Help:Introduction to the Manual of Style/6

The MoS
A vast resource

Article sections
Making articles readable

Images and refs
Enriching the text

Linking
Tying the encyclopedia together

Consistency
Final little things to think about

Summary
Review of what you've learned

View all as single page

<< Back to tutorials menu

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:

1. Consistency – Keep style and formatting consistent within an article, and between articles where possible.
2. Stability – Avoid changing an article from one guideline-defined style to another without a very good reason.
3. Clarity – Aim to make the encyclopedia as readable as possible (e.g. wording, layout, formatting, diagrams).
4. Referencing – Make sure readers are able to trace information in the encyclopedia back to reliable sources.

The full MoS contains further advice on everything from punctuation to units of measurement to trivia. You can look up advice about specific issues using the MoS search box on the right. When in doubt, copy the formatting of an existing article (ideally a featured article) on a similar subject. Although it is important to follow the MoS where possible, verifiable content is more important than formatting!

More detailed information

• Wikipedia:Layout
• Wikipedia:Writing better articles

Test what you've learned in the sandbox Test what you've learned in the sandbox

Conclusion >>

<< Back

Template:Introduction/navigation