1 - Browniz points

1.1 - What are browniz points?

Browniz are points earned by contributing something to the community or the site, such as site translations, introduction of new members, organization or attendance of powwows, etc.

Browniz are a measure of 'helpfulness' or 'activity level', as opposed to KudoZ points, which relate to 'expertise'.

Unlike KudoZ points, browniz points can be spent. Having browniz points means you have done something for the community, and the community "owes you one".

1.2 - How can I use browniz?

ProZ.com wants to give benefits to, and retain, the more active contributors. Browniz provide a rough way to track contributions.

If a member's browniz total rises to 4000, that member is entitled to a discount on a future purchase of ProZ.com membership. New professional memberships can be purchased for 115 dollars/99 euros + 4000 browniz; professional membership renewals are available for 109 dollars/94 euros + 4000 browniz.

Browniz points can also be used to pay for access to entries on the outsourcer Blue Board, directory text ads, for quoting on jobs, and more in the future.

Browniz also contribute to a member's standing in the directory--if two members have the same number of KudoZ points, the one with more browniz is shown first.

1.3 - How can I get browniz?

To see how you can earn browniz points, visit your browniz history page by clicking the number of browniz points under your name, or by selecting My ProZ.com -> My Browniz from the main menu. Your browniz history page contains a breakdown of where your current number of browniz come from, with links to "Earn" of each category. If a category doesn't have a "Earn" link, then it is either depreciated (old, replaced, not used anymore), or is undergoing renovation.

1.4 - How are browniz points updated?

Browniz point totals shown in some places throughout the site are updated once daily, whereas those in other places are updated in real time. So there can be temporary discrepancies, but correction is made when all points are counted once per day. Also, if errors were to occur, they should be corrected within a day.

Totals are updated at certain points in the site which require the latest totals. These include quoting on a job or viewing an agency's details on the ProZ.com Blue Board, or anywhere else BrowniZ may be spent. To force your point totals to be updated, simply visit your BrowniZ history page.


Note: In order to receive browniz for attending a powwow, the organizer must enter the attendance report before any browniz will appear in your totals. Please contact the powwow organizer if you have not received your browniz points first before you send in a support request.

1.5 - My browniz point totals are wrong.

By default, browniz point totals only get updated once per day. You can force your browniz total to update by visiting your browniz history page (select My ProZ.com->My Browniz from the main menu).

1.6 - I have excess browniz points. Can I donate them to other members?

If you are a ProZ.com member, you may donate 4000 of your browniz points at a time to non-member colleagues. To do so, visit this page.

Since 4000 browniz points can be exchanged for a discount on membership, this amounts to donating a discount on membership to your colleagues.

Note: If your colleague does not use the browniz points to buy membership within one week, the browniz will revert back to you.

2 - Quick polls

2.1 - What are ProZ.com "Quick Polls"?

ProZ.com quick polls are quick, convenient (and unscientific!) one-question surveys designed to encourage the exchange of information among translators. Quick-polls link to forum topics, encouraging discussion amongst members of the community. For the latest poll, see: http://www.proz.com/polls

2.2 - Where can I find the polls?

Quick polls run on the home page, and are also accessible from under the Community tab. (Community - Quick polls)

2.3 - Who can suggest polls?

Polls can be suggested by Professional, Corporate and Community - partial members. Each suggested poll must pass vetting by staff.

2.4 - I would like to suggest a poll. Where and how can I do so?

You can suggest a poll from the home page and the quick poll page.

To suggest a poll from the home page simply click on the "Suggest a poll" link next to "Discuss" located at the bottom of the quick poll box.

To suggest a poll from the quick poll page, go to quick poll page and click on the "Suggest a poll" link below the "About quick polls" box at the top of the page. Note: only Professional full, Corporate and Community - partial members can suggest polls.

2.5 - Who can vote on/discuss the quick polls?

In general, any logged in site user can vote and/or participate in the poll discussion. However, some quick polls may be restricted to ProZ.com members only.

