diff --git a/src/wp-includes/author-template.php b/src/wp-includes/author-template.php
index ad090354fd..54ad8cada1 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/author-template.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/author-template.php
@@ -56,12 +56,23 @@ function get_the_author($deprecated = '') {
  * @return string|null The author's display name, from get_the_author().
  */
 function the_author( $deprecated = '', $deprecated_echo = true ) {
-	if ( !empty( $deprecated ) )
+	if ( ! empty( $deprecated ) ) {
 		_deprecated_argument( __FUNCTION__, '2.1' );
-	if ( $deprecated_echo !== true )
-		_deprecated_argument( __FUNCTION__, '1.5', __('Use <code>get_the_author()</code> instead if you do not want the value echoed.') );
-	if ( $deprecated_echo )
+	}
+
+	if ( true !== $deprecated_echo ) {
+		_deprecated_argument( __FUNCTION__, '1.5',
+			/* translators: %s: get_the_author() */
+			sprintf( __( 'Use %s instead if you do not want the value echoed.' ),
+				'<code>get_the_author()</code>'
+			)
+		);
+	}
+
+	if ( $deprecated_echo ) {
 		echo get_the_author();
+	}
+
 	return get_the_author();
 }