Zelda Wiki:Quality Standards: Difference between revisions

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*Timeline theories are not tolerated on any page, with only two exceptions. Users can put timeline theories on their userpage and place it on the [[Timeline Theories]] page, providing it is added using the correct jargon and is thoroughly detailed.
*Timeline theories are not tolerated on any page, with only two exceptions. Users can put timeline theories on their userpage and place it on the [[Timeline Theories]] page, providing it is added using the correct jargon and is thoroughly detailed.
*If an [[Zelda Wiki.org:Administrators|admin]] determines that a theory does not meet the specified criteria, they can remove it from the article.
*If an [[Zelda Wiki.org:Administrators|admin]] determines that a theory does not meet the specified criteria, they can remove it from the article.


==Naming Standards==
==Naming Standards==

Revision as of 09:38, 30 May 2009

Zelda Wiki's
Help Guide
Basic Editing:

Getting Started
Citing Sources
Images and Uploading
Initialisms
Protected Pages
Redirects
Talk Pages
Templates (Template List)

Guidelines and Policies:

Canon Policy
Editing Etiquette
Image Deletion Policy
Inter-Wiki Policy
Nintendo Article Guidelines
Quality Standards
User Accounts
User Conduct

Advanced Editing:

Archiving Talk Pages
Article Reorganization
Custom Signatures
Keyboard Shortcuts
Merging and Moving Pages
Patrolling
Tables
User Navigation Bars
WikiExclusives

General Information

Staff
User Rights
About
Glossary

If more should be needed to be added to this list, it will be done in the future. For now, this page is to provide a basic understanding of what is expected in an article.

Article Creation and Image Uploading

  • All images should be tagged with the proper image templates which identify the source and content of the image.
  • File extensions for images are to be in lowercase and not capitalized. (.jpg not .JPG)
  • Fan art and modified-model images are not acceptable for use within articles (although modified-model images may be placed in galleries, to be decided on a case-by-case basis).
  • Any article not in its proper category should be sorted into a category. If the category does not exist, the writer/editor may create a category at their discretion.
  • Before creating a page, it is wise to make sure that the page does not already exist. Many times a page exists in another name. If there is more than one plausible name for an article, find out if the article exists in this other name, and make the duplicate article a redirect. If two articles about the same topic exist that both comply with the Quality Standards, it should be suggested that they be merged with the {{merge}} template.


Article Formatting

  • Articles should have proper English grammar and spelling. This should be American English, not British English. This way, there is a uniform spelling to words. Grammar and spelling is, perhaps, the largest problem on the Wiki as of late. Tagged articles for improvement are most likely tagged because of poor linguistics.
  • Articles should be lengthy. If they are short, they should be tagged as stubs. Once articles have reached a certain length (defined at the user's discretion), the stub tag should be removed. Generally, a stub is a paragraph or shorter. These articles should be expanded as quickly as possible so as to provide the most in-depth information.
  • Subdivisions should be placed accordingly in articles. If there is a certain order of events that demand subcategories, they should be in the proper order. Please note that there are different ways of creating subcategories, in order of importance. This should be used to the writer's advantage when creating or editing an article, so as to give the article the best organization possible.
  • Every article should cite its sources with the <ref> tags. Currently, very few articles cite any sources whatsoever, which is quickly becoming unacceptable. In past times, this was fine, but as the Wiki grows, so must its standards. Lengthy articles such as Link should especially have their sources cited. If an article does not cite any sources, please mark it with the {{sources}} template until sources are inserted.
  • Articles with out-of-date information should be updated to reflect the most recent information as soon as possible.
  • The abbreviations for the games should never be used in articles. This excludes very special cases when describing timeline connections and the abbreviations page itself. If the use of these abbreviations can be avoided, then they should not be used.


Article Content

  • Please do not copy articles from Wikipedia! While it is not against any law to do so, Zelda Wiki.org takes pride in its all-original articles. If you don't like the idea of making an article from scratch, perhaps it isn't your day to make an article. Articles caught copying from Wikipedia or any site that does not run the Wiki will be deleted or reverted to their older forms.
  • Do not put up links to online Manga translations, fansubs of Japanese retail videos, TV show episodes, or game ROM downloads. Such content is illegal and will not be tolerated. Note: A ROM is essentially a copy of a game ripped from a cartridge/disk. While owning a ROM is legal provided that a physical copy of the game is also owned, the uploading/downloading and distribution of such ROM's is illegal, and will not be tolerated!
  • Vandalism is subject to immediate expulsion from the Wiki for a set amount of time as defined by the sysop or bureaucrat!


Theories in Articles

It is important to remember that Zelda Wiki.org is an encyclopedia and not a forum. Articles are for the presentation of factual information, not for the dumping of personal theories. There are a number of things that should be noted when adding theories to articles, so they meet Zelda Wiki.org’s quality standards

  • Theories are to be reputable, with evidence to support them, and have a reasonable fan backing. That is, they are not personal theories.
  • Theories should meet up to all of the quality standards for writing in articles, including citing sources, correct spelling, proper grammar and appropriate placement.
  • There is to be no speculation or theories in regards to unreleased games.
  • All theories should be placed in a new section and be labeled with the {{Theory}} template.
  • When considering adding a theory to an article, it is best to propose the theory on the corresponding talk page, so that its veracity and relevance can be discussed, and a decision reached.
  • Timeline theories are not tolerated on any page, with only two exceptions. Users can put timeline theories on their userpage and place it on the Timeline Theories page, providing it is added using the correct jargon and is thoroughly detailed.
  • If an admin determines that a theory does not meet the specified criteria, they can remove it from the article.


Naming Standards

Here are Zelda Wiki.org's standards when it comes to naming. We editors of Zelda Wiki.org hold ourselves to a high standard. These naming standards apply to both page and section titles.

Most of the games have two titles. The main title (The Legend of Zelda) and its subtitle (i.e. Link's Awakening). When describing a character in the title, only what is need to know should be in it. So that means that only the subtitle is needed. So when dealing with a game that has only a main title, just have that. Like the original game The Legend of Zelda, or Link's Crossbow Training.

Game abbreviations are not allowed in page titles for main articles. It's okay for userboxes though, actually, it is preferred in such cases.

When a character needs to be described in the title to differentiate it from something similar or generic, the wiki's standard form is the following:

Subject (Description)

Subject is, obviously, the subject of the page in question. Description is, again quite obviously, the description of the subject.

Both of these parts follow page title rules that we all know from school. All words are capitalized except for common words: those that are three letters long or less, typically ones that start a prepositional phrase. Unless they are at the very beginning of course (i.e. first word), then capitalize.

Examples of words not to capitalize are:

  • a
  • an
  • and
  • at
  • for
  • in
  • is
  • of
  • on
  • the
  • to


Referring to Games in Articles

When mentioning a game in an article, only use the subtitle (the part after the colon) in most cases — there are exceptions. When using any part of the game's name, always italicize it — see Text Formatting for details.

When linking to a game, the form must always be in the form of a piped link. Where the first part is the full name, and the second part is the subtitle. The form is as follows:

''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''

Which generates:

Ocarina of Time

For an easy-to-use shortcut for doing this see the game-abbreviation templates in the formatting templates category (every template under the "*" heading).


Redirects

Having links in pages that redirect the reader to another page rather than taking them directly to the intended page is strongly discouraged. It makes Zelda Wiki.org look sloppy and unprofessional. So whenever you, the editor, add a link to another page, please make sure that it is not a redirect. If it is, then please change the link to point to intended location.