---
title: not-a-string
description: "A value is not a string or an object."
---

# `not-a-string`

**Error** · A value is not a string or an object.

`git8n check` fails on this rule.

## Why it matters

i18next reads a string, or an object of more keys. A number, an array or `null` shows as a broken text, and the editor cannot write it.

## Invalid

`locales/en/common.json`

```json
{
  "title": "Hello"
}
```

`locales/fr/common.json`

```json
{
  "title": "Bonjour",
  "tags": [
    "nouveau",
    "promo"
  ]
}
```

```text
$ git8n check --source en
locales/fr/common.json
  error    common:tags holds an array.  not-a-string

Read more:
  not-a-string  https://git8n.sakuga.dev/docs/reference/rules/not-a-string.html

1 error, 0 warnings in 2 files (en → fr, 1 key).
```

## Valid

`locales/en/common.json`

```json
{
  "title": "Hello"
}
```

`locales/fr/common.json`

```json
{
  "title": "Bonjour"
}
```

```text
$ git8n check --source en
0 errors, 0 warnings in 2 files (en → fr, 1 key).
```

## What to do

Write the text as a string. Put a list in more keys, or join it in one text.

[All the rules](./index.md) · [The command `check`](../cli.md#check)