Localized Text

When user interface text is translated into other languages, it is localized. For more information, see Localization. Consider the following localization issues when you write user interface text.

• Use terminology, punctuation, acronyms, and capitalization consistently.

• Avoid idioms, jargon, colloquialisms, abbreviations, acronyms, and metaphors whenever possible.

• Avoid long compound sentences with multiple nouns because they are difficult to translate.

• Use descriptors wherever possible.

• When using punctuation, take into account that other languages have different rules.

• Localizing English text usually increases the length of the text, which may affect the layout of controls. As needed, use standard abbreviations and rephrase text to ensure that it fits on the screen.

  The following illustration shows the difference in text length when the same content is localized in three different languages.

  English	German	Japanese

See Also

Acronyms

Capitalization

Localization

Punctuation

Terminology

User Interface Text

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