Difference between revisions of "Help:Style guide"

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m (Section names: Extend the official list of allowed sections, since we have a lot of Trivia's here)
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==Tone==
 
==Tone==
 +
CrawlWiki is not just an encyclopedia of [[Dungeon Crawl]], but articles should be written in a largely encyclopedic tone. That means clearly separating facts from comments, by putting strategy tips in their own section, and comments on the talk page.
  
CrawlWiki is not just an encyclopedia of [[Dungeon Crawl]], but articles should be written in a largely encyclopedic tone. That means clearly separating facts from comments, by putting strategy tips in their own section, and comments on the talk page. Spelling and grammar should follow Americanized language rules.  
+
Terms used in the game should use Dungeon Crawl's spelling ([[artefact]], [[armour]]...), which is generally in [https://australian-dictionary.com.au Australian English]. However, the rest of the wiki should use Americanized spelling and grammar.
 +
 
 +
Articles about removed features should continue to use present tense, as many previous versions of Crawl are still readily available.
  
 
==Article names==
 
==Article names==
 
 
Try to be consistent with existing articles:
 
Try to be consistent with existing articles:
  
* Name most pages with lowercase letters, like scroll of identify, but use uppercase for proper nouns, like the Royal Jelly.
+
*Name most pages with lowercase letters, like scroll of identify, but use uppercase for proper nouns, like the Royal Jelly. Note that MediaWiki does not allow for the first letter of a page to be lowercase.
* Prefer singular to plural (e.g. Hydra instead of Hydras)
+
*Prefer singular to plural (e.g. Hydra instead of Hydras)
* Redirect acronyms like YASD to pages like Yet Another Stupid Death.
+
*Redirect acronyms like YASD to pages like Yet Another Stupid Death.
  
 
The first time the article name appears in the main text, it should be '''bolded'''. This includes the titles of any redirects redirecting to the article.
 
The first time the article name appears in the main text, it should be '''bolded'''. This includes the titles of any redirects redirecting to the article.
  
 
==Version Templates==
 
==Version Templates==
Factual articles should have a version template attached to it. These articles should have one of three headers:  
+
Factual articles should have a version template attached to it. Let's say the latest stable version was [[0.16]]. Then, these articles should have one of three headers:  
* [[Template:Version016]] : For articles that are up to date for the current version.
+
*[[Template:Version016]]: For articles that are up to date for the current version.
* [[Template:Version017]] : For articles about new features that will be added into the next version.  
+
*[[Template:Version017]]: For articles about new features that will be added into the next version.  
* [[Template:Obsolete]] : For articles about something that has been removed from the game.  
+
*[[Template:Obsolete]]: For articles about something that has been removed from the game.  
  
 
There may be articles with other version tags, such as:
 
There may be articles with other version tags, such as:
* [[Template:Version013]], [[Template:Version012]] and so forth:  
+
*[[Template:Version013]], [[Template:Version012]] and so forth:  
* [[Template:Versionunknown]]
+
*[[Template:Versionunknown]]
  
 
These articles should be updated to one of the three templates above.
 
These articles should be updated to one of the three templates above.
  
 
===Information on future releases===
 
===Information on future releases===
Articles that completely new for the next version of the game receive the [[Template:Version017]] tag. However, if adding information to a article that also pertains to the current version, the future information should go in the History subsection of the article. Add [[:Category:Crystal Ball Articles]] as well.
+
Articles that completely new for the next version of the game receive the [[Template:version-trunk]] tag (<code><nowiki>{{version|trunk}}</nowiki></code>) or the respective next version tag. However, if adding information to a article that also pertains to the current version, the future information should go in the History subsection of the article, with the [[:Category:Crystal Ball Articles]] tag (<code><nowiki>[[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]</nowiki></code>) as well.
  
 
==Redirects==
 
==Redirects==
 
 
When creating a new article, redirect variations on that name to it to avoid someone duplicating the article under a slightly different title.
 