For each poll you vote on, you will earn five (5) browniz points.

2.6 - Who determines the poll questions?

Site members suggest the polls and ProZ.com staff members authorize and queue them up. Submitted polls can be edited by site staff to adapt their format (very short options should be displayed) and to ensure that the set of options is complete.

2.7 - Which are the aspects staff members take into account when selecting a poll?

In general, to make it to the home page a poll should:

- have a subject matter appealing to the majority of site users,
- not ask a similar or identical question to one already asked within previous months.
- lead to an enriching follow-up discussion.
- have a question and answers that can be phrased in a way which enables a concise, "complete" poll.
- be in line with the site rules.

A poll question that is not within the scope of ProZ.com as a translation workplace, is not in line with site rules and/or asks
for information that can be derived from existing ProZ.com data will not be selected to be run.

2.8 - Is the data collected in these polls reliable?

Quick polls are not conducted scientifically and the data gathered should be taken merely as a basis for discussion (or further polls!).

2.9 - Where does the discussion on the polls take place?

There is a dedicated forum for Poll Discussions here. Below each poll there is a link to the forum topic in which it is being discussed.

2.10 - What does it mean to be credited for a quick poll?

It means that you will be recognized as the author of the poll. If you chose not to be credited, then the poll would be published as anonymous.

2.11 - I suggested a quick poll and it wasn't published, why?

Not all polls can be published, or published in a timely manner. Every effort is made to queue polls which meet the criteria. If you have questions regarding the status of a poll you have suggested, please submit the details via support request.

3 - Articles knowledgebase

3.1 - What is the ProZ.com "Articles Knowledgebase"?

The Article Knowledgebase (http://www.proz.com/translation-articles) is an online collection of articles and related knowledge on topics of interest to translators, interpreters, and other language professionals. Many of these articles have been written by ProZ.com members.

3.2 - What are knowledgebase "contributions"?

At the bottom of each article a series of knowledgebase contributions may appear. These contributions are additions, clarifications, or suggestions related to the topic of the article made by other ProZ.com members. Members with relevant information to add to an article are encouraged to make such contributions by clicking "Contribute to the knowledgebase" at the bottom of the article.

3.3 - Why is a "recommendation" bar shown with some articles?

After reading an article, ProZ.com members are presented with a form allowing them to recommend whether other translators should take the time to read that article. The recommendation bar shown with an article is an average of all members' recommendations. 5 bars indicates members thought the article was well worth reading, while 1 bar indicates that members definitely would not recommend the article to others.

The most highly recommended articles are shown in the "recommended articles" section of the right sidebar.

3.4 - What does "add article to favorites" mean?

In the "article options" section of the right sidebar, there is an option to add the article you are reading to your list of favorites. Your favorite articles will be listed in a "favorite articles" section of the right sidebar, for easy reference in the future.

3.5 - What authors are included in the "featured authors" lists?

The featured authors lists include authors who have assigned copyright for at least one article to ProZ.com (see the copyright policy FAQ for more information). This list also includes authors of articles originally published elsewhere who have granted ProZ.com the right to republish their work.

3.6 - How are "popular authors" and "popular articles" selected?

The list of popular authors and articles in the right sidebar are automatically determined based on a number of criteria, including how highly recommended the articles are, how frequently articles have been read, and how many people have added the articles to their list of favorites.

3.7 - What is the copyright policy for these articles?

The copyright for articles published at ProZ.com vary from one article to another. A copyright notice appears at the bottom of each article identifying the copyright holder. In all cases, articles may not be republished by third parties without the permission of ProZ.com and the copyright owners.

Authors of content published initially to the ProZ.com articles section have two copyright options: they may assign copyright exclusively to ProZ.com, in which case they will benefit from a set of promotional features, or alternatively, they may retain the right to publish the article elsewhere, in which case a minimal level of promotion will be provided. The full promotional package includes an "author box" with the body of the article, a listing among the featured authors, awarding of browniz points (which can be redeemed for a discount on membership), and, for ProZ.com members, rotation among featured articles on the ProZ.com home page. The minimal promotional package includes attribution and a link at the bottom of articles. More details are available on the article submission form.

