diff --git a/js/privatebin.js b/js/privatebin.js
index 82cc4e1..39537cd 100644
--- a/js/privatebin.js
+++ b/js/privatebin.js
@@ -322,12 +322,19 @@ jQuery.PrivateBin = (function($, RawDeflate) {
             let format = args[0],
                 i = 1;
             return format.replace(/%(s|d)/g, function (m) {
+                // m is the matched format, e.g. %s, %d
                 let val = args[i];
-                if (m === '%d') {
-                    val = parseFloat(val);
-                    if (isNaN(val)) {
-                        val = 0;
-                    }
+                // A switch statement so that the formatter can be extended.
+                switch (m)
+                {
+                    case '%d':
+                        val = parseFloat(val);
+                        if (isNaN(val)) {
+                            val = 0;
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    default:
+                        // Default is %s
                 }
                 ++i;
                 return val;
@@ -540,23 +547,19 @@ jQuery.PrivateBin = (function($, RawDeflate) {
         /**
          * translate a string
          *
-         * As the first parameter a jQuery element has to be provided, to let
-         * the text of this element be replaced. In case the (asynchronously
+         * Optionally pass a jQuery element as the first parameter, to automatically
+         * let the text of this element be replaced. In case the (asynchronously
          * loaded) language is not downloadet yet, this will make sure the string
-         * is replaced when it is actually loaded. This also handles HTML in
-         * secure fashion, to avoid XSS.
-         * The second parameter is the message ID, matching the ones found in
-         * the translation files under the i18n directory.
-         * Any additional parameters will get inserted into the message ID in
-         * place of %s (strings) or %d (digits), applying the appropriate plural
-         * in case of digits. See also Helper.sprintf().
+         * is replaced when it is actually loaded.
+         * So for easy translations passing the jQuery object to apply it to is
+         * more save, especially when they are loaded in the beginning.
          *
          * @name   I18n.translate
          * @function
-         * @param  {jQuery} $element
+         * @param  {jQuery} $element - optional
          * @param  {string} messageId
          * @param  {...*} args - one or multiple parameters injected into placeholders
-         * @throws {string}
+         * @return {string}
          */
         me.translate = function()
         {
@@ -570,8 +573,6 @@ jQuery.PrivateBin = (function($, RawDeflate) {
                 // optional jQuery element as first parameter
                 $element = args[0];
                 args.shift();
-            } else {
-                throw 'translation requires a jQuery element to be passed, for secure insertion of messages and to avoid double encoding of HTML entities';
             }
 
             // extract messageId from arguments
@@ -632,10 +633,10 @@ jQuery.PrivateBin = (function($, RawDeflate) {
             let containsLinks = args[0].indexOf('<a') !== -1;
 
             // prevent double encoding, when we insert into a text node
-            if (!containsLinks) {
+            if (!containsLinks || $element === null) {
                 for (let i = 0; i < args.length; ++i) {
                     // parameters (i > 0) may never contain HTML as they may come from untrusted parties
-                    if (i > 0) {
+                    if (i > 0 || !containsLinks) {
                         args[i] = Helper.htmlEntities(args[i]);
                     }
                 }
@@ -653,37 +654,18 @@ jQuery.PrivateBin = (function($, RawDeflate) {
                 );
             }
 
-            if (containsLinks) {
-                $element.html(output);
-            } else {
-                // text node takes care of entity encoding
-                $element.text(output);
+            // if $element is given, insert translation
+            if ($element !== null) {
+                if (containsLinks) {
+                    $element.html(output);
+                } else {
+                    // text node takes care of entity encoding
+                    $element.text(output);                    
+                }
+                return '';
             }
-        };
 
-        /**
-         * translate a string, outputs the result
-         *
-         * This function is identical to I18n.translate, but doesn't require a
-         * jQuery element as the first parameter, instead it returns the
-         * translated message as string.
-         * Avoid using this function, if possible, as it may double encode your
-         * message's HTML entities. This is done to fail safe, preventing XSS.
-         *
-         * @name   I18n.translate2string
-         * @function
-         * @param  {string} messageId
-         * @param  {...*} args - one or multiple parameters injected into placeholders
-         * @throws {string}
-         * @return {string}
-         */
-        me.translate2string = function()
-        {
-            let args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments),
-                $element = $('<textarea>');
-            args.unshift($element);
-            me.translate.apply(this, args);
-            return $element.text();
+            return output;
         };
 
         /**
diff --git a/js/test/I18n.js b/js/test/I18n.js
index ab5ac24..0086cc2 100644
--- a/js/test/I18n.js
+++ b/js/test/I18n.js
@@ -8,6 +8,78 @@ describe('I18n', function () {
             $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
         });
 
