diff --git a/invenio_communities/members/services/service.py b/invenio_communities/members/services/service.py
index 27edcc5dc..f239d7f74 100644
--- a/invenio_communities/members/services/service.py
+++ b/invenio_communities/members/services/service.py
@@ -281,10 +281,10 @@ def _invite_factory(self, identity, community, role, visible, member, message, u
         # Add member entry
         if member["type"] == "user":
             # Create request
-            title = _('Invitation to join "{community}"').format(
-                community=community.metadata["title"],
-            )
-            description = _('You will join as "{role}".').format(role=role.title)
+            title = _('Invitation to join "%(community)s"') % {
+                "community": community.metadata["title"]
+            }
+            description = _('You will join as "%(role)s".') % {"role": role.title}
 
             request_item = current_requests_service.create(
                 identity,
@@ -587,11 +587,9 @@ def _update(self, identity, community, member, role, visible, uow):
                 data = {
                     "payload": {
                         "content": _(
-                            'You will join as "{role}" (changed from: "{previous}").'
-                        ).format(
-                            role=role.title,
-                            previous=member.role,
-                        ),
+                            'You will join as "%(role)s" (changed from: "%(previous)s").'
+                        )
+                        % {"role": role.title, "previous": member.role},
                     }
                 }
                 current_events_service.create(
@@ -765,9 +763,9 @@ def request_membership(self, identity, community_id, data, uow=None):
         )
 
         # Create request
-        title = _('Request to join "{community}"').format(
-            community=community.metadata["title"],
-        )
+        title = _('Request to join "%(community)s"') % {
+            "community": community.metadata["title"]
+        }
         request_item = current_requests_service.create(
             identity,
             data={
diff --git a/invenio_communities/subcommunities/services/service.py b/invenio_communities/subcommunities/services/service.py
index 4372421ae..21fb65bdd 100644
--- a/invenio_communities/subcommunities/services/service.py
+++ b/invenio_communities/subcommunities/services/service.py
@@ -111,9 +111,8 @@ def join(self, identity, id_, data, uow=None):
 
         # Create and submit the request
         request_data = {
-            "title": _('Inclusion of subcommunity "{community}"').format(
-                community=community.metadata["title"]
-            )
+            "title": _('Inclusion of subcommunity "%(community)s"')
+            % {"community": community.metadata["title"]}
         }
         request_payload = data.get("payload")
         if request_payload: