View source for Wikipedia:Simplified Manual of Style

{{Short description|Explanatory essay about Wikipedia's house style}}
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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 styles, choose one and 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|Early life and education}}, not {{!xt|Early Life and Education}}. {{Manual of Style/More|AT}}

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|LIFE}}

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}}

When in doubt about whether to capitalize something, the general rule is that Wikipedia only capitalizes that which is capitalized in the vast majority of source material. If sources veer between upper- and lower-case for something, then default to lower-case. {{Manual of Style/More|CAPS}}

==Abbreviations==
To indicate ''approximately'', the non-italicized abbreviation {{xt|c.}} (followed by a space) is preferred over {{!xt|circa}}, {{!xt|ca.}}, or {{!xt|approx.}} {{Manual of Style/More|CIRCA}}

Write {{xt|US}} or {{xt|U.S.}}, but not {{!xt|USA}}. Use {{xt|US}}, not {{!xt|U.S.}}, in an article using {{xt|UK}}, {{xt|PRC}}, etc. {{Manual of Style/More|NOTUSA}}

Use "{{xt|and}}" instead of the "{{!xt|&}}" sign, except in tables, infoboxes, and official names like {{xt|AT&T}}. {{Manual of Style/More|&}}

==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|APOSTROPHE}}<!--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|ITAL}}

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}}

The [[serial comma]] (for example the comma before ''and'' in "ham, chips, and eggs") is optional; be sensitive to possible ambiguity from thoughtless use or thoughtless avoidance. {{Manual of Style/More|SERIAL}}

Avoid [[comma splice]]s. {{Manual of Style/More|#Semicolons}}

Picture captions should not end in a full stop (a period) unless they are complete sentences. {{Manual of Style/More|CAPTIONS}}

===Dashes and hyphens===
Avoid using a hyphen after a standard -ly adverb ({{xt|a newly available home}}). {{Manual of Style/More|HYPHEN}}

A hyphen is not a [[dash]]. Hyphens are used within words or to join words, but not in punctuating the parts of a sentence. Use an en dash (–) with <code>&amp;nbsp;</code> before and a space after; or use an em dash (—) without spaces. See [[Wikipedia:How to make dashes]]. Avoid using two hyphens {{nowrap|(--)}} to make a dash; and avoid using a hyphen for a minus sign. {{Manual of Style/More|DASH}}

Use an en dash, not a hyphen, between numbers: {{xt|pp.&nbsp;14–21}}; {{xt|1953–2008}}. An en dash is also to connect parallel terms: {{xt|red–green colorblind}}; {{xt|a New York–London flight}}. Use spaces around the en dash only if the connected terms are multi-unit dates: {{xt|January 1999{{spaced ndash}}December 2000}}. {{Manual of Style/More|ENDASH}}

== Dates and numbers ==
Write {{xt|number&nbsp;1}} or {{xt|No.&nbsp;1}}, but not {{!xt|#1}}. Comic books are an exception. Do not use the symbol {{!xt|№}}. {{Manual of Style/More|NUMBERSIGN}}

Write {{xt|12,000}} for twelve thousand, not {{!xt|12.000}}. {{Manual of Style/More|NUM#Delimiting (grouping of digits)}}

Both {{xt|10&nbsp;June 1921}} and {{xt|June&nbsp;10, 1921,}} are correct, but should be consistent within an article. A comma is not used if only the month is given, such as {{xt|June 1921}}. {{Manual of Style/More|#Choice of format}}

{{xt|400&nbsp;AD}} (or {{xt|AD&nbsp;400}}) and {{xt|400&nbsp;BC}} are correct; but so are {{xt|400&nbsp;CE}} and {{xt|400&nbsp;BCE}}. As always, use one style consistently in an article. {{Manual of Style/More|NUM#Year numbering systems}}

Use {{xt|one, two, three,&nbsp;..., eight, nine}} in most cases, not {{!xt|1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}} (exceptions include times and dates, equations, sport scores, most measurements, and data in tables). Use digits for {{xt|10}} and higher (though some such numbers also may be written as words, when it helps clarity). {{Manual of Style/More|NUM}}

==Markup==
Instead of an ordinary space, use <code>&amp;nbsp;</code> (a ''non-breaking space'') to prevent a line from ending in the middle of expressions like {{xt|17&nbsp;kg}}, {{xt|565&nbsp;BCE}}, {{xt|2:50&nbsp;pm}}, {{xt|£11&nbsp;billion}}, {{xt|129&nbsp;million}}, {{xt|{{CURRENTMONTHNAME}}&nbsp;{{CURRENTYEAR}}}}, {{xt|5°&nbsp;24′&nbsp;21.12″&nbsp;N}}, or {{xt|Boeing&nbsp;747}}; also after the number in {{xt|123&nbsp;Fake Street}}, and before [[Roman numerals]] in {{xt|World War&nbsp;II}} and {{xt|Pope Benedict&nbsp;XVI}}. Use <code>&amp;nbsp;</code> in the same way inside a wikilink. (An alternative: enclose the whole expression using the template {{tl|nowrap}}.) {{Manual of Style/More|NBSP}}

It does not matter how many spaces come after a period because extra spaces will not show, although blank lines will create one extra line. {{Manual of Style/More|#Spacing}}

Use [[wikilinks]], but only for words and phrases that are most likely to be helpful if clicked. Make sure each link goes to an article on the intended subject, and not to a disambiguation page or incorrect destination. {{Manual of Style/More|#Links}}

==References==
There are multiple [[WP:Cite|citation]] styles. The most common uses {{tag|ref}} (''ref tags'') to create footnotes (sometimes called endnotes or notes), which will appear in the reference or endnote section. This citation should immediately follow the text to which it applies, including any punctuation (with some exceptions). {{Manual of Style/More|REFPUNC}}

==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}}

Avoid phrases like {{!xt|note that}} and {{!xt|remember that}} (which assume "you" for the reader); and avoid such expressions as {{!xt|of course}} and {{!xt|obviously}}. {{Manual of Style/More|NOTED}}

==See also==
MoS-related:
* [[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 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}}
{{Basic information}}
{{Wikipedia community}}

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