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.