good translations**.
9699
97100
98101
99102## Recommendation
100103
101104* To help maintain the quality of our sentences, it is recommended that you only translate from a non-native language into your native language.
102105* It is also recommended that you should be careful to only translate from sentences owned by native speakers. This helps to avoid problems.
103106* 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.
104107
105108
106109## Link to This Page
107110
108111There is an easy-to-remember, short bit.ly link to this page.
109112
110113http://bit.ly/tatoebaquickstart
111114
112115
113116
114117---
115118
116119Return to [http://tatoeba.org/home](http://tatoeba.org/home).
diff view generated by jsdifflib

Version at: 20/10/2015, 09:57

#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.

 *  **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)

 * **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)

 * **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)

 * **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.)

 * **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)

 * **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://tatoeba.org/img/translate.svg =16x16) whenever you see it.
Please do not forget **capital letters** and **punctuation.**

2.  You can add **alternate translations**. (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/translate.svg =16x16))
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/unadopted.svg =16x16)) sentences in your native language 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)")
    *   _We 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 (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/adopted.svg =16x16)) 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 that 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



---

Return to [http://tatoeba.org/home](http://tatoeba.org/home).

version at: 07/11/2015, 05:06

#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 "Edit" Bar: What the Icons Mean

http://prntscr.com/8zyixo

## The 6 Basic Rules

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

 *  **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)

 * **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)

 * **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)

 * **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.)

 * **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)

 * **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://tatoeba.org/img/translate.svg =16x16) whenever you see it.
Please do not forget **capital letters** and **punctuation.**

2.  You can add **alternate translations**. (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/translate.svg =16x16))
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/unadopted.svg =16x16)) sentences in your native language 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)")
    *   _We 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 (![](http://tatoeba.org/img/adopted.svg =16x16)) 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 that 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



---

Return to [http://tatoeba.org/home](http://tatoeba.org/home).

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.