Note: The copyright options were added upon the creation of the articles section. Those who submitted Howtos previously will receive the higher level of promotion without a need to assign exclusive copyright to ProZ.com.

ProZ.com has obtained permission from other publications to republish some of their articles. When an article has been republished, an appropriate notice is included at the bottom of the article.

3.8 - I notice some articles in the knowledgebase that have come from other sites. Why is that?

ProZ.com has made arrangements to republish articles (about 80) from two sites - Accurpaid's Translation Journal - http://www.accurapid.com/journal - and the LISA's "Globalization Insider" - http://www.lisa.org/globalizationinsider/ The permission of each author has also been obtained.

3.9 - How can I submit an article? What are the submission guidelines?

Please refer to the submission guidelines for information about submitting an article.

3.10 - Why would I want to submit an article?

Writing a ProZ.com translation article is a way to share your expertise and to promote yourself in your subject area. It helps you stand out from the competition, and to get noticed as an expert in your field. Additionally, by publishing at ProZ.com you will benefit from the exchange of knowledge with other specialists, as they contribute comments and suggestions related to your article.

3.11 - How can I edit my article?

Articles that you have written can be edited by clicking the "Edit article" link in the "Article Options" area of the right sidebar when viewing your article. Please note that you must be logged in to your ProZ.com account in order to edit your articles.

After editing your article, your article will become invisible to other viewers until it has been reviewed by an editor or site staff.

3.12 - I would like to edit my article, but I do not have a ProZ.com account.

Please create a ProZ.com account by registering (for free). Then, enter a support request asking us to link your article to your new profile. Once the article has been linked to your new account, you will be able to log in and edit it.

3.13 - I have a ProZ.com profile, but I still can not edit my article. How do I get the article linked to my profile?

If the article does not link to your profile, this indicates that we have not established the connection between the article and your profile. Please send a support request with your username and/or profile link so that we can establish the connection between the article and your profile. Note that once this connection is made, the name and photo shown with the article will be the ones you use in your profile.

3.14 - What is a call for articles?

The call for articles page lists topics for articles that are sought by ProZ.com members, moderators, or staff. If you have special knowledge or expertise in any of the areas listed, please consider submitting an article.

3.15 - Can I suggest a topic for an article I would like to see written, or make my own call for articles?

If you are unable to find an article that you are looking for on a given topic, you can suggest that an article be written. First browse through the category in which you expected to find the article. If the article is not there, click "Suggest a topic for an article in this category" at the bottom of the article listing. Enter the suggested topic for the article, and some notes about what the article should contain. Moderators or site staff will review your suggestion for addition to the call for articles page.

3.16 - I found an article that I would like to see put in the knowledgebase. How can it be added?

If you come across an article that you think belongs in the Articles Knowledgebase, you can either suggest to the author that he/she consider publishing here, or, you can enter a support request suggesting that a ProZ.com staff member contact the author to obtain permission.

If you think there is a type of article that the knowledgebase needs, but does not exist elsewhere, please submit the topic for possible addition to the "Call for Articles".

3.17 - Can non members read/search/contribute articles?

Non member users are welcome to contribute articles, and to read and search most articles. However, in the future some premium articles may be restricted to site members only.

3.18 - What benefits are there for site members in the articles section?

Site members have access to read all articles (including future premium articles), and gain promotion by contributing to the article knowledge base. Featured authors who are site members will also be rotated in a "featured article" box on the ProZ.com home page.

3.19 - What happened to the old "Howtos" section?

The old "Howtos" area has been subsumed by the articles area. Many of the former HOWTOs that had already been vetted have been converted to appear as "articles" in the new section. If you wrote a HOWTO that was not vetted, or does not appear in the articles section, you may request that it be moved over by entering a support request.

