Inheriwiki:Manual of Style
From Inheriwiki, the ever-growing Inheritance database
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This page deals with a fundamental of Inheriwiki. |
This Manual of Style for Inheriwiki is a guide for editors on how to properly format Inheriwiki's articles.
Contents |
General Rules
- Please categorize articles and insert navigational templates appropriately to ensure that Inheriwiki is a more orderly compendium of knowledge.
- Please do not insert a heading, such as == Summary ==, if there is only a single heading within the article. Just don't put a heading until you feel the need to insert two, and then you may create two.
- Whenever inserting pictures in "thumb" format, such as [[Image:Random.jpg|thumb|left]], be sure to add a caption like [[Image:Random.jpg|thumb|left|Caption goes here.]].
- Refer to the Inheritance universe from a third-person perspective.
- List all references at the end articles. It should not be:
Eragon said, and I quote this from Brisingr, "I need a sword."Instead, use the reference tag if necessary, or else, write:"I need a sword." (Brisingr, I Need a Sword!) - Refrain from using slashes whenever possible. Instead, work the word "or" into the sentence, or figure out some other way of stating it.
Editing Standards
Use the Minor Edit button
As a corollary to the above, if you're making a minor edit (e.g. fixing a spelling error or tweaking formatting), check the "This is a minor edit" button below the Summary box before saving the page. Again, this will make things easier for the rest of us.
Use the Preview Button
The preview button is right next to the save edit button, and is there for a reason. It's your own personal spell checker, link checker, whatever-else checker. Use it. Users that purposefully do not preview edits as to inflate their edit count are not well regarded amongst Inheriwikians, and you may find yourself in trouble with an administrator.
Don't link to the current page
In other words, a page should not link to itself. If it is attempted, the link will simply turn into bold text, which is unneeded.
Link once
A given page should only contain one link to any other page. If a page links to Eragon Bromsson in one place, then that should be the only link to Eragon Bromsson on that page. Typically this link should be the first instance of the term in the article.
Don't use conversational style
This is an information site. It should read like Wikipedia, not like your diary.
- Check your spelling and grammar. Don't use internet slang (ex. "How r u?" or "c u 2nite"). If you're not 100% sure about the way a word is spelled, type it into Google or Dictionary.com. If you know that you're not the strongest speller, compose your edits in a word processor like Microsoft Word or use Mozilla Firefox, which has spell-checking built in.
- Don't use "smileys" or "emoticons".
- Don't "reply" to content others have posted. If you think a particular point warrants discussion, post on the article's Discussion page. If you're 100% sure that something should be changed and don't think a discussion is necessary, just change it. Dialogue goes only on articles' Discussion pages or the forum.
- Never abbreviate the names of characters, places, or anything. Wherever possible, use the full name of a character the first time they are mentioned. After the first mention, you may refer to "Eragon Bromsson" as "Eragon" or "Saphira Brightscales" as "Saphira" and so forth.
Stubs
If you don't know enough information on a topic, or you know there's more, add a stub to it. To do so, try this:
{{stub}}
And people will know that it's a stub by looking at the stub category.
Don't sign your edits
All contributions are appreciated, but if every user left their mark on every contribution they made, the Wiki would be nothing but signatures. If you've made an edit that you're particularly proud of (such as a transcript or screenshot), the correct place to take credit is on your own user page. If you do not have a user account, we respect your anonymity, but your edits will remain anonymous, too.
Do sign your Talk posts
If you make a post on a discussion page, please sign it. If you have a user account, this is as easy as typing ~~~~ at the end of your post. If you don't have a user account, just sign it with your name or nickname so everybody can tell who's who when reading long conversations. Even better, create an account anyway and use the signature method described. There really is no reason not to if you're going to stick around.
External Links
External links are links that point to sites other than the Wiki. The links should be in the form of a bullet list. External links typically look like this:
*[http://www.bungie.net/filename.html Something Something]
Article Standards
The purpose of standardizing all articles to an official format is to improve the quality and readability of all articles in Inheriwiki. That said, all users must follow the official format.
