MEpedia talk:Manual of style

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Citations Guideline?

I notice that under "Learn more" there is "Citations Guideline to come".
Is someone still planning on writing a Citations Guideline or is this something that can be removed?
Thanks.
Pyrrhus (talk) 21:21, 14 March 2019 (EDT)

I have removed that line. If anyone writes a “Citations guideline”, please put it back. Thanks.

Pyrrhus (talk) 18:03, 15 April 2019 (EDT)

Dates

I am a bit confused about the “Dates” section. Are we supposed to use the three-letter abbreviation for months, or can we spell out the full month?
Pyrrhus (talk) 18:03, 15 April 2019 (EDT)

One consideration is refs: I think some templates will spit out an error message if you only use the first three leters? So that might be a reason to go with the full name, if we'd like to standardize this. Canele (talk) 18:13, 15 April 2019 (EDT)

Three letter months eg Jun is what I've been doing, I think that may already be the standard. Templates give errors for DD MMM YYY and YYYY-MM but not MMM DD, YYYY - or MMM YYYY - which is our standard. I tried to improve the help information that comes up with date errors a while ago. I don't know why but the citation generator comes up with the wrong date styles. notjusttired (talk) 19:34, 15 April 2019 (EDT)

This is all new to me. I’ve seen User:Kmdenmark fixing “CS1” errors but I don’t know exactly what these errors are. Do we know which templates tend to spit out errors? Thanks.

Pyrrhus (talk) 20:16, 15 April 2019 (EDT)

Here is a helpful Wikipedia link to CS1 errors for dates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#ExamplesOfUnacceptableDates

The most frequent error that our citation generator makes is "Ambiguous date range or year and month." E.g., it will generate a date as such: |date=2002-03. The computer doesn't know if you mean Mar 2002 or the years 2002-2003. The easiest correction is to change it to Mar 2002 or March 2002. You don't need to abbreviate the month, but if you do, the program wants a 3-letter abbreviation.

The second most common date error is when the contributor uses the wrong punctuation. E.g., February 28 1900 will read as an error bec it has no comma; it must be changed to February 28, 1900 or 28 February 1900 or Feb 28, 1900 or 1900-02-28. Use of slashes also elicits an error message. E.g., 12/6/87 must be changed to December 6, 1987 or Dec 6, 1987 or 1987-12-06.

I hope that helps. Kmdenmark (talk) 12:03, 16 April 2019 (EDT)

That’s very helpful, Karen! Thanks! Now we need to incorporate this into the documentation somewhere. (And clarify how dates are to be formatted in the body of the text, too.)

Pyrrhus (talk) 12:58, 16 April 2019 (EDT)

Existing help info on dates when you click the ? icon brings up Help:CS1_errors, see Help:CS1_errors#Check_date_values_in:_.7C.3Cparam1.3E.3D.2C_.7C.3Cparam2.3E.3D.2C_... here and MEpedia:Manual_of_style#Dates for some documentation. I've requested that developers look into if the American date setting is on, I am not sure but it's possible that this might fix the date generation formatting issues. notjusttired (talk) 13:26, 16 April 2019 (EDT)

That’s very helpful too, Njt! Thanks! It would certainly be nice if we could solve some of the problems just by fixing a date setting!

Pyrrhus (talk) 13:49, 16 April 2019 (EDT)

I don't know if that date setting will help - it seems odd that there aren't any mentions of this problem for others. Something else I would like to sort is the automatic PMCc references that sometimes put "PMCPMC" or just "PMC" before the number, which breaks the links. It may need Lua changes to the Module though. Do you know about Lua? notjusttired (talk) 16:25, 26 April 2019 (EDT)

Referencing chapters and referencing different pages

Discussion moved from Canadian Consensus Criteria talk page by User:Notjusttired Is an alternative way of referencing many chapters or may pages from the same source needed, maybe a new template? Options seem to be using Template:Sfn or Template:Rp (not installed yet). I don't see anything in the Manual of style to say if we have a standard for this at the moment. I prefer using <ref name="ICC" />'''{{Rp|pages=13-19}}''' or {{Rp|at=Ch6}} since it displays in the article as [2]:13-19 for pages, or [2]:Ch6 (or whatever you choose for chapters). Thoughts? Tagging others to ask. User:JaimeS User:MEandCFS User:Canele User:Pyrrhus User:DxCFS User:Hip User:Brettz9 User:Kmdenmark notjusttired (talk) 13:11, 19 April 2019 (EDT)

This solution seems perfect and actually is something I had looked for and failed to find on WP! So thank you! It's much cleaner and more amenable to editor re-use than other options I'm aware of. Canele (talk) 16:09, 19 April 2019 (EDT)

Which solution? The Rp template? If so, this needs adding to the Manual of style and MEpedia or Help documentation. I have been going through the Wanted Pages - many of which come from links in the Citation templates - to work out which are worth covering here, and which can just straight links to Wikipedia explanations. Going to move this discussion to MEpedia_talk:Manual_of_style MOS talk page notjusttired (talk) 17:02, 26 April 2019 (EDT)

Where to attach citations?

