Help:Discussion

When editing discussion pages (especially open review sections), specific formatting and standards should be used.

Signing
Please sign your posts by adding " ~ " to the end of your messages, or by clicking the signature button above the edit text box (second from the right).

Incorrect: This is some discussion text.

Correct: This is some discussion text. -- ~

Indentation
Please indent by using the ( : ) character before your comments. Do not use bulleted lists ( * ), as you may disrupt another users comments.

Incorrect:  This is some discussion text. -- Person A


 * I'm responding to Person A. -- Person B


 * I'm responding to Person B. -- Person C

Correct:  This is some discussion text. -- Person A


 * I'm responding to Person A. -- Person B


 * I'm responding to Person B. -- Person C

Spacing
Always add a blank line between your comment, and that of the person above you.

Incorrect:  This is some discussion text. -- Person A
 * I'm responding to Person A. -- Person B


 * I'm responding to Person B. -- Person C

Correct:  This is some discussion text. -- Person A


 * I'm responding to Person A. -- Person B


 * I'm responding to Person B. -- Person C

Flow
Place your comment below the person you're responding to.

Incorrect:  This is some discussion text. -- Person A

This is some more discussion text. -- Person B

This is also discussion text. -- Person C


 * I'm responding to Person A -- Person D

Correct:  This is some discussion text. -- Person A


 * I'm responding to Person A -- Person D

This is some more discussion text. -- Person B

This is also discussion text. -- Person C

Section headers
For clarity a section heading should be used when starting a new discussion topic.

Incorrect: 

Topic 1
This is some discussion text. -- Person A


 * I'm responding to Person A -- Person B

I'm talking about something completely different. -- Person C

Correct: 

Topic 1
This is some discussion text. -- Person A


 * I'm responding to Person A -- Person B

Topic 2
I'm talking about something completely different. -- Person C

By following these simple conventions, you drastically increase the readability of the discussion.

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