Version at: 19/11/2013, 19:39
#Guidelines and Rules
## The Basic Rules Everybody Needs to Know Right Away
* We want complete sentences.
* Don't change sentences that are correct.
* Don't add sentences from copyrighted sources.
* We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.
* Make a good translation of the sentence that you are translating. Don't let translations into other languages influence you.
* Don't include annotations as part of sentences.
## The Complete List of Guidelines with Explanations
### We want complete sentences.
* We don't want just words and phrases.
* Phrases used as complete utterances in everyday conversation are OK if included in a dialog, showing their use in context.
* Example: *"When did Tom arrive?" "Just before Mary did."*
### Don't change sentences that are correct.
* Remember that even if a sentence sounds a bit unnatural to you, it may be correct in another dialect of your language, so don't make changes unless you are 100% sure it is wrong.
* In such a case, go to one of the linked sentences in a language you understand and contribute an alternate translation.
* At this time, the Tatoeba Project seems to prefer to keep sentences using archaic language.
### Don't add sentences from copyrighted sources.
* The Tatoeba Corpus is available under a license that doesn't allow this.
### We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.
* We don't want those awkward, unnatural-sounding translations seen in textbooks to help students understand how another language is constructed.
* We want sentences that a native speaker would actually use.
### Make a good translation of the sentence that you are translating. Don't let translations into other languages influence you.
* Your translation should be a good translation into your language and doesn't need to include all the nuances as translated by others into other languages.
### 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.*
* *(female speaker)* as in *She said it was hot. (female speaker)*
* 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.
* *(by Mark Twain)* as in *If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. (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.
### Don't forget capitalization and punctuation.
* Sentences should be written in the normal way that an educated native speaker would write them.
### Only adopt "orphan" sentences in your own native language.
* Adopting is a way to give your "stamp of approval."
* A "stamp of approval" by a native speaker means more, so that's why we have this guideline.
### Behave like mature adults.
* Collaborative projects such as ours work best when people cooperate and get along with each other.
* Read details: [Rules Against Bad Behavior](rules-against-bad-behavior)
## Hints and Suggestions
### When contributing new sentences that are not translations of other sentences, search first to help avoid submitting duplicates.
* Some duplicates are created naturally as you add translations to sentences. Our duplicate-merging script will eventually take care of these.
* However, if you are contributing a new sentence that is not a translation and that sentence is a duplicate, you waste other members' time, because they will unnecessarily translate a duplicate that has likely already been translated.
* Read details: [How to Search for Text](http://en.wiki.tatoeba.org/articles/show/text-search)
## Suggested New Guidelines - Not Yet Official
### Don't submit strange sentences and translations
* For example, don't translate a person's name, such as Dick, into the word "Haystack."
* FRENCH: *Dick essaya en vain de résoudre le problème.*
* [tatoeba.org/969450](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/969450)
* ENGLISH: *Haystack tried in vain to solve the problem.*
## Short Link to this Page
http://bit.ly/tatoebaguidelines
Regular members can use this link to direct new members to this page.
version at: 03/05/2014, 08:35
#Guidelines and Rules
## The Basic Rules Everybody Needs to Know Right Away
* We want complete sentences.
* Don't change sentences that are correct.
* Don't add sentences from copyrighted sources.
* We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.
* Make a good translation of the sentence that you are translating. Don't let translations into other languages influence you.
* Don't include annotations as part of sentences.
## The Complete List of Guidelines with Explanations
### We want complete sentences.
* We don't want just words and phrases.
* Phrases used as complete utterances in everyday conversation are OK if included in a dialog, showing their use in context.
* Example: *"When did Tom arrive?" "Just before Mary did."*
### Don't change sentences that are correct.
* Remember that even if a sentence sounds a bit unnatural to you, it may be correct in another dialect of your language, so don't make changes unless you are 100% sure it is wrong.
* In such a case, go to one of the linked sentences in a language you understand and contribute an alternate translation.
* At this time, the Tatoeba Project seems to prefer to keep sentences using archaic language.
### Don't add sentences from copyrighted sources.
* The Tatoeba Corpus is available under a license that doesn't allow this.
### We want natural-sounding translations, not word-for-word direct translations.
* We don't want those awkward, unnatural-sounding translations seen in textbooks to help students understand how another language is constructed.
* We want sentences that a native speaker would actually use.
### Make a good translation of the sentence that you are translating. Don't let translations into other languages influence you.
* Your translation should be a good translation into your language and doesn't need to include all the nuances as translated by others into other languages.
### 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.*
* *(female speaker)* as in *She said it was hot. (female speaker)*
* 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.
* *(by Mark Twain)* as in *If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. (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.
### Don't forget capitalization and punctuation.
* Sentences should be written in the normal way that an educated native speaker would write them.
### Only adopt "orphan" sentences in your own native language.
* Adopting is a way to give your "stamp of approval."
* A "stamp of approval" by a native speaker means more, so that's why we have this guideline.
### Behave like mature adults.
* Collaborative projects such as ours work best when people cooperate and get along with each other.
* Read details: [Rules Against Bad Behavior](rules-against-bad-behavior)
## Hints and Suggestions
### When contributing new sentences that are not translations of other sentences, search first to help avoid submitting duplicates.
* Some duplicates are created naturally as you add translations to sentences. Our duplicate-merging script will eventually take care of these.
* However, if you are contributing a new sentence that is not a translation and that sentence is a duplicate, you waste other members' time, because they will unnecessarily translate a duplicate that has likely already been translated.
* Read details: [How to Search for Text](http://en.wiki.tatoeba.org/articles/show/text-search)
## Suggested New Guidelines - Not Yet Official
### Don't submit strange sentences and translations
* For example, don't translate a person's name, such as Dick, into the word "Haystack."
* FRENCH: *Dick essaya en vain de résoudre le problème.*
* [tatoeba.org/969450](http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/969450)
* ENGLISH: *Haystack tried in vain to solve the problem.*
## Short Link to this Page
http://bit.ly/tatoebaguidelines
Regular members can use this link to direct new members to this page.