Suppose several consecutive sentences have facts pulled from a single source. Should each sentence have the citation/footnote attached at the end, just the first, or just the last? I assume we're using a citation style that's consistent with wikipedia, or some other external resource. Maybe we should link to that for the details? -- EscapeTheFog (talk) 02:05, June 13, 2019 (EDT)

Wikipedia doesn't have a set citation style. We just use the references how they are automatically generated. Perhaps linking to well-referenced pages would be helpful? I would normally refer to the source in the first sentence and stick the citation at the end, especially because it needs highlighting that it's a single source. So it would read something like this: notjusttired (talk) 14:13, June 13, 2019 (EDT) Esfandyarpour et al (2019) reported that WBCs... (more about same study). [3]

Paging User:JaimeS... :)

Pyrrhus (talk) 20:27, June 14, 2019 (EDT)

Re: Where to attach citations? -- JaimeS (talk) 14:21, June 26, 2019 (EDT)

Generally speaking, you don't cite after every sentence, but after a block of facts that are from the same source. A rule of thumb I learned is to make sure that all the facts from that citation are in the same paragraph -- and that *no other references are used in that paragraph*. Then, cite at the end of the paragraph.

Referencing the source by name early on is also a good tactic, as Notjusttired mentions.

If a sentence or paragraph contains multiple items of information and a source only supports the first, place that reference right after the first piece of info (after the comma, not before). Try to avoid sentences where it is unclear if a source supports the whole sentence or only the last part of it. Guido den Broeder (talk) 20:50, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

Has this issue been resolved? Do we need to add anything to the page?

Pyrrhus (talk) 13:38, October 24, 2019 (EDT)

Spelling

We should add this before Dates and numbers, stating US spelling. This list of science ones might be helpful. Quote marks too, either " or ‟ ”, some languages eg German use different marks. notjusttired (talk) 17:25, August 10, 2019 (EDT)

Has this issue been resolved? Do we need to add anything to the page?

Pyrrhus (talk) 13:38, October 24, 2019 (EDT)

Dates and numbers

Numbers

Add style for decimals and large numbers for Non-English speakers, eg 1,200 and 1.5 (not 1.000 and 1,5).

Currency

Do we put $5 mark unless non-US, or always mark as US? Link to w:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers Wikipedia's notjusttired (talk) 17:25, August 10, 2019 (EDT) Update: I looked it up.

Style	Note
A$1,000 US$1,000 NZ$1,000 CA$1,000	Recommended style: 1-2 letter code before symbol. The value $1,000 assumed to be US dollars
USD1,000 AUS$5 EUR5,000	Also acceptable: 3 letter currency code without symbol
$1M or $1m, $1bn	Millions and billions
€5,000.25 HK$1,300.10	Commas for thousands, dot for decimals
€ £ ¥	Source code way to create: € £ ¥ Visual editor toolbar can also be used

Both Chicago and APA citation style suggest converting to US dollars, but I think it best to go with local currency with approx USD next to it. E.g. A$3m (US$1m). Euros are EUR5,000 (since we are using comma not dot, this is the UK way to write it), or €1,000.50, or 1 million euro - € in source editor will create this although it might be in the advanced options in visual editor too. For UK, £2,400 etc or GBP2,000. User:Pyrrhus notjusttired (talk) 15:08, August 16, 2019 (EDT)

Thanks for looking these things up! It certainly makes sense to include these. (in a concise way of course so as not to bore the reader!)

Pyrrhus (talk) 21:03, September 9, 2019 (EDT)

Has this issue been resolved? Do we need to add anything to the page?

