Wikipedia:Simplified Manual of Style: Difference between revisions

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{{supplement|pages=[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style]]|MOS:SIMPLIFIED|WP:SMOS|}}

{{style}}

This '''Simplified Manual of Style''' is an overview of commonly used style guidelines taken from the [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style|Wikipedia Manual of Style]] and its [[wp:subpages|subpages]] (together called the '''MoS'''). When a MoS guideline offers a choice of stylestyles, use onlychoose one alternativeand use it consistently throughout an article, and do not unreasonably alter a choice that has already been made. The MoS has too many suggestions to memorize, or even to consult regularly, but because they are based on consensual discussion, they often settle time-wasting arguments. Wikipedia has [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines|no firm rules]], but these suggestions help create consistent articles. For a descriptive directory of the pages which make up the Manual of Style, see [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Contents]].

==Capital letters==

Use [[sentence case]] for article titles and section headings{{spaced ndash}}{{xt|TipsEarly life and pointerseducation}}, not {{!xt|TipsEarly Life and PointersEducation}}. {{Manual of Style/More|#Article titlesAT}}

Capitalize names of scriptures like {{xt|Bible}} and {{xt|Qur'an}}, but not {{xt|biblical}}. Always capitalize {{xt|God}} when it refers to a primary or only deity, but not pronouns that refer to deities: {{xt|he}} not {{!xt|He}}. {{Manual of Style/More|#Religions, deities, philosophies, doctrines}}

Avoid capitalizing names of plants and animals. Among the exceptions are scientific names ({{xt|''Felis catus''}}) and [[proper noun]]s occurring as part of a name ({{xt|Norway rat}}). {{Manual of Style/More|#People, animals, plants, and other organismsLIFE}}

The seasons ({{xt|summer}}, {{xt|winter}}, {{xt|spring}}, and {{xt|fall}}/{{xt|autumn}}) are not capitalized. {{Manual of Style/More|#Calendar items}} Similarly, the compass points ({{xt|north}}, {{xt|southwest}}) are not capitalized. {{Manual of Style/More|#Compass points}}

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==Punctuation==

===Apostrophes and quotation marks===

Use straight quote marks {{key press|"}} and apostrophes {{key press|'}} as available from the keyboard, and not alternatives such as {{!xt|“&nbsp;”}} and {{!xt|‘&nbsp;’}}. {{Manual of Style/More|#ApostrophesAPOSTROPHE}}<!--Do not need separate link to quotation section, it appears immediately below the apostrophes section. -->

Italicize names of books, films, TV series, music albums, paintings, and ships—but not short works like songs or poems, which should be in quotation marks. {{Manual of Style/More|#ItalicsITAL}}

Write {{xt|James's house}}, not {{!xt|James' house}}. {{Manual of Style/More|POSS}}

===Periods and commas===

Place a [[full stop]] (a period) or a comma ''before'' a closing quotation mark if it belongs as part of the quoted material; otherwise put it after: {{xt|The word ''carefree'' means "happy"<span style{{=}}"background:#bfb">.</span>}} But: {{xt|She said, "I'm feeling carefree<span style{{=}}"background:#bfb">.</span>"}} (Please do so irrespective of any rules associated with the variety of English in use.) {{Manual of Style/More|LQ}}

An [[ellipsis]] should be written as three separate dots ({{xt|...}}): not spaced ({{!xt|.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.}}), and not using the single-character option ({{!xt|…}}). {{Manual of Style/More|ELLIPSIS}}

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==Usage==

English Wikipedia prefers no major national variety of the language over any other. These varieties (e.g., [[U.S. English]], [[British English]]) differ in vocabulary (''soccer'' vs. ''football''), spelling (''center'' vs. ''centre''), and occasionally grammar. {{Manual of Style/More|ENGVAR}}

Avoid words like ''I'', ''we'', and ''you'', except in quotations and names of works. {{Manual of Style/More|PRONOUNS}}

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* [[Help:Introduction to the Manual of Style]]&nbsp;– a quick introduction to the style guide for articles

* [[Help:Introduction to the Manual of Style/Manual of Style quiz|Manual of Style quiz]]&nbsp;– test your Manual of Style knowledge

* [[Wikipedia:Styletips]]&nbsp;– a list of advice for editors on writing style and formatting, in a bullet-point format

* [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Reading schedule]]&nbsp;– a reading schedule designed to assist editors in becoming familiar with Manual of Style

General formatting:

* [[Wikipedia:Tips]]&nbsp;– overview page where you can digest how to use Wikipedia, in bite-sized morsels

* [[Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia]]&nbsp;– a page that provides information on the basics needed to edit Wikipedia

* [[Wikipedia:Writing better articles]]&nbsp;– guidance on how to improve articles

* [[Wikipedia:Dos and don'ts#Dos and don'ts pages]]&nbsp;– summaries of Wikipedia's policies, guidelines, and formatting standards, in a bullet-point format

* [[Help:Cheatsheet]]&nbsp;– a page that provides the most commonly used wiki markup

{{Manual of Style}}