3.20 - Can I publish an article containing pictures?

Currently it is not possible to upload images with an article. For the time, the article has to be plain text only.

4 - ProZ.com dictionary and reference board

4.1 - What is the Dictionary and reference board?

The ProZ.com Dictionary and reference board is a searchable database of dictionaries and other works of reference which may be of use to language professionals. Records can be created on works of reference, and feedback provided by members of the community.

The main page for the Dictionary and resource board is http://www.proz.com/references/

4.2 - What is the purpose of the Dictionary and reference board team?

The Dictionary and resource board team is a group of volunteers who help to manage the board. Some of their tasks include making sure record information is as correct and complete as possible, vetting records and feedback entries, and guiding members in their use of the board.

Dictionary and resource board team members are listed here.

4.3 - Who can make a record on the board?

Dictionary and resource records can be created by any logged in site member, by clicking on the "Add a new resource" link at http://www.proz.com/references/. The entry maker should enter the information they can regarding the work and click the "Submit" button at the bottom of the form.

All records entered are subject to vetting by the board team or site staff before becoming visible.

4.4 - Can I provide feedback on a record?

If you have read or used the work represented by the record, yes. Feedback on works may be given by clicking on the "Please provide feedback to the community" link on the record involved.



The feedback provider is prompted to enter a short comment on the work, along with a number rating, from 1-5, 5 being the highest rating.

Feedback comments should be limited to feedback on the work itself.

All feedback entries are subject to vetting by the board team or site staff before becoming visible.

5 - ProZ.com exchange

5.1 - What is the ProZ.com Exchange?

The ProZ.com Translators Exchange is a system that users and members can use to offer and request books, language training, CAT tool training, travel advice and more.

5.2 - Who can use the ProZ.com Exchange?

Both members and users can post to the ProZ.com Exchange. Only members can respond to a post.

5.3 - Is the Exchange just for trades, or can I sell something there?

You can sell, too. When posting an offer or request, you will have the option of indicating an interest in selling or trading. All details of transactions must be worked out directly among members.

5.4 - I submitted a post to the exchange. Why can't I see it yet?

Before a post is publicly visible, it must be vetted by ProZ.com staff to ensure adherence to ProZ.com rules and guidelines.

5.5 - What kinds of posts aren't allowed on the Exchange?

1. You cannot use the Exchange to offer your own professional services.
2. Unauthorized commercial solicitation is not allowed, as paid advertising is available from ProZ.com in designated areas of the site.
3. All general site rules apply to the Exchange.

6 - ProZ.com moderators

6.1 - What is a ProZ.com "moderator"?

A moderator is a person who, in keeping with the site's mission, assists users in getting the most out of participation in the community, and helps to maintain a positive, results-oriented atmosphere through enforcing adherence to site rules.

Moderators serve a one-year term, from July to June.

The moderator role is described in further detail here.

6.2 - How are moderators selected?

Members who wish to express their interest in serving a term as moderator may do so by submitting an application for ProZ.com moderator.

Some candidates volunteer for the position, some are recommended or "nominated" by current moderators or by other members, and others are selected by staff among site members. All are required to complete an application for ProZ.com moderator

Advice and feedback on candidates may be asked from other moderators, but the ultimate decision and responsibility falls on site staff.

6.3 - I would like to volunteer to serve a term as a ProZ.com moderator, what should I do?

Volunteers to serve as a ProZ.com moderator can use the application system found on the moderator overview pages.

Volunteers are always welcome, but note that the criteria for moderators is such that not everyone can become one. Some of the criteria for moderator candidates include experience on the site, in the community and the industry, membership level, citizenship, activity level, and openings available for moderation.

6.4 - I have a complaint about a rules enforcement or other action taken by moderators or staff, where can I register this?

If you have a problem, complaint or question regarding rules enforcement actions taken by staff or moderators, please contact site staff via the support system. Requests for clarification on site rules and rules enforcement should use this channel, and not be posted in the forums.