Pyrrhus (talk) 13:38, October 24, 2019 (EDT)

Drug names

I think we should add a small heading for this, or add a "Page names" heading covering both plurals in titles and drug names - I find it a bit hard to spot in Key Conventions. Drugs: Should the page be called after brand name or generic name? I think brand names are better known, but generic is less ambiguous and easier since some drugs have multiple brand names. Eg Lyrica or Pregabelin, Gabapentin or Neurotonin? But also Cymbalta and Yentreve both different brand names for the same drug. Do we encourage redirects for the alternative names? I think that would be a good idea, then if you do a link in the Visual editor the generic name and brand name pages are both suggested. User:JaimeS User:Pyrrhus - also see above on examples / clarification for data and numbers section. notjusttired (talk) 17:10, September 9, 2019 (EDT)

Personally, I always use the generic name, in both page names and in page content. But it certainly makes sense to have redirects from the brand names to the generic names!

Pyrrhus (talk) 21:05, September 9, 2019 (EDT)

User:Sisyphus User:Kmdenmark User:JaimeS User:JenB User:DxCFS User:MEandCFS - feedback would be welcome on drug names, dates (above), link policies (draft below), and topics not covered. notjusttired (talk) 20:19, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

By convention, refer to the generic name, unless a difference in composition between brands is relevant or to indicate that a specific brand was used. Page titles for generic names only, with sections to describe different brands. Redirect brand names to those sections. Guido den Broeder (talk) 21:03, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

I agree with using the generic name as page title and then mention that it is more commonly known under its brand names such as ...--Sisyphus (talk) 06:18, September 16, 2019 (EDT)

Link policy

I believe we need to add a new heading with an external link policy, and The shortcuts MEpedia:MOSLINK and MEpedia:EL can be created to link to it. I would suggest the content below: notjusttired (talk) 17:38, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

==Link policy==
Editors must not link to their personal website except a single link on an article when it is the official website for that topic, or a single link on the editor's user page. Editors with multiple websites may only link to one of their website. Promotion of a website you own is not allowed.

===Ref spam===
References, ''Learn more'' links and other external links must follow the [[MEpedia:Science guidelines]]. Personal websites must not be linked to and sources must be notable and reliable websites. Repeatedly citing personal websites is known as ''ref spam'', as described on [[WP:REFSPAM|Wikipedia].

===Websites in foreign languages===
Foreign language websites must not be referenced or linked to from English pages, unless the link or reference is the ''official website'' for the page's topic, e.g., a link to Fluge's website in Norwegian can only be used on Fluge's page. 

Articles published in foreign language journals should be supported by an additional citation or Abstract in English. Audio and videos on languages that are not the same as the page's language must not be linked to or referenced.

===Promotional links ===
Links to reviews or recommendations about items for sale, e.g., books, videos, or supplements are not allowed. This includes videos, book reviews, blog links and other links.

==Affiliate links ==
External links that earn a commission, referral or other free are not allowed on MEpedia. These are typically used in items for sale and should be replaced by non-affilate links.

notjusttired (talk) 20:16, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

I think not. For instance, the MEA sells The Purple Book for a small price. However, it contains their view on ME/CFS and hence to refer to it is important. Note that most scientific publications are behind a paywall, or you need a subscription to the journal. Books have to be bought as well. We have costs, and a desire to stay alive, so we are not giving you everything for free. Guido den Broeder (talk) 20:27, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

Wikipedia and Wikisage, meanwhile, are nobody's personal websites. We regularly link to them at 'Learn more' and will keep doing so. What language the information is written in is of no consequence. We will also link to personal websites like Hummingbirds and Sarah Myhill's wiki as often as we need to. Guido den Broeder (talk) 20:37, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

I think the bit on foreign languages might be a little too strong. I think it should be discouraged to refer to non-English sources, but in some cases, this is the only option. Some foreign researchers have made important or revealing statements in non-English languages only, for example Wyller supporting the Lightning process or Bleijenberg saying that severe ME/CFS patients do not want CBT because they prefer to have a stable situation. With google translate it's also becoming easier to check things in a language you're not fluent in. So in my view, referencing to a non-English source should be discouraged but allowed if it contains unique and important information.--Sisyphus (talk) 06:18, September 16, 2019 (EDT)

The exception you suggest sounds good Guido, although I think it useful to suggest adding a second source in the page language that cites it, which is extremely easy using Google scholar's "cited by" option or researchgate. It should not be interpreted as excluding research simply because of its publication language, but a case of trying to include verification in the correct language too. Many foreign language source have English abstracts, but that will be little use on say, German language pages. You make a good point about Google translate User:Sisyphus, but some sources are video or radio interviews and I am not sure of the accuracy of Japanese translations.

Points about ME Association purple book are irrelevant: we won't be creating a page for it and it's sent free to all UK doctors if a patient requests it. Having said that, I don't think a link directly to the book is important, although it should be mentioned since it's free service within the UK. Wikisage is Guido's personal website, as we know and Wikipedia is already disallowed as a source.

