Skip Navigation

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client is trying to translate content on their website and wants to avoid being charged again for translating the same section when it appears on different pages, especially when there are slight variations specific to different locations.

Solution:
We explained that the WPML's Automatic Translation Engine (ATE) does not charge extra credits for retranslating content that has already been translated, thanks to the Translation Memory feature. However, ATE identifies sentences based on punctuation marks and line breaks. If the sentences are structurally similar but contain different words (like country or city names), they are considered new sentences and require separate translations. We recommended using consistent punctuation to help ATE recognize and reuse translations more effectively.

If this solution does not resolve your issue or seems outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If further assistance is needed, please open a new support ticket.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

Everyone can read, but only WPML clients can post here. WPML team is replying on the forum 6 days per week, 22 hours per day.

This topic contains 3 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by Waqas Bin Hasan 1 month ago.

Assisted by: Waqas Bin Hasan.

Author Posts
December 6, 2024 at 5:13 am #16484503

eamonnT

Background of the issue:
I am trying to translate content on my website, hidden link, using WPML. Specifically, I want to translate a section about Paris to French, which is also common to other locations like Lyon.

Symptoms:
I want to avoid being charged again for translating the same section when it appears on different pages.

Questions:
How can I avoid being charged again for translating the same section on different pages?

December 6, 2024 at 9:55 am #16485290

Waqas Bin Hasan
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Karachi (GMT+05:00)

Hi,

Thank you for contacting the support.

When you retranslate the same content, the automatic translation does not charge you extra credits. This means, if you have used a sentence or paragraphs in another place and it was translated already, then reusing it in a new place, 'll not consume additional credits due to the Translation Memory feature.

Regards.

December 7, 2024 at 5:52 am #16488052

eamonnT

okay that is cool.....

so if for example I have an FAQ section that has slight variations to be specific to that page

example

FAQ For France, What is the minium age to rent a car in France, the minimum age in France is... ....

FAQ For Italy , What is the minium age to rent a car in Italy, the minimum age in Italy...

FAQ For Milan , What is the minium age to rent a car in Milan , the minimum age in Milan ...

Because if the slight changes for different locatiobs Milan, Italy etc will this be charged

December 9, 2024 at 5:37 am #16490948

Waqas Bin Hasan
Supporter

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Asia/Karachi (GMT+05:00)

Ok, for that kind of structure, unfortunately these are new/separate sentences for Automatic Translation.

Because in ATE, it breaks content into sentences based on punctuation marks and line breaks. So if you notice that your sentence has no punctuation mark (i.e. a full stop, a question mark) but using commas. While each sentence, even repetitive in its nature, but having different word(s) each time (i.e. Country or City name).

For ATE, these are all different sentences.

I've recorded my screen to demonstrate this, please watch hidden link. In this video, you'll notice that I've a few sentences which are based on your structure but these I had to translate separately. Means, translation memory didn't help due to the variation within the sentence. The attached screenshot is also helpful in understanding this.

While, when I used question mark as punctuation, ATE allowed me to break the full context into separate sentences. So the next time the same question was found (without any change in the content), it was prefilled by translation memory.

So in short, translation memory only works when the your text "contains some of the same content" (and within the same language).

ate.jpg