Reply to Reply to swapping arguments in printf-formatted strings / #3469

Yes, you don't need to change the original string. Only the localized string needs the numbered syntax and only if argument reordering (with respect to the base language) is necessary. Cool! The numbered syntax can be used in the base language in the (rare) case you need repetitions, for example:
  printf('%1$s %2$s %1$s', 'a', 'b');
produces
  a b a