What are the WikiAnswers style rules?

In: Questions about WikiAnswers Website [Edit categories]

WikiAnswers Style Guide

Here are the grammar, spelling, and style conventions we've chosen for WikiAnswers. (See the related question for why a style guide is important for Wiki Q&A.)

These are guidelines rather than hard and fast rules. However, following them enables the formatting of questions to be standardized, thereby reducing repeated effort among contributors when the same question is asked a different way and receives another answer (only to eventually be merged with the original question).

This list is constantly growing and changing. When a Supervisor feels confident about a change or addition, he or she should make it below. When anyone would like to discuss a change, he should use the discussion page.

Style rules should be extensive enough to establish the desired system of style but not so extensive as to inhibit the writer, contributor, or editor. The rules should encourage thinking, not discourage it. A single rule might suffice: "The rule of common sense should prevail at all times."

Phrasing of Questions

We use American English, unless the question is written in another language, or somehow relevant only to people in other countries.
Questions should be as concise as possible and use one complete sentence instead of fragments; e.g., What is the atomic number of Oxygen? instead of Oxygen's atomic number? or The atomic number of Oxygen is?
Use the second person pronoun, you and your, instead of I, me, and my. For example, How do you know you are pregnant? instead of How do I know if I'm pregnant? Do not use the formal one, as in How does one know she is pregnant?
Whenever possible, questions should start with one of the following words: who, what, where, when, why, or how (but not how come). Could, would, should, has, and have are also preferred. Questions that start with the word if are okay but should be rephrased if the resulting rewording is not awkward.
Why should be used in place of how come.
"Where can you find information about ...?" instead of "Where is info on ..." etc.
"Where can you find pictures of (subject)?" instead of "Where can you find photos/images/pics/a picture/a photo/an image/a pic/etc of...", "Can you show me a picture/images/etc of...", and similar. (please note: no photo/image question should be merged into the catch all other than those asking for inappropriate images - reformat all "show pics of..." questions to "Where can you find pictures of (subject)?" and allow an answer - links are not illegal here).

Characters

Special characters including commas cannot be used in questions because of limitations in our system. There should be no ampersands, dollar signs, percentage symbols, parentheses, etc. Only letters, digits, hyphens, and single quotes (apostrophes) can be used. Periods can be used only in terms such as "5.0 engine" and "Windows 3.1."

Font attributes

Answers should be written in "normal" typeface. Use font attributes sparingly and for emphasis.

Capitalization should be reserved for common usage (acronyms, abbreviations, and the first letter of a sentence and proper nouns, for example). A proper noun is most often the name of a person or place - for example, William Shakespeare should be used instead of william shakespeare, and New York, not new york.

Italics should be reserved for quotes, citations, and foreign words within a sentence, or for emphasizing a word or phrase. Do not italicize long sentences or paragraphs.

Bold should be reserved for headlines and sub-headlines, or the occasional strong emphasis.

Word Forms in Questions

Contractions should be avoided. Never begin your question with Can't, Won't, Wasn't, Weren't, Haven't, Hasn't, etc. If your sentence sounds awkward without the contraction, then scroll down & click: How do you ask a question without using a contraction?

Dates: 1964 or 1960s, instead of '64, 60's, sixties, etc.

Numbers from one to ten should be spelled out; 11 and over should be numerals, e.g. one, two, three ... ten, 11, 12 ... Exceptions are made for measurements (see below), and for consistency (e.g. "He was personally responsible for issuing Rules 2, 7, and 23."). Exception is also made for formal designations, as in Rulers or Wars, such as Pope John Paul II, Henry VIII or World War 2.

Measurements: Use one apostrophe for feet and two for inches (quotation marks can't be used in questions). Use "x" instead of "by". For example, e.g. 8' x 14'' ... 7 mm x 12 cm

Proper Names such as people's names and place names should be capitalized.

Quotation marks in questions need to be substituted with single quotes, i.e. apostrophes, for technical reasons. Quote 'like this' instead of "like this." (Periods and commas should always go inside the quotation marks.)

Times: 1am, 10pm, etc. instead of 1:00 a.m, ten PM, etc (we can't use colons, unfortunately).

Arts and Entertainment

"What does an XYZ tattoo symbolize?" instead of "What is the meaning of an XYZ tattoo?" etc.
"in" Pokemon (version), instead of "on" Pokemon (version)
Include the word "Pokemon" in Pokemon questions.

Typography: when asking about the font of a company logo, please include a link to the logo within the discussion area (not the answer) of your question.

Cars and Vehicles

1999 Chevy Corvette instead of '99 'Vette, etc.

4-cylinder instead of 4 cyl, etc.

4x4, FWD, and AWD instead of front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, etc.

4.9 instead of 4.9 liter engine, 4.9 litres, 4.9 l, 4.9L, etc.

