# `Localize.Message.MF1.Sigils`
[🔗](https://github.com/elixir-localize/localize_mf1/blob/main/lib/localize/message/mf1/sigils.ex#L1)

The `~M` sigil, which returns a message in canonical form at compile time.

A message may be laid out with white space for readability, but Gettext
uses the message string as its key, so a change of layout would make a new
message. `~M` returns the canonical form of the message
(`Localize.Message.MF1.canonical_message/2`) instead, and a message that
cannot be parsed is a compile error.

This is the `~M` of `Cldr.Message.Sigil` from `ex_cldr_messages`, with the
same output. A MessageFormat 2 message is canonicalized by
`Localize.Message.canonical_message/2`. `Localize.Message.Sigils` defines
its own `~M` for MF2 messages, so import one or the other.

# `sigil_M`
*macro* 

Returns an MF1 message in canonical form.

The message is pretty printed by default, with each selector clause on a
line of its own, which translators find easier to read.

### Arguments

* `message` is the sigil's text, without interpolation or escapes.

* `modifiers` are the sigil's modifiers.

### Modifiers

* `p` pretty prints the message (the default).

* `u` returns the message on one line.

### Returns

* The canonical message, as a string literal.

### Examples

    iex> import Localize.Message.MF1.Sigils
    iex> ~M(An ICU message)
    "An ICU message"
    iex> ~M"{n, plural, other {# items} one {# item}}"u
    "{n, plural, one {# item} other {# items}}"

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*Consult [api-reference.md](api-reference.md) for complete listing*