$(function(){ $("#frm-signUp").validate({ rules: { firstname: { required: true }, email: { required: true, email: true }, message: { maxlength: 1024 } }, messages: { firstname: { required: "Please enter your name" }, email: { required: "Please enter your email address. This is required to contact you later." }, message: { maxlength: jQuery.format("Please limit the message to {0} letters!") } } }); });