When creating a new article, redirect variations on that name to it to avoid someone duplicating the article under a slightly different title.
  
 
The syntax for a redirect is like this:
 
The syntax for a redirect is like this:
  
<nowiki>#REDIRECT [[insert article]]</nowiki>
+
<code><nowiki>#REDIRECT [[insert article]]</nowiki></code>
  
 
See the MediaWiki [[mw:Help:Redirects|redirects help page]] for further help with redirects.
 
See the MediaWiki [[mw:Help:Redirects|redirects help page]] for further help with redirects.
  
 
==New articles==
 
==New articles==
 
+
Do not create empty new articles or new articles that contain nothing but the <code><nowiki>{{stub}}</nowiki></code> message just in hopes of seeing someone add more content to them. Add the content yourself! If you don't know about the subject, learn about it or ask politely at [[Talk:Crawl_Wiki|CrawlWiki's talk page]] for someone to create the article.
Do not create empty new articles or new articles that contain nothing but the <nowiki>{{Stub}}</nowiki> message just in hopes of seeing someone add more content to them. Add the content yourself! If you don't know about the subject, learn about it or ask politely at [[Talk:Crawl_Wiki|CrawlWiki's talk page]] for someone to create the article.
 
  
 
==Categories==
 
==Categories==
 
 
Categories are not articles. Do not link an article directly to a category page. Category pages are simply to organize lists of related pages in one place. Each new article should have at least one category assigned to it. The naming convention should be: singular for article pages, and plural for categories, so you have Skill to describe skills, and Category:Skills to list the skills.
 
Categories are not articles. Do not link an article directly to a category page. Category pages are simply to organize lists of related pages in one place. Each new article should have at least one category assigned to it. The naming convention should be: singular for article pages, and plural for categories, so you have Skill to describe skills, and Category:Skills to list the skills.
  
 
==Capitalization==
 
==Capitalization==
 +
Capitalizing should be done on proper nouns only. Capitalizing is reserved for uniques and artefacts. The ring of the Nine Firedrakes does get capitals, because that's its name. Notice how the word 'ring' isn't even capitalized, as being a ring isn't special. An amulet of faith is not in title case, either; it is a regular amulet with the faith ego. You don't call a long sword 'the Long Sword', after all.
  
Capitalizing should be done on proper nouns only. capitalizing is reserved for uniques and artifacts. Therefore the Ring of the Nine Firedrakes, or whatever, does get capitals, because that's its name; an amulet of rage is not named, and doesn't. You don't call a long sword 'the Long Sword', after all.
+
[[Species]] names should generally be in uppercase, as formatted in the [https://github.com/crawl/crawl/blob/master/crawl-ref/docs/crawl_manual.rst#list-of-character-species manual].
  
 
==Headers==
 
==Headers==
 
+
The highest header level that should be used is <code><nowiki>==This==</nowiki></code>. Do not use <code><nowiki>=These=</nowiki></code>, they are reserved for the article main title only. In each article, there should be a brief introduction before going into specifics. This introduction should not have a header, like <code><nowiki>==Introduction==</nowiki></code>, because it is obvious and because when omitting it, the introduction appears before the table of contents as it is supposed to.
The highest header level that should be used is <nowiki>==This==</nowiki>. Do not use <nowiki>=These=</nowiki>, they are reserved for the article main title only. In each article, there should be a brief introduction before going into specifics. This introduction should not have a header, like <nowiki>==Introduction==</nowiki>, because it is obvious and because when omitting it, the introduction appears before the table of contents as it is supposed to.
 
