File: gettext.info,  Node: Preparing Strings,  Next: Mark Keywords,  Prev: Triggering,  Up: Sources

4.3 Preparing Translatable Strings
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   Before strings can be marked for translations, they sometimes need to
be adjusted.  Usually preparing a string for translation is done right
before marking it, during the marking phase which is described in the
next sections.  What you have to keep in mind while doing that is the
following.

   • Decent English style.

   • Entire sentences.

   • Split at paragraphs.

   • Use format strings instead of string concatenation.

   • Use placeholders in format strings instead of embedded URLs.

   • Use placeholders in format strings instead of programmer-defined
     format string directives.

   • Avoid unusual markup and unusual control characters.

Let's look at some examples of these guidelines.

* Menu:

* Decent English style::
* Entire sentences::
* Split at paragraphs::
* No string concatenation::
* No embedded URLs::
* No custom format directives::
* No unusual markup::