User:Lembley/guide

This Manual of Style (MOS) or style guide is a set of standards for all FamilySearch wiki articles. It describes the visual and technical aspects of the wiki, including prose style, article structure, grammar, punctuation, and spelling that are unique to this wiki.

General Principles
Relevance - Articles and links must be relevant to the purposes of the FamilySearch research wiki. Content and images must be appropriate to the FamilySearch Research Wiki. Irrelevant or inappropriate content or links will be removed.

Usability - Information provided in the FamilySearch research wiki should be useful, usable information. Articles should direct readers to the most accessible resources, and explain instances where a less-accessible resource is more valuable. Place emphasis on circulating over non-cirulating materials, and digitial over print versions of nearly identical resources. Explain terms and acronyms; avoid using local jargon.

Collaboration - The FamilySearch wiki is a collaborative effort. Content contributed to the wiki is relinquished to the community under the Creative Commons license. Individuals and organizations work together respectfully to create content that presents the best available information from a neutral point of view. Bylines are not appropriate. Become familiar with and abide by basic wiki etiquette.

Accuracy - To give readers confidence in the accuracy of information in an article, contributors should cite the source of their information.

Grammar and Punctuation
For assistance with general grammar, punctuation, capitalization or other writing mechanics questions, refer to a widely accepted authority, for example:


 * Elements of Style (William Strunk)
 * Merriam-Webster Dictionary
 * A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Kate Turabian)
 * Chicago Manual of Style

For grammar, punctuation, capitalization and other writing details unique to genealogy or the FamilySearch wiki, see Writer's Guide for the FamilySearch Wiki.

Article Naming Conventions
(basic information here about why it is important to name things consistently, plus direction to the full article on naming)

Character Formatting
Font - Regardless of the font you paste into the wiki edit screen, your work will be saved in the system's default font.

Bold - avoid using bold, unless a word must be emphasized.

Italics - use italics to denote the title of a book. Do not use italics for quoted text.

Underline - indicates a hyperlink. Do not use underline to emphasize text or denote the title of a book.

Capitalization
Buttons or Tabs - When referring to a button or tab name, match the capitalization from the button or tab. Example: "Discussion page"

Places - Capitalize the word “city,” “county,” “state,” or “province” only when the word appears as part of a place name.

Wiki Articles - When referring to another wiki article, match the capitalization from the article title.

Spelling Variations
Variations of English are acceptable. For example, either colour (British) or color (United States) is acceptable. Each article should use only one variation of English. When editing, use the variation of English already established in the article.

Linking
Meaningful, relevant content that is not suitable for inclusion in an article should be linked. Links may be one of three types:


 * internal links (to other FamilySearch wiki articles)
 * links to other FamilySearch resources (Historical Records, Forums, etc.)
 * external links (to county, state or county web sites, for-pay genealogy sites, etc.)

Where possible, links should take readers directly to the content described. Internal links should point to a specific section within an article if only that portion of the article is relevant.

Links to resources or explanations should be in context or "in-line" with text. Links to similar articles or articles for further reading should follow "See also:" Do not display the full URL of a destination page unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Do not use "Click here" or "Link".

Use a link template when linking to the following often-referenced resources:


 * OCLC/WorldCat: WorldCat
 * FHLC: FHL
 * RecordSearch: RecordSearch
 * Wikipedia: Wikipedia
 * Wayback Machine: Wayback

FamilySearch and genealogy-specific terms
The following terms are preferred.


 * family group record
 * family history center (This term is not trademarked and is not capitalized.)
 * Family History Library
 * FamilySearch
 * FamlySearch Research Wiki
 * FamilySearch website
 * FamilySearch.org or familysearch.org (both are correct.)
 * family tree
 * Personal Ancestral File (PAF)
 * GEDCOM
 * historical collections (in FamilySearch.org)
 * Internet
 * International Genealogical Index (IGI)
 * pedigree chart
 * record types (for example, census records, court records, military records)
 * The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("The" is part of the official title and is capitalized.)
 * website (one word, all lower case)
 * wiki (for example, the wiki, wiki articles, wiki pages, wiki community)

FamilySearch.org or the FamilySearch website


 * (Do not refer to the website as FamilySearch. Legally, FamilySearch is the name of the organization responsible for FamilySearch.org and other family history projects.)


 * Correct: You can search historical record collections at FamilySearch.org.


 * Incorrect: You can search historical record collections at FamilySearch.

FamilySearch Research Wiki (just "wiki" or Research Wiki is also acceptable)


 * Correct: Creating a new article in the FamilySearch Research Wiki


 * Incorrect: Creating a new article in the FamilySearch wiki

Latin abbreviations. Do not use ca., etc., e.g., or viz. Use simple English instead.


 * ca. (Use "about")


 * e.g. (Use "for example.")


 * etc. (Use "and so on" or "and so forth.")


 * i.e. (This term actually means "that is," and is often used incorrectly to mean "for example." Depending on meaning, use "that is," "such as," or "for example.")


 * viz. (Use "namely.")

Box layout: columns vs. portals
Authors desiring to display a wiki page's content in boxes should use tables within columns instead of using sub-pages within portals. To see the code that allows one to layout columns and tables, go to the Maryland page, click Edit, and switch to Wikitext view. To see an example of portal code, go to the India portal on Wikipedia and click Edit this page. For more about this topic, see The Un-Portal Page.

Draft Pages or Sandboxes
Major editing work on a page that will not be finished for an extended time may confuse visitors to the page. To avoid this, it is recommend that lengthy or long term editing preparations are worked on in a sandbox you create. Be sure to add a link in the "Discussion" page of where the planned changes will be posted, to the sandbox where the planned changes are being worked on. This will allow comments on the new content until it is moved from the sandbox page to the page that needs the changes.

Measurements
Metric or U.S. If measurements are needed, they can be written in metric or U.S. systems. The same system should be used throughout the article. It is recommended that the contributor provide the measurement in both systems. Metric may be listed first with the U.S. equivalent in parentheses, or the U.S. measurement may be listed first with the metric equivalent in parentheses. The same order should be used throughout the article.


 * Correct: Many narrow-gauge railroads in the Maine forests were 2 ft (610 mm) wide.


 * Correct: Many narrow-gauge railroads in the Maine forests were 610 mm (2 ft) wide.

Including a unit. Always include the unit of measurement with the number (for example, yard, meter, quart, and so on). Standard abbreviations may be used if they do not have more than one meaning.


 * Correct: Staten Island in New York City covers 59 square miles (153 square kilometers).


 * Correct: Staten Island in New York City covers 59 sq mi (153 km2).


 * Incorrect: Staten Island in New York City covers 59m.

Currencies
Listing costs of services. When referring users to a site or institution that charges for its services, it is appropriate to let users know there will be a charge. However, because prices change often, it is best to avoid listing the exact cost of the services.


 * Correct: There is a fee to get a copy of a deceased ancestor’s Social Security application.


 * Incorrect: There is a US$27-$29 fee to get a copy of a deceased ancestor’s Social Security application.

Identifying the currency listed. If it is important to indicate an amount of money, indicate both the amount and which currency is listed (Canadian dollars, Japanese yen, Mexican pesos, British pounds, and so on). Frequently, an abbreviation for the country is listed in front of the amount (for example, US$25). The original price and the equivalent in today’s money may be listed.


 * Correct: In 1800, a private in the British infantry was paid 1 shilling a day.


 * Correct: For the Louisiana Territory, the United States paid France US$15,000,000.


 * Incorrect: For the Louisiana Territory, the United States paid France almost $190 million in today’s money.