Enhanced Message Context

When implementing Lingui i18n, add translator comments to messages so translators have context to provide the best translation. Even when the message text is self-explanatory, it is important to know where and how it appears in the UI to choose the correct tone, length, and wording.

When to Add Comments

Add a comment field when the message:

• Is ambiguous: Short words/phrases that can be different parts of speech
  • "Back" (noun or verb?), "Delete" (button or confirmation?), "Close" (verb or adjective?)
• Lacks UI context: Labels isolated from their surroundings
  • Table column headers, tooltip content, standalone button labels, menu items
• Has domain-specific meaning: Terms with different meanings across contexts
  • "Post" (verb or noun?), "Tag" (noun or verb?), "Follow" (social media or instruction?)
• Depends on grammatical gender: The translation depends on what the message refers to
  • "Selected" (masculine/feminine/neutral depends on what is selected)
• Uses unclear variables: Placeholder names don't reveal what they contain
  • {count} (count of what?), {name} (user name, file name, project name?)
• Could benefit from UI context even if clear: Where the text appears (button, dialog, banner, form field) affects tone and length - add a brief location or purpose comment when it helps.