Wiki for a better world:Style guide

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.

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.