+        jsc.property(
+            'returns message ID unchanged if no translation found',
+            'string',
+            function (messageId) {
+                messageId   = messageId.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
+                var plurals = [messageId, messageId + 's'],
+                    fake    = [messageId],
+                    result  = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate(messageId);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+
+                var alias = $.PrivateBin.I18n._(messageId);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+
+                var pluralResult = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate(plurals);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+
+                var pluralAlias = $.PrivateBin.I18n._(plurals);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+
+                var fakeResult = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate(fake);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+
+                var fakeAlias = $.PrivateBin.I18n._(fake);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+
+                messageId = $.PrivateBin.Helper.htmlEntities(messageId);
+                return messageId === result && messageId === alias &&
+                    messageId === pluralResult && messageId === pluralAlias &&
+                    messageId === fakeResult && messageId === fakeAlias;
+            }
+        );
+        jsc.property(
+            'replaces %s in strings with first given parameter, encoding all, when no link is in the messageID',
+            'string',
+            '(small nearray) string',
+            'string',
+            function (prefix, params, postfix) {
+                prefix    =    prefix.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
+                params[0] = params[0].replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%').replace(/<a/g, '');
+                postfix   =   postfix.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
+                const translation = $.PrivateBin.Helper.htmlEntities(prefix + params[0] + postfix);
+                params.unshift(prefix + '%s' + postfix);
+                const result = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate.apply(this, params);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+                const alias = $.PrivateBin.I18n._.apply(this, params);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+                return translation === result && translation === alias;
+            }
+        );
+        jsc.property(
+            'replaces %s in strings with first given parameter, encoding params only, when a link is part of the messageID',
+            'string',
+            '(small nearray) string',
+            'string',
+            function (prefix, params, postfix) {
+                prefix    =    prefix.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
+                params[0] = params[0].replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
+                postfix   =   postfix.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
+                const translation = DOMPurify.sanitize(
+                    prefix + $.PrivateBin.Helper.htmlEntities(params[0]) + '<a></a>' + postfix, {
+                        ALLOWED_TAGS: ['a', 'br', 'i', 'span'],
+                        ALLOWED_ATTR: ['href', 'id']
+                    }
+                );
+                params.unshift(prefix + '%s<a></a>' + postfix);
+                const result = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate.apply(this, params);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+                const alias = $.PrivateBin.I18n._.apply(this, params);
+                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
+                return translation === result && translation === alias;
+            }
+        );
         jsc.property(
             'replaces %s in strings with first given parameter into an element, encoding all, when no link is in the messageID',
             'string',
@@ -72,73 +144,6 @@ describe('I18n', function () {
         );
     });
 
-    describe('translate2string', function () {
-        this.timeout(30000);
-        before(function () {
-            $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
-        });
-
-        jsc.property(
-            'returns message ID unchanged if no translation found',
-            'string',
-            function (messageId) {
-                messageId   = messageId.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
-                let plurals = [messageId, messageId + 's'],
-                    fake    = [messageId],
-                    clean   = jsdom(),
-                    result  = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate2string(messageId);
-                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
-
-                var pluralResult = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate2string(plurals);
-                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
-
-                var fakeResult = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate2string(fake);
-                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
-
-                clean();
-                messageId = $.PrivateBin.Helper.htmlEntities(messageId);
-                return messageId === result && messageId === pluralResult && messageId === fakeResult;
-            }
-        );
-        jsc.property(
-            'replaces %s in strings with first given parameter, encoding all, when no link is in the messageID',
-            'string',
-            '(small nearray) string',
-            'string',
-            function (prefix, params, postfix) {
-                prefix    =    prefix.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
-                params[0] = params[0].replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%').replace(/<a/g, '');
-                postfix   =   postfix.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
-                const translation = $.PrivateBin.Helper.htmlEntities(prefix + params[0] + postfix);
-                params.unshift(prefix + '%s' + postfix);
-                const result = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate2string.apply(this, params);
-                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
-                return translation === result;
-            }
-        );
-        jsc.property(
-            'replaces %s in strings with first given parameter, encoding params only, when a link is part of the messageID',
-            'string',
-            '(small nearray) string',
-            'string',
-            function (prefix, params, postfix) {
-                prefix    =    prefix.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
-                params[0] = params[0].replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
-                postfix   =   postfix.replace(/%(s|d)/g, '%%');
-                const translation = DOMPurify.sanitize(
-                    prefix + $.PrivateBin.Helper.htmlEntities(params[0]) + '<a></a>' + postfix, {
-                        ALLOWED_TAGS: ['a', 'br', 'i', 'span'],
-                        ALLOWED_ATTR: ['href', 'id']
-                    }
-                );
-                params.unshift(prefix + '%s<a></a>' + postfix);
-                const result = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate2string.apply(this, params);
-                $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
-                return translation === result;
-            }
-        );
-    });
-
     describe('getPluralForm', function () {
         before(function () {
             $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset();
@@ -178,9 +183,10 @@ describe('I18n', function () {
                 // mock
                 clean = jsdom('', {cookie: ['lang=' + language]});
                 $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset(language, require('../../i18n/' + language + '.json'));
-                var result = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate2string('en');
+                var result = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate('en'),
+                    alias  = $.PrivateBin.I18n._('en');
                 clean();
-                return language === result;
+                return language === result && language === alias;
             }
         );
 
