editing

[lyssie95 she/her]

What exactly is our policy on editing? I am terrible at summarizing, so I don't feel I'm the optimal choice to write up new articles. I figured I could still contribute by doing things like editing for readability/grammar.

What are the guidelines? Are there courtesies I should be aware of? I just recently started being a contributing member of 17th shard and, while there doesn't seem to be much in the way of strict rules, I don't want to step on any toes

[LevenThumps]

I just joined the wiki community, so I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure you can go ahead with grammar and spelling mistakes. That seems to be a universal thing that needs corrected.

[Joe ST he/him]

Hey there Lys, I would say that anything goes, and we'll tell you if there's anything you can improve on spelling and grammar would be a great help.

As of yet there are only my toes to step on, and I welcome you to

[Chaos he/him]

Grammar editing is totally cool. If you see a section and you want to rewrite something to sound a little better, go for it!

[Windrunner he/him]

Ok, I have an editing question myself. When adding references, how do you name them, so when people scroll to the bottom of the page, it doesn't just show up as a link?

[Joe ST he/him]

Ok, I have an editing question myself. When adding references, how do you name them, so when people scroll to the bottom of the page, it doesn't just show up as a link?

The bit of text between <ref></ref> tags is interpreted as standard wiki code, so adding it as a standard link ( [http://google.com this is the text] ) should work. Also, if you check the edit I made to your edit, you'll see I replaced it with {{wotdb|x|y}}, which will build the link to the Theoryland Interview Database interview x question y. see the Templates help page for more

[Telcontar]

I think there has not to be yet another new thread related to editing questions?

anyway, the day before yesterday I tried my first edit (Investiture btw) and I realized it's not just writing about something but also doing some crazy EDITING stuff. Like references and such oddities.

I don't know anything about it though, and the help pages were but a small help. I believe you're working on making those clearer already, so here a suggestion:

I finally found the meaning of the '?' referring to the wotdb or the 'b' referring to a book. Could you put somewhere how to do a correct reference to one specific question of the wotdb? or to similar matters? Like how you put in the link to that specific chapter in the wiki?

I totally screwed up with that ;-)

Also, I realized that some topics necessarily include some speculation to be at least to some small help to users. Still, I tried to leave out speculation. Any ideas to deal with that problem?

[Joe ST he/him]

Thanks so very much for the contributions to the Investure article, we were all (me, Eric and Windy) very impressed by your awesomeness.

I'll try and work your suggestions into the help articles, but to references using {{ref|?|<interview>|<number>|<question>}} the <interview> should be the ID of the interview page (for example the AoL Reddit Q&A is 708, the <number> should be one of the numbers in the black squares on that page, and the <question> is the text which is displayed, which should be the question being answered (for question numbers with multiple questions or long questions, it can be a paraphrased question which targets the thing being cited). So for example, Zach's question "If you burn Nicrosil, will it deplete Feruchemial Storages?" would be {{ref|?|708|12|Does burning Nicrosil drain metalminds of Feruchemical charge?}}.

If you want to mark a section or page as speculative, you can use the {{theory}} notice. If you notice a fact that could do with a reference, add {{cite}}. If there's a fact that needs rewording in some way that you cant fathom out, add {{clarify|with a little text that tells the next editor what might be wrong}}. If you think something's wrong, but aren't sure if you should remove it, add {{disputed|with a hint as to what might be wrong}}.

The {{ref|b|<book>|<x>|<y>}} is as follows: the <book> can be any of the books recognised by {{b}}, the x & y parameters are optional, and if used, get passed to {{c|<x>|<y>}}

One thing to remember is if you don't feel comfortable adding links or citations, or if you'd rather concentrate on the content rather than the 'meta' stuff like that, don't worry. Me and the other admins are often online, and will look through your edits for any 'extra' stuff that springs to mind. I certainly am more of a formatting person than a content guy.

[Telcontar]

Thank you Joe, this will help me pretty much. I'll edit the references when I'll have some time, now I'll have to continue with the Great ReRead, I'm a bit late on my planning...

Glad you liked my contribution! I'll do more eventually, hope I'll have the time. The nice thing is: doing the article about Investiture made me think about the actual definition of it... Again. And I realized I will have to go back to that Investiture-definition-thread to tell Odiums_Shard that he was probably right.

Just random thoughts to say that I enjoy my time here.

[Meg]

While flipping through the Coppermind Wiki I stumbled over Vivenna's page and thought I could help with the "citation needed" and add the referring pages or/and chapters from the (printed) book(s). Is this asked for?

edit:

--> such a citation would be like:

... MeLaan ... (I know, she's a Kandra :-)) ^1

^1 Hero of Ages, chapter 24 .., First Mass Market Edition 2009

--> I thought about MeLaan, because I feel she should be added to the important Kandra too. After all she stayed with TenSoon and more or less knowingly she helped him escape.

--> Perhaps I missed it (I'm good in that), but I didn't find an overview about the different book editions (especially tWoK). I guess this could be helpful.

Edited January 3, 2013 by Meg

[Lady_Yasha she/her]

It's always asked for Meg :)/> When you do edit keep it formal however, and don't insert emoticons.

I take it you've read the basic reference tag that you can use? There are others, which for the general syntax it would be:

{{ref|b|mb2|c|20}}

So in the example above, chapter © 20 of Mistborn: Well of Ascension (mb2; shorthand) will be referenced.

A complete list of parameters can be found here, and a list of short-hand forms for each book here.

Normally you will have to Google your information and find independent resources. There might even be something on our own forums that you can use, but take care in separating established fact to theory and clarify when something is only theoretical.

Brandon's own annotations might provide the answer you're looking for. If not you might find them on Theoryland's Interview Database.

For further reading on wiki syntax for referencing you can use this link: http://coppermind.net/wiki/Help:Cite

As for book editions Joe will have to clarify that for you as I don't know what he wants doing about them.

Hope this helps, and happy editing =D

Edited January 4, 2013 by Lyrebon