AC instead of air conditioner.

automatic instead of auto.

hp instead of HP or horsepower.

mph instead of MPH or M.P.H.

rpm and RPM or RPMs.

repair instead of fix (unless the question may be asking whether it should be replaced or repaired).

~~replace~~ instead of change.

turn signal flasher instead of flasher, flasher unit, or turn signal relay (turn signal bulb, switch, and lever are different).

V8 instead of V-8, v8, etc.

VW instead of Volkswagen.

"... on a 1999 Chevy Corvette?" instead of "... in a ..."

Sample questions: "Where is the fuel filter located on a 1996 Geo Metro?" "How do replace a headlight bulb on a 2005 Saturn SL2?" "How do you remove the fuel tank from a 1983 VW Rabbit?" "How do you replace the oil pump on a 1999 Chevy Astro 4.3 AWD?"

Collectibles

"What is the value of XYZ?" instead of "What is XYZ worth?"

(i.e. "What is the value of a 1901 Silver Dollar?")

Computers and Internet

email instead of e-mail.

online instead of on-line.

website instead of Web site.

Education and College

associate's degree and bachelor's degree instead of Associates Degree, A.S., etc.

Health/Sex

pre-ejaculate is preferred over pre-seminal fluid or pre-cum.

semen is preferred over cum or sperm in clinical questions about fertility.

sperm should be used when a question is referring specifically to spermatazoa, not as a replacement for semen.

History and Society

UK instead of United Kingdom.

US instead of United States, USA, America, etc.

USSR instead of Soviet Union, Russia, etc., except when used intentionally. Note that the USSR existed only from the 1917 Revolution until its demise in 1991, so any intentional use of USSR should refer to that time period.

World War 1 and World War 2 instead of WWII, WW1, Second World War, Great War, etc.
US Navy, US Army, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, etc., to differentiate from services in other countries.
US Constitution to differentiate from the constitution of other states and countries.

House and Home

inground and above ground pools instead of in-ground, aboveground, etc.

V instead of v, volt, or volts

A instead of a, amp, or amps

W instead of w, watt, or watts

Hz instead of hertz

240V instead of 220V, 230V, or 250V and 120V instead of 110V, 115V, 117V, or 125V, except when taken as a measurement. This is important to facilitate searching. Note 208V and 277V are different from 240V.

Use the form gauge-conductors for wire sizing. I.e. 14-2 for 14 gauge 2 conductor wire

Language Translation

When asking for the translation of a word or a phrase, identify what language the original phrase or word is from, in your question. In many cases, it is difficult to find a translation without knowing what the original language is.

Law

"Can you move out at 17 in Indiana?"
"How old do you have to be to move out in Indiana?"

Jobs

"How do you answer 'What is XYZ?' in a job interview?"
"How much money does an XYZ earn?"
"What does an XYZ do?" instead of "What duties ..."

Job Requirements and Training

"What jobs can you get with an associate's degree in natural sciences?" instead of "What kind of jobs ..." or "What type of work ..." etc.
"How do you become an XYZ?" instead of "What is required ..." or "What do you need to be ...?" (unless it's education, legal requirements, or personal qualities).
"How long does it take to become an XYZ?" instead of "How many years of college ..." "How much school ...?" "How much training ..." (This can include years other than school.)
"What education or training do you need to become an XYZ?" instead of "What education is required ..." or "What degree ..." or "What type of training ..."
"Where can you go to school to become an XYZ?" instead of "What colleges ..." or "Where can you get an education ..."
"What should you study in high school or college if you want to become an XYZ?" instead of "What classes ..." or "What courses ..." or "What should you major in ..."
"How much does it cost to become an XYZ?" instead of "What does college cost for ..."
"What legal qualifications or licenses are required for an XYZ?"
"What personal qualities or skills do you need to be a XYZ?"

Places and Regions

Place Names

Place names should always be capitalised (New York, not new york)
Vietnam rather than Viet Nam

People and Relationships

17-year-old instead of seventeen, 17, age 17, 17 year old, etc.

Spelling

In the Grammar Punctuation and Spelling section, when a person is asking how to spell a word (i.e. "How do you spell the word capitle?"), do not correct the spelling of the word in the question.

Sports

American Football

Super Bowl instead of Superbowl

Soccer

Team names should use capitals, with no shorthand, e.g. Manchester United instead of Man U.
Tournament names can be abbreviated, e.g. FIFA, UEFA, FA, COMMENBOL etc.

Martial Arts

Tae Kwon Do instead of taekwondo
Kung Fu instead of kungfu

Phrasing of Answers

Collectibles

Stamps - Whenever possible list the Scott # or its equivalent in the first line of the answer.

Religion & Spirituality

Because of the sensitive nature of this category, guidelines have been drawn up to ensure that respect for the views of others and a helpful atmosphere are maintained.

This answer is closed to changes. This is done in rare cases when questions are being vandalized or answers have become debates. Email WikiAnswers @ Answers.com if you would like it to be reopened.