View source for Template:Lang-en/doc

{{Documentation subpage}}
{{lua|Module:lang}}
{{clear}}
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== Usage ==
{{#invoke:Lang/documentor tool|lang_xx_settings|template={{ROOTPAGENAME}}}}
Because this is English Wikipedia, the facts that a) the content is in English by default, and that b) the word "English" refers to the [[English language]], are generally taken to be understood. Unlike many multilingual support templates, this template does not link the language name by default. To activate the link, add the {{para|link|yes}} parameter.

{{strong|In most cases, there is no reason to use this template, unless you have a specific technical need for it.}} This template exists principally as a placeholder for interwiki purposes. 

{{em|Legitimate use almost always involves automation.}} The vast majority of needed uses of this template are cases where {{tnull|lang-{{var|xx}}}} has values, possibly including <code>en</code>, inserted for <var>xx</var> automatically by software tools such as templates and bots.

Some editors would also include using it in lists and tables that are using other such templates (e.g. {{tlx|lang-es}} for Spanish) to provide multiple translations of something, where consistency of output is desirable. However {{em|even in these cases it is better to use plain text}}, because &nbsp;<code><nowiki>{{lang-en|</nowiki>{{var|foo}}<nowiki>}}</nowiki></code>&nbsp; is three characters longer than simply &nbsp;<code>English: {{var|foo}}</code>&nbsp; and wastes performance on template parsing. That said, the form {{tnull|lang-en|{{var|foo}}|link=yes}} could be useful in such a table in a linguistics or language usage article, where a link to [[English language]] could be genuinely relevant in the context.

{{em|It is rarely ever useful in ordinary article prose.}} Simply use:
* <code><nowiki>{{lang-es|casa}}, 'house'</nowiki></code>
giving
* {{lang-es|casa}}, 'house'
rather than:
* <code><nowiki>{{lang-es|casa}}, {{lang-en|'house'}}</nowiki></code>
giving
* {{lang-es|casa}}, {{lang-en|'house'}}
which is pointless on '''''en'''.wikipedia.org''.

== Parameters ==
{{#lst:Template:Lang-x/doc/parameters|lang_xx_parameters}}

== See also ==
* {{tl|Lang}}, and its opposite, {{tl|Language with name/for}}

<includeonly>{{Sandbox other||
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[[Category:Germanic multilingual support templates]]
[[Category:Lang-x templates|en]]
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