While all WordReference forums are subject to The Wordreference Unabridged Rules, each subforum has customs of its own. This page explains how things work in the Italian-English section. As you get used to our practices, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when you contribute. We like to cooperate in order to keep this forum neat, organized, useful, and easy to read
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Which forum is suitable for my question?
In the English-Italian forum you can discuss words, expressions or translations from English into Italian or from standard Italian into English. If your question concerns only English, please post it in the "English only" forum, if your question concerns only Italian, please post it in the "Solo Italiano" forum, if your question concerns an Italian dialect, please post it in the Other Languages forum.
In the English-Italian forum all questions and answers must be written in English or Italian. In English Only the only language allowed is English. In Solo Italiano the only language allowed is Italian.
Rule 1: Please search first!
You may find what you need in our dictionary or in our forum archives. Please search first before starting a new thread: there are good chances that someone else has already asked for help on a similar topic. To search our archives for existing threads, you have two options:
- Use the dictionary and scroll to the bottom of the results page for a list of threads containing your search term(s) in the title.
- Use the forums' Advanced search feature.
- Before asking a question in the forums, make sure that you have carried out some basic research of your own to try to find the answer (i.e. look it up using Google, Wikipedia, online glossaries and other available resources). Do not make other WR users do your work for you, search for your context or the answer (you don't need to be a professional translator or have a degree in languages to use Google ).
- How do I perform a search in the forum?
Rule 2: Only one topic/question for each thread.
These forums are organized on a "one question per thread" principle. Each thread needs to focus on a single, specific point of language or translation, so please ask only one question per thread. If you have a second question—even a related one, or one about another part of the same passage—please open a second thread. Replies should stay on the topic of the first post of the thread. If you wish to talk about another subject, open another thread (provided that there are no old ones). If you need clarification about a moderator's action, please do not post in the forums, but write a private message to that moderator or to any other Italian-English moderator.
If you reply to a thread, say if you are or are not completely sure of your suggestion. A wrong suggestion causes problems for both those who asked the question and those who will read the old threads in the future. Only reply if you are reasonably sure that your suggestion is correct.
If you are not positive, say so clearly.
If you are suggesting a translation for a technical term, say if that is or is not your field of expertise.
Don't feel compelled to reply at all costs: it is better to refrain from replying than to run the risk of a blatantly wrong translation.
Thread titles
Generally speaking, the best title is the original word or phrase you wish to discuss, as it appears in the source text. Do not use your attempted translation, lest your title contain mistakes. Kindly omit "translation please," "how do I say this," "I'm new," and the like. Please avoid quotation marks (") and ellipses (…). Titles are important because each entry in the dictionary is automatically linked to titles in the forum so that dictionary searches return our discussion threads in addition to translations.
Generally speaking, the best title is the original word or phrase you wish to discuss, as it appears in the source text. Do not use your attempted translation, lest your title contain mistakes. Kindly omit "translation please," "how do I say this," "I'm new," and the like. Please avoid quotation marks (") and ellipses (…). Titles are important because each entry in the dictionary is automatically linked to titles in the forum so that dictionary searches return our discussion threads in addition to translations.
- In-depth tutorial: How should I choose a thread title?
Write correctly: see Rule 11.
Quote wisely.
When replying, quote a previous message only if necessary.
It is difficult to read a post which quotes someone else’s lengthy comment, and adds only a small note such as “I agree” at the end. Please try to avoid quoting if not strictly necessary. If a quote is necessary, help make it easier to read by deleting any parts which are not relevant to your reply.
Rule 3: Always provide the complete sentence and the general context
When formulating your question, identify the specific problem you have, and explain your trouble. Suggest a translation of your own, no matter how inadequate you think it may be. Forum members come here to give their help on a voluntary basis, so it is inappropriate to ask for their assistance without taking the trouble to work on a problem yourself first. If you do not speak a word of Italian (or English), it is important to make that clear. Please note that providing your attempted translation or interpretation of an entire phrase does not mean you do not have to ask a specific question. All posts must specify which part of the sentence is most problematic.
Context and examples are crucial. Where did you read the expression—in a novel, in a newspaper, in a scientific or technical document? Or did you hear the expression somewhere—on the television, on the radio, during a conversation with a friend? Otherwise, what idea are you trying to express, and under what circumstances? What is the general topic? If your question concerns a passage from a written work, the title, author, and date may be relevant. The sentences that precede and follow the bit you need help with will often shed light on your difficulty; please provide them if you can, accompanied by a link to the full, written source text (if available).
Finally, do not translate the entire context; it will not help us to focus on your question, and inexperienced members may not understand that we cannot rewrite your entire translation.
- In-depth tutorial: What does "provide some context" mean?
[To be continued in the following post]
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