Common Orthographic and Typographic Challenges in Ukrainian Localization

In the age of machine translation and AI (that are developing at a lightning speed), one can be said for certain: translators still need to be proficient in orthographic and typographic rules when localizing text into Ukrainian language. Some might say, “AI will take care of missing letters or commas,“ but, based on experience, no machine can replace the human touch and knowledge. This is why it is important for translators to be well aware of challenges that can arise during localization and be ready to handle them with confidence.

In this article, we discuss the most common issues regarding Ukrainian orthography, spelling, punctuation, typography and readability to look for during localization into Ukrainian language. While we focus on Ukrainian and its specificities, you might also want to read more about general mistakes that occur in technical translation.

Why knowing Ukrainian grammar rules is important

The answer is simple—grammar provides the framework for good translation, since it structures the text and makes it coherent. Even if the message of the source text is present in the localized one, without proper grammar it will be unreadable. Obviously, we learned the basic Ukrainian grammar rules in school, but sometimes translators rely too much on their memory and do not bother to consult relevant resources during localization.

Common grammar issues in localization:

• Incorrect noun endings in genitive case (e.g., what should we use: “контакта” or “контакту”?)
• Usage of particle "не"
• Treatment of numerals
• Usage of prepositions (e.g., “в” or “у”, “і” or “та”)

There are many more. Luckily, the majority of cases are covered in the official Ukrainian grammar guidelines—Український Правопис 2019 (Pravopys). This is the default resource translators should refer to regarding proper grammar.

What are the spelling rules?

Spelling rules can appear confusing and pose a challenge to translators, especially since we hear so much about Pravopys changes in the media (so what is it really, “міф” or “міт”?) The fundamental rule is to always refer to the approved documentation first—in our case, these are the latest versions of the Ukrainian Orthography Dictionary and Pravopys. Both documents are available online and should be consulted first during localization.

With that said, it is important to remember that different clients can have different Style Guides, which can stray away a bit from the basics in some specific cases. For example, the client might have not yet adopted the spelling “проєкт” instead of “проект” in their systems, so translators should always take that into account.

To sum up, in terms of spelling, translators should adhere to two basic rules:

1. Always consult relevant documentation for the Ukrainian language
2. Consult clients’ Style Guides for specific cases

Pitfalls of Ukrainian punctuation

The good news is that punctuation rules have stayed more or less consistent since the time we learned them in school. However, Ukrainian punctuation still can pose quite a challenge, especially regarding the use of comma in different cases, such as comparative clauses (e.g., “більше, ніж”), complex expressions (e.g., “перед тим як”), parenthetical words (“здається”, “на жаль”) etc. The important thing is to always consult Ukrainian Pravopys, since it covers the main punctuation rules translators need to follow.

There is, however, one additional thing: since punctuation marks can be rendered differently on our keyboard, translators still need to consult the client’s Style Guide regarding the correct characters. One client might prefer straight quotes, while another uses curly ones, which should be reflected in the localized Ukrainian text.

The rules for punctuation are similar to the ones for spelling:

1. Consult relevant documentation for the Ukrainian language
2. Consult clients’ Style Guides for specific cases

Typography challenges in Ukrainian content

Typography is an important part of any good localization, and several pitfalls apply specifically to the Ukrainian language. These issues are especially common in technical translation and are important to keep in mind when localizing a highly visible text.

• Ukrainian words are, on average, longer than their English counterparts. Often translators forget about it when localizing websites or apps, which results in text being cut off.
• The Ukrainian alphabet uses Cyrillic letters that appear identical to Latin ones (e.g., Cyrillic “і” vs. Latin “i”). While they look similar, many fonts treat them differently in terms of their weight and spacing. Using Latin letter instead of Cyrillic ones also breaks SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
• Issues with italics: Cyrillic italics change shape entirely: for example, letter "т" transforms into a shape that looks like a Latin "m".

When localizing text into Ukrainian, it is important to keep in mind the specificities of the language—it starts from using the correct keyboard layout and leads to so much more.

Layout and line breaks

With the abundance of technical translation tools, it might seem difficult to navigate them all with ease. Sure, we all know how to add a paragraph in Microsoft Word, but even this program is not as simple as it seems.

Each of the tools can have slightly different layouts and elements, but the good thing is that the Internet stores many life hacks that might help translators use different programs, which then can be applied in Ukrainian localization. For example, on our blog, you can find a tip on how to insert a line break in an Excel document. There are many more tips to explore, so welcome.

Readability issues in Ukrainian localization

Readability is perhaps the biggest challenge to translators simply because it cannot be explained in clear and technical terms (e.g., ”use period at the end of a sentence”). Text with good readability is a sign of a good and experienced translator, and the clients value it the most. So, what are the main localization errors in terms or readability?

• Word-by-word translation. Far too often, translators follow the structure and word order of the source, making the target text sound unnatural.
• Usage of extra words. Brevity is the soul of wit, as we all know. “Видалити це зображення?” works better than “Ви впевнені, що хочете видалити це зображення?”
• Over-complication. Too many nouns in a row, or nominalization (e.g., “здійснення процесу синхронізації”), and overly complex structures prevent the reader from enjoying the text.
• Over-relying on MT. This issue is especially relevant in technical translation, since the clients incorporate it more and more. Remember: the machine is only meant to assist humans, not replace them.

So, what are the best practices to achieve readability?

• Read the translation aloud. You will be able to catch clunky phrasing that looks fine on screen but sounds unnatural.
• Focus on the message. Do not try to translate every word: find the intended meaning and convey it a way that feels native to a Ukrainian reader.
• Immerse yourself in your language. Read contemporary books, watch movies, listen to podcasts—it will help to keep your active vocabulary fresh.

Final thoughts

Ukrainian localization is on the rise, and it brings more and more challenges to Ukrainian translators. The good thing is that we can always improve and work on ourselves to provide the best localization possible. Sure, dealing with grammar and punctuation rules, as well as different translation programs and tools might appear demanding, but the final result—high-quality translation—is worth it.