  
 
===Section names===
 
===Section names===
 
 
Some sections are common to many articles. Try to use one of these for the section header rather than a variant like "Source", "Previous versions", or "External Links". Known standard sections are:
 
Some sections are common to many articles. Try to use one of these for the section header rather than a variant like "Source", "Previous versions", or "External Links". Known standard sections are:
  
* Strategy
+
*Useful Info
* See also
+
*Strategy
* References
+
*Tips & Tricks
* External links
+
*Trivia
* Useful info
+
*External links
* Tips & Tricks
+
*See also
* Trivia
+
*History
* History
+
*References
  
==Item pages==
+
The following headers should be used for specific types of articles:
  
Each item page should also list the effects of the item, and any messages that item can generate. Tips and strategy relating to that item should go next.
+
*Desirability - for items, specifically [[artefact]]s
 +
*Sources - for items, [[brand]]s, and [[status effect]]s
 +
*Layout - for [[branch]]es
 +
*Effect - for [[status effect]]s (see [[Slow]], which is both a status and spell)
 +
*Appreciates / Depreciates - for [[god]]s
  
==Templates==
+
==References==
 +
References to the source code can be created by adding ref tags: <code><nowiki><ref>{{source ref|0.30.0|mon-util.cc|851}}</ref></nowiki></code>. All ref tags should immediately follow the text to which the footnote applies, with no intervening space. Refs are placed after adjacent punctuation, not before (apart from the exceptions below).
  
* <nowiki>{{Stub}}</nowiki> can be used on a page to plea for someone to expand it. From time to time, some editors will look over [[:Category:Stubs]] for articles to expand.
+
'''Exceptions''':
 +
*Ref tags are placed before dashes, not after.
 +
*Where a reference/footnote applies only to material within parentheses, the ref tags belong just before the closing parenthesis.
  
* <nowiki>{{Delete}}</nowiki> adds a page to [[:Category:Candidates for Deletion]] so that administrators can consider deleting it. Please give a reason in the talk page of an article before adding the Delete template.
+
To display references on the page, use the <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code> tag.
  
A list of templates can be found [[:Category:Templates|here.]]
+
==Item pages==
 +
Each item page should also list the effects of the item, and any messages that item can generate. Tips and strategy relating to that item should go next.
  
 +
==Templates==
 +
*<code><nowiki>{{stub}}</nowiki></code> can be used on a page to plea for someone to expand it. From time to time, some editors will look over [[:Category:Stubs]] for articles to expand.
  
 +
*<code><nowiki>{{delete}}</nowiki></code> adds a page to [[:Category:Candidates for Deletion]] so that administrators can consider deleting it. Please give a reason in the talk page of an article before adding the Delete template.
  
 +
A list of templates can be found [[:Category:Templates|here.]]
  
 
==Sign your posts==
 
==Sign your posts==
 
+
When writing on articles/users' talk-pages sign your posts with four tildes, <code><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></code>. That will automatically expand to your signature with time-stamp.
When writing on articles/users' talk-pages sign your posts with four tildes, <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>. That will automatically expand to your signature with time-stamp.
 
  
 
==General principles==
 
==General principles==
 
 
Consider consulting [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style Wikipedia's Manual of Style] on the matter; some editors think that it's pretty good.
 
Consider consulting [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style Wikipedia's Manual of Style] on the matter; some editors think that it's pretty good.
  
 
[[Category:Help]]
 
[[Category:Help]]

Latest revision as of 07:40, 26 February 2024

CrawlWiki (Edit box)


CrawlWiki has no formal style guide as of yet, but there are a few conventions in use. The following is a list of them. Changes should be discussed on the talk page.

Tone

CrawlWiki is not just an encyclopedia of Dungeon Crawl, but articles should be written in a largely encyclopedic tone. That means clearly separating facts from comments, by putting strategy tips in their own section, and comments on the talk page.

Terms used in the game should use Dungeon Crawl's spelling (artefact, armour...), which is generally in Australian English. However, the rest of the wiki should use Americanized spelling and grammar.

Articles about removed features should continue to use present tense, as many previous versions of Crawl are still readily available.

