_e printed before layout WPML/Wordpress/PHP

Question

I am using WPML to translate English to a different language. Everything works fine except the mail form. For some reason when is use the _e() function the string gets printed before the layout. But still inside the body element. Please help here is the code:

if(trim($_POST['contactSubject']) === '') {
       $subjectError = _e('Please enter a subject.', 'wpml_contact');
       $hasError = true;
} else {
       $subject = trim($_POST['contactSubject']);
}

Answer 1

You should use the __() function (codex link). This function returns the translated string:

if(trim($_POST['contactSubject']) === '') {
   $subjectError = __('Please enter a subject.', 'wpml_contact');
   $hasError = true;
} else {
   $subject = trim($_POST['contactSubject']);
}

The _e() function returns and displays the translated string.