Jodi is dead as I'm sure you know, and her Hummingbirds Foundation charity continues. The final wording should not imply that an open access is expected linking to abstracts or referring to book page numbers is fine. As for Myhill's website, most statements are unreferenced so should be referred to as her view only, although her mitochondria research is peer reviewed. notjusttired (talk) 10:15, September 16, 2019 (EDT)

Please make sure to sign your posts, or it is impossible to respond.

Wikipedia, Wikisage and other online encyclopediae are indeed not considered reliable sources, but they are valid links for 'Learn more' sections. FYI, Wikisage counts over 56,000 articles, created by some 600 users (and many more that worked on them on Wikipedia). I've only written a few dozen myself. Which articles we can or can't create is not for you to decide. Guido den Broeder (talk) 12:17, September 16, 2019 (EDT)

Topics not covered here

I would like to add general statement that anything not covered should be assumed to follow Wikipedia's Manual of style, or Wikipedia Editorial guidelines. This should cover topics that do not have documentation yet. notjusttired (talk) 17:38, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

You can't just invent this on the spot without consultation. The only things that must be followed are the core principles. Guido den Broeder (talk) 17:46, September 15, 2019 (EDT)

Agree with notjusttired that this the best option.--Sisyphus (talk) 06:18, September 16, 2019 (EDT)

External links -- Pyrrhus (talk) 16:45, December 27, 2019 (EST)

I thought we had a section on this, but I guess we don't. The MEpedia convention is to avoid using external links in a page, except for the "Talks and Interviews", "Online presence", and "Learn more" sections. External links in other sections are to be replaced with citations or internal links. This should probably be formalized in the Manual of style. We can just copy the good guidelines specified in MEpedia:External links.
Pyrrhus (talk) 16:45, December 27, 2019 (EST)

When and where to link -- Pyrrhus (talk) 19:18, January 15, 2020 (EST)

I propose the following subsection under the "Layout" section:

===When and where to link to other pages===
When another page is mentioned, a link to that page can be created.  Typically, the other page will be linked to once if in the introductory section of an article, and then will be linked to once more the first time the page name appears in the rest of an article. However, there may be situations where more links are helpful. For instance, if an important page name is mentioned three times in the body of a very long article, it may serve the reader to create a link each time.

Pyrrhus (talk) 19:18, January 15, 2020 (EST)

Layout- Displaying images -- Pyrrhus (talk) 18:03, January 27, 2020 (EST)

The following standard practice should be enshrined in the manual of style:

• All images displayed in an article should have a caption that, at a minimum, includes the author or citation for the image, as well as the copyright license of the image. This information should be readily available from the image's "File:" page.

This is already discussed here: help:Images#Displaying_an_image_on_a_page
Pyrrhus (talk) 18:03, January 27, 2020 (EST)

Colors -- ~Njt (talk) 01:10, August 22, 2020 (UTC)

I would like to add a section about the use of colors, including about how to use color which works with / adapts to the dark timeless skin. I will try writing up a draft here later. The color contrast checkers 1 and 2 calculate web accessibility (color contrast). ~Njt (talk) 01:10, August 22, 2020 (UTC)

To add:

Colors

Backgrounds

Suggested colors when many background colors are needed:

• Orange, Gold, Plum, Tomato, LightGreen, CornflowerBlue, HotPink (HTML color names)
• Black text (not the default near-black since the dark Timeless skin will turn this white)
• Text-shadow set to none in the code (dark timeless compatibility)

<code> style="background-color:LightGreen;color:black;text-shadow:none"
</code>

Example: Canadian Consensus Criteria

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Text colors

MEAction shades of red, blue, and dark or light gray use the templates, e.g. {{MEActionLGray|light gray text}}.

Other text colors should be rarely used, and only used for certain purposes e.g. using green for a positive symbol and red for a negative symbol on List of enterovirus infection studies. Text colors must use classes because this will allow the Timeless dark skin to adjust the shade of color for better visibility. Example code:

<code>
This is <span class="green">'''+'''</span> green, <span class="red">'''-'''</span> red, <span class="blue">blue</span> and <span class="gray">gray</span>.
</code>

Displays: This is + green, - red, blue and gray gray. These colors are defined in MediaWiki:Common.css and MediaWiki:Timeless.css.

Is this ok to add to the live documentation User:JaimeS?  ~Njt (talk) 19:00, October 13, 2020 (UTC)