@@ -200,10 +206,11 @@ describe('I18n', function () {
 
                 $.PrivateBin.I18n.reset('en');
                 $.PrivateBin.I18n.loadTranslations();
-                var result = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate2string('en');
+                var result = $.PrivateBin.I18n.translate('en'),
+                    alias  = $.PrivateBin.I18n._('en');
 
                 clean();
-                return 'en' === result;
+                return 'en' === result && 'en' === alias;
             }
         );
     });
diff --git a/tpl/bootstrap.php b/tpl/bootstrap.php
index 9b72c68..50b0b1c 100644
--- a/tpl/bootstrap.php
+++ b/tpl/bootstrap.php
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ endif;
 ?>
 		<script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false" src="js/purify-2.0.7.js" integrity="sha512-XjNEK1xwh7SJ/7FouwV4VZcGW9cMySL3SwNpXgrURLBcXXQYtZdqhGoNdEwx9vwLvFjUGDQVNgpOrTsXlSTiQg==" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
 		<script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false" src="js/legacy.js?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" integrity="sha512-LYos+qXHIRqFf5ZPNphvtTB0cgzHUizu2wwcOwcwz/VIpRv9lpcBgPYz4uq6jx0INwCAj6Fbnl5HoKiLufS2jg==" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
-		<script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false" src="js/privatebin.js?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" integrity="sha512-Pss+4+Yrpp5ZROFKS9VWpX13RUpVp2QXDNZtFzNrr7YV65D+iKKUeE1z/Sff887+3fyOyIhJwKMsdfnmXnaNkQ==" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
+		<script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false" src="js/privatebin.js?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" integrity="sha512-U9Au7V0FSY8S1xI6MrhPawEOFAPFejMI8PYlQNhC++XIQCQgQhYEqTYkhczN6F2MFAq/P1Hwn9A3IWaq9hu95g==" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
 		<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="img/apple-touch-icon.png?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" sizes="180x180" />
 		<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="img/favicon-32x32.png?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" sizes="32x32" />
 		<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="img/favicon-16x16.png?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" sizes="16x16" />
diff --git a/tpl/page.php b/tpl/page.php
index 1ba1a79..0bae6f8 100644
--- a/tpl/page.php
+++ b/tpl/page.php
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ endif;
 ?>
 		<script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false" src="js/purify-2.0.7.js" integrity="sha512-XjNEK1xwh7SJ/7FouwV4VZcGW9cMySL3SwNpXgrURLBcXXQYtZdqhGoNdEwx9vwLvFjUGDQVNgpOrTsXlSTiQg==" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
 		<script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false" src="js/legacy.js?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" integrity="sha512-LYos+qXHIRqFf5ZPNphvtTB0cgzHUizu2wwcOwcwz/VIpRv9lpcBgPYz4uq6jx0INwCAj6Fbnl5HoKiLufS2jg==" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
-		<script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false" src="js/privatebin.js?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" integrity="sha512-Pss+4+Yrpp5ZROFKS9VWpX13RUpVp2QXDNZtFzNrr7YV65D+iKKUeE1z/Sff887+3fyOyIhJwKMsdfnmXnaNkQ==" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
+		<script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false" src="js/privatebin.js?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" integrity="sha512-U9Au7V0FSY8S1xI6MrhPawEOFAPFejMI8PYlQNhC++XIQCQgQhYEqTYkhczN6F2MFAq/P1Hwn9A3IWaq9hu95g==" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
 		<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="img/apple-touch-icon.png?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" sizes="180x180" />
 		<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="img/favicon-32x32.png?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" sizes="32x32" />
 		<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="img/favicon-16x16.png?<?php echo rawurlencode($VERSION); ?>" sizes="16x16" />