Sometimes, our Global Translation Editors (GTEs) need to address situations where a contributor keeps submitting translations that don’t quite meet our quality standards. This is important because it directly impacts the workload of our dedicated volunteer validators, who generously give their time to keep our project’s translations accurate and reliable.
To better support our validators, and to maintain the high quality of our translations, we follow a clear workflow for warning and, if necessary, temporarily blocking contributors who repeatedly submit incorrect translations:
1. Friendly Guidance
When a validator spots a contributor who regularly submits low-quality translations, the first step is to reach out using the discussion feature in our translation system. This allows the validator to offer helpful feedback and guidance. (Please note: This works best if the contributor has notifications enabled.)
2. Reaching Out on Slack
If there’s no response or improvement after a few days, the next step is to try contacting the contributor through the #polyglots channel in the “Making WordPress” Slack workspace. You can usually find the contributor’s Slack handle on their profile page. Not all translators have a Slack user.
3. Public Warning
If previous attempts don’t lead to improvement and the low-quality submissions continue, the GTE should write a post on the Polyglots P2 blog explaining the situation. This post, tagged #ban-translator, should include screenshots and links to the problematic translations. Tag some Polyglots leads so that someone with commit permissions can review the case and add the translator’s username to the list of warned users if needed.
4. Temporary Suspension
If the contributor continues to submit incorrect translations after being publicly warned, and there’s still no constructive response, a user with commit permissions may temporarily suspend their ability to submit new translations. The GTE should update the previous P2 post, adding a new comment, with examples of the new incorrect translations and request a temporary block, tagging Polyglots leads, so the situation can be reviewed, and the suspension applied if appropriate.
Public list
The list with the warned and suspended users is available here, in the public repository, so the whole process is totally transparent.
Screenshots
In the next screenshots, you can see the messages that the warned and suspended users will see.
