Help:Introduction to the Manual of Style/6
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| Manual of Style (MoS) |
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Summary
The MoS is a great resource, but you're not expected to read the whole thing! Here are the key principles to keep in mind:
- Consistency - Keep style and formatting consistent within an article and to other articles where possible
- Stability - Avoid changing an article from one guideline-defined style to another without a very good reason
- Clarity - Aim to make the encyclopedia as readable as possible (e.g. wording, layout, formatting, diagrams)
- Referencing - Make sure readers are able to trace information in the encyclopedia back to the reliable source
The full MoS contains further advice on everything from punctuation to units of measurement to trivia. You can look up advice specific issues using the searchbox on the right. When in doubt, copy the formatting of an existing article (e.g. a Featured article, especially one on a similar subject). Although it's important to follow the MoS where possible, content is more important