Article names

Try to be consistent with existing articles:

  • Name most pages with lowercase letters, like scroll of identify, but use uppercase for proper nouns, like the Royal Jelly. Note that MediaWiki does not allow for the first letter of a page to be lowercase.
  • Prefer singular to plural (e.g. Hydra instead of Hydras)
  • Redirect acronyms like YASD to pages like Yet Another Stupid Death.

The first time the article name appears in the main text, it should be bolded. This includes the titles of any redirects redirecting to the article.

Version Templates

Factual articles should have a version template attached to it. Let's say the latest stable version was 0.16. Then, these articles should have one of three headers:

There may be articles with other version tags, such as:

These articles should be updated to one of the three templates above.

Information on future releases

Articles that completely new for the next version of the game receive the Template:version-trunk tag ({{version|trunk}}) or the respective next version tag. However, if adding information to a article that also pertains to the current version, the future information should go in the History subsection of the article, with the Category:Crystal Ball Articles tag ([[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]) as well.

Redirects

When creating a new article, redirect variations on that name to it to avoid someone duplicating the article under a slightly different title.

The syntax for a redirect is like this:

#REDIRECT [[insert article]]

See the MediaWiki redirects help page for further help with redirects.

New articles

Do not create empty new articles or new articles that contain nothing but the {{stub}} message just in hopes of seeing someone add more content to them. Add the content yourself! If you don't know about the subject, learn about it or ask politely at CrawlWiki's talk page for someone to create the article.

Categories

Categories are not articles. Do not link an article directly to a category page. Category pages are simply to organize lists of related pages in one place. Each new article should have at least one category assigned to it. The naming convention should be: singular for article pages, and plural for categories, so you have Skill to describe skills, and Category:Skills to list the skills.

Capitalization

Capitalizing should be done on proper nouns only. Capitalizing is reserved for uniques and artefacts. The ring of the Nine Firedrakes does get capitals, because that's its name. Notice how the word 'ring' isn't even capitalized, as being a ring isn't special. An amulet of faith is not in title case, either; it is a regular amulet with the faith ego. You don't call a long sword 'the Long Sword', after all.

Species names should generally be in uppercase, as formatted in the manual.

Headers

The highest header level that should be used is ==This==. Do not use =These=, they are reserved for the article main title only. In each article, there should be a brief introduction before going into specifics. This introduction should not have a header, like ==Introduction==, because it is obvious and because when omitting it, the introduction appears before the table of contents as it is supposed to.

Section names

Some sections are common to many articles. Try to use one of these for the section header rather than a variant like "Source", "Previous versions", or "External Links". Known standard sections are:

  • Useful Info
  • Strategy
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Trivia
  • External links
  • See also
  • History
  • References

The following headers should be used for specific types of articles:

References

References to the source code can be created by adding ref tags: <ref>{{source ref|0.30.0|mon-util.cc|851}}</ref>. All ref tags should immediately follow the text to which the footnote applies, with no intervening space. Refs are placed after adjacent punctuation, not before (apart from the exceptions below).

Exceptions:

  • Ref tags are placed before dashes, not after.
  • Where a reference/footnote applies only to material within parentheses, the ref tags belong just before the closing parenthesis.

To display references on the page, use the <references /> tag.

Item pages

Each item page should also list the effects of the item, and any messages that item can generate. Tips and strategy relating to that item should go next.

Templates

  • {{stub}} can be used on a page to plea for someone to expand it. From time to time, some editors will look over Category:Stubs for articles to expand.
  • {{delete}} adds a page to Category:Candidates for Deletion so that administrators can consider deleting it. Please give a reason in the talk page of an article before adding the Delete template.

A list of templates can be found here.

Sign your posts

When writing on articles/users' talk-pages sign your posts with four tildes, ~~~~. That will automatically expand to your signature with time-stamp.

General principles

Consider consulting Wikipedia's Manual of Style on the matter; some editors think that it's pretty good.