diff --git a/PythonScripts/audit_translations/README.md b/PythonScripts/audit_translations/README.md
index 8aedf1265..241a500d2 100644
--- a/PythonScripts/audit_translations/README.md
+++ b/PythonScripts/audit_translations/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ The tool analyzes rule files to detect the following issues:
 * **Rule Differences:** Structural changes (match expressions, conditions, variables, or test/replace layout) between the source and target translation.
 * **Definition Coverage:** Compares literal `definitions.yaml` entries by name and collection kind (`vector`, `set`, or `map`).
 
-Add `# audit-ignore` to a rule block to suppress auditing that rule.
+After a blank line, add `# audit-ignore` immediately before a rule to suppress
+auditing that rule. Existing markers inside a rule block are also supported.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/PythonScripts/audit_translations/parsers.py b/PythonScripts/audit_translations/parsers.py
index 11dfc5292..bcbdd0027 100644
--- a/PythonScripts/audit_translations/parsers.py
+++ b/PythonScripts/audit_translations/parsers.py
@@ -149,11 +149,39 @@ def format_tag(tag_value: Any) -> str | None:
 
 
 def build_raw_blocks(lines: list[str], starts: list[int]) -> list[str]:
-    blocks = []
     if not starts:
-        return blocks
+        return []
+
+    block_starts = starts.copy()
     for idx, start in enumerate(starts):
-        end = starts[idx + 1] if idx + 1 < len(starts) else len(lines)
+        if idx == 0:
+            while start > 0 and (not lines[start - 1].strip() or lines[start - 1].lstrip().startswith("#")):
+                start -= 1
+            block_starts[idx] = start
+            continue
+
+        lower_bound = starts[idx - 1] + 1
+        dash_line = re.fullmatch(r"\s*-\s*(?:#.*)?", lines[start - 1]) if start > lower_bound else None
+        if dash_line:
+            start -= 1
+            block_starts[idx] = start
+            continue
+
+        comment_start = start
+        while comment_start > lower_bound and lines[comment_start - 1].lstrip().startswith("#"):
+            comment_start -= 1
+
+        # A separating blank makes the comment run introductory text for this
+        # item. Without one, leave the run with the preceding rule.
+        if comment_start > lower_bound and not lines[comment_start - 1].strip():
+            start = comment_start - 1
+            while start > lower_bound and not lines[start - 1].strip():
+                start -= 1
+            block_starts[idx] = start
+
+    blocks = []
+    for idx, start in enumerate(block_starts):
+        end = block_starts[idx + 1] if idx + 1 < len(block_starts) else len(lines)
         blocks.append("\n".join(lines[start:end]))
     return blocks
 
diff --git a/PythonScripts/audit_translations/tests/test_parsers.py b/PythonScripts/audit_translations/tests/test_parsers.py
index db7f31e1f..6714f3581 100644
--- a/PythonScripts/audit_translations/tests/test_parsers.py
+++ b/PythonScripts/audit_translations/tests/test_parsers.py
@@ -174,6 +174,91 @@ def test_detects_audit_ignore(self):
         rules = parse_rules_file(content, data)
         assert rules[0].audit_ignore
 
+    def test_assigns_leading_audit_ignore_to_following_rule(self):
+        """A marker directly above a rule suppresses that rule, not its neighbour."""
+        content = """
+- name: first
+  tag: mo
+  match: "."
+
+# audit-ignore: the following placeholder intentionally differs
+# from the source-language rule.
+- name: second
+  tag: mi
+  match: "false()"
+"""
+        yaml = YAML()
+        data = yaml.load(content)
+        rules = parse_rules_file(content, data)
+        assert not rules[0].audit_ignore
+        assert rules[1].audit_ignore
+
+    def test_keeps_audit_ignore_inside_rule(self):
+        """Existing markers within a rule block remain supported."""
+        content = """
+- name: first
+  tag: mo
+  # audit-ignore
+  match: "."
+
+- name: second
+  tag: mi
+  match: "x"
+"""
+        yaml = YAML()
+        data = yaml.load(content)
+        rules = parse_rules_file(content, data)
+        assert rules[0].audit_ignore
+        assert not rules[1].audit_ignore
+
+    def test_keeps_touching_comment_with_preceding_rule(self):
+        """A comment without a separating blank remains part of the preceding rule."""
+        content = """
+- name: first
+  tag: mo
+  match: "."
+# audit-ignore: this comment documents the first rule
+- name: second
+  tag: mi
+  match: "x"
+"""
+        yaml = YAML()
+        data = yaml.load(content)
+        rules = parse_rules_file(content, data)
+        assert rules[0].audit_ignore
+        assert not rules[1].audit_ignore
+
+    def test_includes_comment_on_item_dash_line(self):
+        """A comment attached to an item's dash belongs to that item."""
+        content = """
+- name: first
+  tag: mo
+  match: "."
+
+- # second rule introduction
+  name: second
+  tag: mi
+  match: "x"
+"""
+        yaml = YAML()
+        data = yaml.load(content)
+        rules = parse_rules_file(content, data)
+        assert "second rule introduction" not in rules[0].raw_content
+        assert "second rule introduction" in rules[1].raw_content
+
+    def test_assigns_file_header_to_first_rule(self):
+        """A leading marker before the first item is included in its raw block."""
+        content = """
+# audit-ignore
+- name: first
+  tag: mo
+  match: "."
+"""
+        yaml = YAML()
+        data = yaml.load(content)
+        rules = parse_rules_file(content, data)
+        assert rules[0].audit_ignore
+
     def test_handles_array_tag(self):
         """Ensure handles array tag."""
         content = """- name: multi-tag