The Quick Guide to the Spanish-English forums
(hacer clic aquí para ver este mensaje en español)
What we do
We answer specific questions about Spanish or English words or short phrases that appear in a complete sentence with context and background in a respectful, helpful and cordial manner.
Where to ask a question
In the Vocabulary forum, we answer questions about meaning, usage and translation.
In the Grammar forum, we answer questions about sentence structure, pronunciation, tenses, and parts of speech (such as prepositions, articles, pronouns, etc).
In the Specialized Terminology forum and its subforums (including Medical, Legal, Financial and Computers), we answer questions about technical terms and jargon.
If no translation is involved:
- Use the English Only forum for questions about English that are written in English.
- Use the Sólo Español forum for questions about Spanish that are written in Spanish.
How to ask a question
1. Search first. Use the search box at the top of this page. Below the dictionary definitions, there is a list of forum threads. If you don’t find the answer to your question, you can open a new thread.
2. Go to the correct forum and look at the top of the list of threads. Click Ask a question / New Thread.
3. In the thread title, put the specific words or short phrase you are translating, with no extra words (like “Spanish” or “question”).
4. In the first post, include 3 key elements of context:
Guidelines for starting a thread
· One topic per thread. Each thread must deal with only one word or short phrase. If you have a question about a different word or phrase, start a new thread. DO NOT request a list.
· DO NOT ask us to transcribe all or part of a video or a sound file. Ask a moderator's permission before posting a link to a video.
. DO NOT post images instead of text. Since only logged-in users can see images in your posts, please type the source text, and use attachments only as additional context.
· DO NOT ask us to proofread a long text. If you have a short text for correction, ask a specific question about a part of the text and give your own ideas.
· Name the source of any quoted material from websites or print sources.
· If your question isn’t answered, add extra information to help us understand the text. Do not “bump” your thread.
· Do not have more than 5 threads open at one time on the first page of any forum. Do not “flood” the forum.
· Use standard language, including correct capitalization and punctuation, to the best of your ability. DO NOT use chatspeak or SMS abbreviations.
How to reply to a thread
· Be patient with, and respectful towards, your fellow members.
· Focus on the question being asked, not on other topics. Each thread must have only one topic, and no chatting is allowed.
· Do not provide answers to questions that lack context.
If the original poster has not provided the elements of context, as described above and in forum rule 3, please report the thread to the moderators or ask politely for context.
Do not guess at what the context might be or propose your own context. And please don't assume that others understand questions which are lacking in context just because their meaning seems clear to you.
· Do not post “bare” links without explaining the content of the link and/or quoting the contents of the linked page.
· Ask a moderator's permission before posting a link to a video.
· Use standard language including correct capitalization and punctuation, to the best of your ability. DO NOT use chatspeak or SMS abbreviations.
· DO NOT use any language other than English or Spanish.
How to report a problem
Please report any thread or post that has a problem or breaks the forum rules.
· Examples: inappropriate tone, lack of context, proofreading requests, transcription requests, multiple topics or multiple questions, bad title, wrong forum, spam or promotion.
Click Report at the bottom of the post and submit the report form.
· The first available moderator will attend to the issue. Complex issues will be discussed by the team of moderators and may take time to resolve.
If you report a post or thread, please do not reply to it.
Other helpful links
Complete list of Forum Rules.
What we mean by "context"
How to choose a good thread title
Proofreading and homework
How to make accented characters
For Teachers and Students
Thread Compilations
(hacer clic aquí para ver este mensaje en español)
What we do
We answer specific questions about Spanish or English words or short phrases that appear in a complete sentence with context and background in a respectful, helpful and cordial manner.
Where to ask a question
In the Vocabulary forum, we answer questions about meaning, usage and translation.
In the Grammar forum, we answer questions about sentence structure, pronunciation, tenses, and parts of speech (such as prepositions, articles, pronouns, etc).
In the Specialized Terminology forum and its subforums (including Medical, Legal, Financial and Computers), we answer questions about technical terms and jargon.
If no translation is involved:
- Use the English Only forum for questions about English that are written in English.
- Use the Sólo Español forum for questions about Spanish that are written in Spanish.
How to ask a question
1. Search first. Use the search box at the top of this page. Below the dictionary definitions, there is a list of forum threads. If you don’t find the answer to your question, you can open a new thread.
2. Go to the correct forum and look at the top of the list of threads. Click Ask a question / New Thread.
3. In the thread title, put the specific words or short phrase you are translating, with no extra words (like “Spanish” or “question”).
4. In the first post, include 3 key elements of context:
a. Ask a specific, clear question.
b. Show us a complete sample sentence in which the word/phrase was used.
c. Describe the situation and the dialect of the speaker/writer.
Guidelines for starting a thread
· One topic per thread. Each thread must deal with only one word or short phrase. If you have a question about a different word or phrase, start a new thread. DO NOT request a list.
· DO NOT ask us to transcribe all or part of a video or a sound file. Ask a moderator's permission before posting a link to a video.
. DO NOT post images instead of text. Since only logged-in users can see images in your posts, please type the source text, and use attachments only as additional context.
· DO NOT ask us to proofread a long text. If you have a short text for correction, ask a specific question about a part of the text and give your own ideas.
· Name the source of any quoted material from websites or print sources.
· If your question isn’t answered, add extra information to help us understand the text. Do not “bump” your thread.
· Do not have more than 5 threads open at one time on the first page of any forum. Do not “flood” the forum.
· Use standard language, including correct capitalization and punctuation, to the best of your ability. DO NOT use chatspeak or SMS abbreviations.
How to reply to a thread
· Be patient with, and respectful towards, your fellow members.
· Focus on the question being asked, not on other topics. Each thread must have only one topic, and no chatting is allowed.
· Do not provide answers to questions that lack context.
If the original poster has not provided the elements of context, as described above and in forum rule 3, please report the thread to the moderators or ask politely for context.
Do not guess at what the context might be or propose your own context. And please don't assume that others understand questions which are lacking in context just because their meaning seems clear to you.
· Do not post “bare” links without explaining the content of the link and/or quoting the contents of the linked page.
· Ask a moderator's permission before posting a link to a video.
· Use standard language including correct capitalization and punctuation, to the best of your ability. DO NOT use chatspeak or SMS abbreviations.
· DO NOT use any language other than English or Spanish.
How to report a problem
Please report any thread or post that has a problem or breaks the forum rules.
· Examples: inappropriate tone, lack of context, proofreading requests, transcription requests, multiple topics or multiple questions, bad title, wrong forum, spam or promotion.
Click Report at the bottom of the post and submit the report form.
· The first available moderator will attend to the issue. Complex issues will be discussed by the team of moderators and may take time to resolve.
If you report a post or thread, please do not reply to it.
Other helpful links
Complete list of Forum Rules.
What we mean by "context"
How to choose a good thread title
Proofreading and homework
How to make accented characters
For Teachers and Students
Thread Compilations
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