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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

TODO: Maybe number these and put NAME links (<a name="g1"></a>) so members can easily refer new members to a given rule.

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 its 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 (He/she said go home.)
  • Instead, you should submit 2 sentences.
    • He said go home.
    • She said go home.
  • (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)
    • 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.

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.

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
  • ENGLISH: Haystack tried in vain to solve the problem.