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1. Write short, complete sentences
Machine translation can lose track of who did what in long, nested sentences. Keep one thought per sentence, and don't drop the subject: "Coming at five" leaves the translator guessing who is coming, where "I'm coming at five" doesn't.
2. Skip idioms, slang and abbreviations
"I'm beat", "it's a piece of cake", "brb", "idk" either get translated word for word or not at all. Say what you mean plainly: "I'm very tired", "It's easy", "I'll be right back".
3. One topic per message
Instead of putting the address, the time and the price in one long message, send three short ones. The other person can answer each, and anything misunderstood shows up right away.
4. Spell out dates, times and money
"03/02" is 3 February in some countries and 2 March in others. Write the month's name: "3 February". Use the 24-hour clock: "15:00". Put the currency next to the price: "50 euros", "200 dollars".
5. Back-check important messages
Translate the result back into your own language. If the meaning stays the same, the message is very likely fine; if it drifts, rephrase more simply and translate again. For appointments, addresses and money, this two-second check pays off.
6. Mind the formality
Languages like German, French and Japanese have separate formal and informal ways to address someone, and the translation takes its cue from your sentence. Writing to a customer or a stranger, keep your own wording polite and formal; writing to a friend, keep it casual. That's how the translation finds the right tone.
7. Leave names and addresses as they are
Names of people, streets and companies sometimes get mistaken for ordinary words and translated. Putting an important name in quotes, or checking it after translating, prevents that. If you're unsure about a detail, ask the other person to confirm it in writing.