Main.StyleGuide History

To do: select and refactor stuff from Weblogs and Wikis style guide.

• When you write in first person, sign your work. To sign a section of a page, add either three tildes ~~~ or [[~your name]]

The lines

You may see a pair of horizontal lines on some pages. These are created with two rows of four hyphens . Material above the lines is good content, information, stuff that's developed. Material below the lines is notes, stuff under development, waiting to be factored into the page.

• Others may add to or respond to what you have written in another paragraph, creating a kind of dialogue.

The flesh

The bones

Apply StyleGuide conventions when you're working collaboratively - and on a wiki, you're almost always working collaboratively. Be aware of the conventions, even if you choose to ignore them.

• When you write for collaborative work, it is a common practice to use the second or third person. Think Dragnet and write "Just the facts." Stay balanced. Give concrete advice. Encourage openings to further development.

• Use first person to describe your own experiences.

• When you write in first person, sign your work. To sign a section of a page, add either ~~~ or [[~your name]]

• It is conventional not to change a paragraph that someone else has signed, except to correct obvious mistakes. So if you'd prefer that something you write not be changed, sign it.

• Others may, however, add to the page in another paragraph.

• Unsigned work is considered open for change. So if you want to, go ahead and change it.

• Practice understatement. Use plain language. Be bold and be nice.

The flesh

Contributers in Weblogs and Wikis have developed a more detailed, more complete StyleGuide (and WikiWriting? guide) which applies to this wiki. Weblogs and Wikis StyleGuide

from Weblogs and Wikis StyleGuide

We'll be adding stuff from the existing style guide here -

from GoodStyle page (retired)

from PmWiki/Good_Style

Be aware of these conventions, even if you choose to ignore them.

When you write here, it is a common practice to use the second or third person. Remember Dragnet and write "Just the facts, ma'am." Give concrete advice.

When you do write in the first person, it is conventional to sign your work. To sign a section of a page, add either ~~~ or [[~your name]]

People often use the first person to describe their own experiences.

It is conventional not to change a paragraph that someone else has signed, except to correct obvious mistakes. So if you'd prefer that something you write not be changed, sign it.

Unsigned work is considered open for change. So if you want to, go ahead and change it.

Practice understatement. Use plain language. Be bold and be nice.