Weezerpedia:Please clarify: Difference between revisions
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{{Nutshell|Sometimes Weezerpedia editors will flag certain aspects of articles when they require more context, explanation, or clarification.}} | {{Nutshell|Sometimes Weezerpedia editors will flag certain aspects of articles when they require more context, explanation, or clarification.}} | ||
The aim of this page, lifted directly from the analogous [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Please clarify|Wikipedia:Please clarify]], is to describe ways to clarify text or request such clarification. There are inline cleanup tags to flag specific wording that is likely to be confusing to the average reader, missing needed specificity, incomplete, or otherwise in need of adjustment. | |||
The aim of this page, lifted directly from the analogous [ | |||
==When you need to flag unclear text== | ==When you need to flag unclear text== | ||
It is always best to [[Weezerpedia:Make a move|take care of something]] when you notice it, but that is not always possible. You can choose one of these [[Weezerpedia:Article message boxes#In-line#in-line article boxes]] to request specific clarifications that you cannot provide yourself: | |||
It is always best to [[Weezerpedia:Make a move|take care of something]] when you notice it, but that is not always possible. You can choose one of these [[ | |||
* {{tl|Clarify}} for any aspect of an article that requires more context | * {{tl|Clarify}} for any aspect of an article that requires more context | ||
* {{tl|Date missing}} for any incomplete or missing dates. | * {{tl|Date missing}} for any incomplete or missing dates. | ||
* {{tl| | * {{tl|Citation needed}} for a claim lacking proper sources. | ||
* {{tl|Examples}} to mark individual phrases or sentences which require examples for clarification | * {{tl|Examples}} to mark individual phrases or sentences which require examples for clarification | ||
* {{tl|Non sequitur}} to mark individual mentions of someone or something in an out-of-context way, the relevance of which is unclear | * {{tl|Non sequitur}} to mark individual mentions of someone or something in an out-of-context way, the relevance of which is unclear | ||
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When using these templates, ''be specific'': mark individual phrases, sentences, and sections in preference to entire articles. Also be sure to ''leave specific suggestions'' for improvement on the ''article's talk-page''. | When using these templates, ''be specific'': mark individual phrases, sentences, and sections in preference to entire articles. Also be sure to ''leave specific suggestions'' for improvement on the ''article's talk-page''. | ||
==How to mark | ==How to mark a sentence for clarification== | ||
* To ask for clarification for a particular phrase or sentence, simply type {{tl|clarify}} (after the phrase or sentence) to display a superscripted tag (the tag will link here): | |||
* To ask for clarification for a particular phrase or sentence, simply type {{tl|clarify | ::This is a confusing sentence, which needs readers to apply much energy and time in order to understand the implicit meanings behind it, and needs to be clarified/rewritten.{{clarify}} | ||
::This is a confusing sentence, which needs readers to apply much energy and time in order to understand the implicit meanings behind it, and needs to be clarified/rewritten.{{ | |||
==How to improve articles that need clarification== | ==How to improve articles that need clarification== | ||
* '''Explain jargon''': Define technical terms: | * '''Explain jargon''': Define technical terms: | ||
** Add a brief definition when first using new terms, like: ''blog (a web log of journal entries)'' | ** Add a brief definition when first using new terms, like: ''blog (a web log of journal entries)'' | ||
** Add a link to an unfamiliar topic | ** Add a link to an unfamiliar topic | ||
** Define extra terms early (such as: ''Related terms include:'') | ** Define extra terms early (such as: ''Related terms include:'') | ||
** Explain regional variations and the slang of certain professions | ** Explain regional variations and the slang of certain professions | ||
* '''Could it be shorter?''': Some guidelines which often help: | * '''Could it be shorter?''': Some guidelines which often help: | ||
** Delete extraneous rambling words (especially [[ | ** Delete extraneous rambling words (especially [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Weasel word|weasel words]] and/or [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:PEACOCK|peacock terms]]) | ||
** Replace clauses with adverbs (to limit | ** Replace clauses with adverbs (to limit prepositions to about four per sentence) | ||
** Replace longer words with shorter words | ** Replace longer words with shorter words | ||
** Split long sentences into shorter sentences (again, four prepositions per sentence) | ** Split long sentences into shorter sentences (again, four prepositions per sentence) | ||
** Use | ** Use idioms, or familiar phrases: rather than ''"electron flow field"'' use ''"electric current";'' replace ''"computer program text"'' with "''source code''"; idioms seem simpler: as in "viewpoint" vs. "idiosyncratic approach to the perceived issue" | ||
: Compare two sentences: "Notwithstanding the controversy, she, with practiced skill, proceeded to navigate MegaX Corporation through difficult financial straits" ''versus'' "Despite the controversy, she navigated MegaX through difficult financial straits" (two prepositions, and note the removal of non-neutral assessment). | : Compare two sentences: "Notwithstanding the controversy, she, with practiced skill, proceeded to navigate MegaX Corporation through difficult financial straits" ''versus'' "Despite the controversy, she navigated MegaX through difficult financial straits" (two prepositions, and note the removal of non-neutral assessment). | ||
