Wiki for a better world:Style guide: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "==Informal but intellectual== * This is '''not''' Wikipedia. We love short small pages of original research that are tightly linked to each other. * Say things in the simplest way possible, but not simpler. When in doubt, make separate pages for the details. * We love math and original research. We don't care if it's formal, but it needs to be honest.") |
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== | {{mbox|Note: This wiki isn't open for editing '''yet''', but this '''style guide''' will be useful when it is.}} | ||
So you've got something to say and you'd like to put it on this wiki. Here are some tips for writing style. | |||
* | |||
[[File:thesis-tree.png|thumb|Making a good point often involves "tree-shaped logic", where reasons have subreasons and so on and so on. But language, unfortunately, has to be presented linearly, with one word after the next. Writing an essay is like chopping off all the branches of a tree, laying them end-to-end, and then wondering why the audience is struggling to see the tree for what it is. That's why academic papers suck. Split your thesis into smaller nuggets of information instead.]] | |||
==Make it simple '''and''' complex== | |||
First, state your '''main point'''. Then go in a few directions: | |||
====Work backward==== | |||
Explain the ''reasoning'' that led to your main point. Most of this can be in separate pages, but you can also have a simplified "why" section on the current page. | |||
====Move forward==== | |||
Assume that people agree with your main point. What's next? You can link to more pages that branch out with more details about actions, implementation, etc. | |||
===Why this method=== | |||
One reason for separating things is to avoid preaching to the choir. Skeptics can follow your "work backward"-type links, while the people who already agree with you can move forward and coordinate together. | |||
===Action-oriented page titles=== | |||
The more specific the page title, the easier it is to decide "what do I put on this page". Titles can be long or short. Unlike Wikipedia, we don't need every title to be a noun - sometimes a verb is better. | |||
===Don't try to be Wikipedia=== | |||
* You don't need to put everything "notable" about a topic on one page. | |||
* You don't need to use dry, formal language. | |||
* You don't need to start the page with a dictionary-style definition, usually. Feel free to just say "This page is about [...]" or not even put an introduction at all. | |||
==See also== | |||
* [[Project:Notation|Notation]] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:46, 5 May 2024
Note: This wiki isn't open for editing yet, but this style guide will be useful when it is.
So you've got something to say and you'd like to put it on this wiki. Here are some tips for writing style.
Make it simple and complex
First, state your main point. Then go in a few directions:
Work backward
Explain the reasoning that led to your main point. Most of this can be in separate pages, but you can also have a simplified "why" section on the current page.
Move forward
Assume that people agree with your main point. What's next? You can link to more pages that branch out with more details about actions, implementation, etc.
Why this method
One reason for separating things is to avoid preaching to the choir. Skeptics can follow your "work backward"-type links, while the people who already agree with you can move forward and coordinate together.
Action-oriented page titles
The more specific the page title, the easier it is to decide "what do I put on this page". Titles can be long or short. Unlike Wikipedia, we don't need every title to be a noun - sometimes a verb is better.
Don't try to be Wikipedia
- You don't need to put everything "notable" about a topic on one page.
- You don't need to use dry, formal language.
- You don't need to start the page with a dictionary-style definition, usually. Feel free to just say "This page is about [...]" or not even put an introduction at all.