Characters
- Please name all character articles by their full known name, not their title/rank as well. For example, King Galbatorix's article is titled Galbatorix, not King Galbatorix.
 | |
| Manual of Style | |
|---|---|
| Biographical information | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | Unknown |
| Physical description | |
| Species | Unknown |
| Gender | Unknown |
| Height | Unknown |
| Hair Color | Unknown |
| Eye Color | Unknown |
| Chronological and political information | |
| Affiliation | Unknown |
| Dragon | Unknown |
| Known teachers | Unknown |
Summary/Brief Introduction
A brief summary of the character. Shouldn't be too detailed.
Biography/History
A summary of what has happened to this character. Should be detailed, but not overly detailed. Should also be in chronological order.
Personal Information
In here, there should be a physical description and/or personality summary of the character. It should also include their powers, and titles, if they have any.
Real-world connections
Includes how the character is involved with other stories or events. References are a must here.
Trivia
Redundant trivia should be avoided. Misc Information should be added here.
Gallery
All images should be included in the gallery section. Images should not be added in the above sections as it is messy.
Book
| | |
| Manual of Style | |
| General | |
| Author | N/A |
| Cover Artist | N/A |
| Publisher | N/A |
| Details | |
| Publish Date | N/A |
| Type | N/A |
| Number of pages | N/A |
| ISBN | N/A |
| Preceded by | N/A |
| Followed by | N/A |
Introduction
A brief introduction about the book. Shouldn't be detailed.
Book Flap
The text on the book flap should be here, nothing else.
Summary
A summary of the events in the book. Should not be too detailed, but include all main events.
Main Characters
A list of the main characters should be here, linking to their respective pages. If the list is too long, than you should use a Scrollbox.
Chapters
A list of the chapters should be here, linking to their respective pages. If the list is too long, than you should use a Scrollbox.
Reception
Sales, reviews, and criticism should be here. Be sure to add references.
Trivia
Redundant trivia should be avoided. Misc Information, Mistakes, and References should be added here.
Gallery
All images should be included in the gallery section. Images should not be added in the above sections as it is messy.
Battles
| Manual of Style | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Part of: | N/A | |
| Place | N/A | |
| Result | N/A | |
| Combatants | ||
| N/A | N/A | |
| Commanders | ||
| N/A | N/A | |
| Strength | ||
| N/A | N/A | |
| Casualties | ||
| N/A | N/A | |
Summary/Brief Introduction
A brief introduction about the battle's origin, including who and why. Shouldn't be detailed.
Battle details
Describes how the battle went out with details.
Ending
Describes who won the battle, and the losses of main characters, of possible.
Characters Involved
A list of the main characters in the battle should be here, linking to their respective pages. If the list is too long, than you should use a Scrollbox. They should also be separated to their respective sides.
Trivia
Redundant trivia should be avoided. Glitches, Misc Information, and References should be added here.
Gallery
All images should be included in the gallery section. Images should not be added in the above sections as it is messy.
Weapon
Summary/Brief Introduction
A brief introduction about the weapon's origin. Shouldn't be detailed.
Design details
Includes the description and operation of the weapon.
Advantages
As per title, advantages only.
Disadvantages
As per title, disadvantages only.
Influence
If applicable only if it has relations to the real world or to the species' culture.
Trivia
Redundant trivia should be avoided. Glitches, Misc Information, and References should be added here.
Gallery
All images should be included in the gallery section. Images should not be added in the above sections as it is messy.
Unit
Background
What type of unit this is, the actions they have taken, and a brief summary of their exploits.
History
The entire history of the unit, from conception to disbandment (if applicable).
Leaders
Known Members
Equipment
All equipment used by the topic unit.
Trivia
Redundant trivia should be avoided. Glitches, Misc Information, and References should be added here.
Music/Song
There is no official format for Music/Song articles except a brief overview/description of how the music/song is produced (Hoodwind, piano, Gregorian Chant, etc). Additionally, scenes where the music/song is played should be included.
Also, a YouTube video should be added to the article if available and a Music Template should be included at the end of the article. If a YouTube video is added, it should be in such code: [[Video:FILENAME|200px|right]].
Trivia
Redundant trivia should be avoided. Misc Information, and References should be added here.
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