* '''Add a diagram or photo''': Complex text might be illustrated by a diagram. [ | * '''Add a diagram or photo''': Complex text might be illustrated by a diagram. [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikimedia Commons] also has over 12 million images, which can be searched (such as for "galaxy"). Even if the image or diagram is not exact, mention extra details in the caption-area. | ||
* '''Add a wikitable or list''': Multi-column [[ | * '''Add a wikitable or list''': Multi-column [[Help:Tables]] could clarify groups of data; however, simple lists (with colon-asterisk ":*" bullets) might be enough. See: ''spark plug'', with a list of risks/benefits. | ||
* '''Make it clear what's happening and to what:''' A common example is a vague pronoun reference: "Emily was friends with Francine until she changed her job" (vague: Who changed jobs? Pronoun "she" equally applies to both). Also referring back to a list but not specifying the entry. | * '''Make it clear what's happening and to what:''' A common example is a vague pronoun reference: "Emily was friends with Francine until she changed her job" (vague: Who changed jobs? Pronoun "she" equally applies to both). Also referring back to a list but not specifying the entry. | ||
* '''Use specific wording rather than vague whenever possible:''' For example, instead of saying, "in the old days", specify the time period you are referring to (say, the 19th century, or the 1960s). | * '''Use specific wording rather than vague whenever possible:''' For example, instead of saying, "in the old days", specify the time period you are referring to (say, the 19th century, or the 1960s). | ||
** Similarly, '''do not reference "now"''': the word "Recently" or "Soon" or their synonyms will become meaningless quickly. Use "As of" or a specific date. | ** Similarly, '''do not reference "now"''': the word "Recently" or "Soon" or their synonyms will become meaningless quickly. Use "As of" or a specific date. | ||
* '''Check your intent''': Weezerpedia is a place to inform and to educate. It is not a technical journal. Information from technical journals might need to be reduced to short sentences (four prepositions), because some journals encourage writing multi-level sentences spanning fifteen lines, with sub-sub-clauses. | |||
* '''Check your spelling''': Usually misspelled words are obvious in their intent (e.g., "Qualty" is obviously "Quality"), however "Tedting" could be "Testing" or "Texting" (or "editing"). | |||
* '''Check your intent''': | |||
* '''Check your spelling''': Usually misspelled words are obvious in their intent (e.g., "Qualty" is obviously "Quality"), however "Tedting" could be "Testing" or "Texting" (or "editing") | |||
* '''Make use of headings''': A huge block of text can be daunting, but dividing it into sections, and subsections, can organize a logical structure onto the text, separating statements into each grouped section. | * '''Make use of headings''': A huge block of text can be daunting, but dividing it into sections, and subsections, can organize a logical structure onto the text, separating statements into each grouped section. | ||
==Specific clarification== | ==Specific clarification== | ||
There are some common situations where use of a more specific clarification template might make the desired clarification clearer. A common case is an article citing a scientific measurement without indicating how the measurement was taken. For example, the following statement about solar intensity at the earth's surface without specifying the sun's elevation could be annotated with the following tag: | There are some common situations where use of a more specific clarification template might make the desired clarification clearer. A common case is an article citing a scientific measurement without indicating how the measurement was taken. For example, the following statement about solar intensity at the earth's surface without specifying the sun's elevation could be annotated with the following tag: | ||
* The following tag links to a Wikipedia project to clear bias based on the source of the information: | * The following tag links to a Wikipedia project to clear bias based on the source of the information: | ||
:: "The sun's intensity is 90 watts per square meter."{{ | :: "The sun's intensity is 90 watts per square meter."{{clarify}} | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Weezerpedia:Make a move]] | |||
*[[Weezerpedia:Style Guide]] | |||
* [[ | |||
* [[ | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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{{Inline tags}} | {{Inline tags}} | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Weezerpedia]] | ||