William Allen Simpson (talk | contribs) copy MoS text from other pages, more positive POV, divide examples more clearly, fix spelling and grammar |
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== Examples of proper use == |
== Examples of proper use == |
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== Examples of |
== Examples of improper use == |
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===Trivial information, dictionary definitions, and slang=== |
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When notes feature a trivial detail or use of a term, or links to overly specific and [[Wiktionary:tenditious|tenditious]] material, they are unwarranted. |
When notes feature a trivial detail or use of a term, or links to overly specific and [[Wiktionary:tenditious|tenditious]] material, they are unwarranted. |
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: black; border:1px solid black; padding: 1em;"> |
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A previous version of the ''[[investment]]'' article showed: |
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</blockquote> |
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In this case, there is no direct disambiguation, and the note listed is bound to be uninteresting to most readers. The proper disambiguation simply links to a separate [[Invest (disambiguation)]] page. |
In this case, there is no direct disambiguation, and the note listed is bound to be uninteresting to most readers. The proper disambiguation simply links to a separate [[Invest (disambiguation)]] page. |
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===Legitimate information about the topic=== |
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A previous version of the ''[[Aisha]]'' article showed: |
A previous version of the ''[[Aisha]]'' article showed: |
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: black; border:1px solid black; padding: 1em;"> |
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:''Ayesha is sometimes used as a woman's name. Once popular only among Muslims, it was briefly popular among English-speakers after it appeared in the book ''[[She_%28novel%29|She]]'' by [[Rider Haggard]].'' |
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'''Aisha''' or '''Ayesha''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic ]]عائشه ''`ā'isha'' = "she who lives") was a wife of the [[Islam]]ic [[prophet]] [[Muhammad]]... |
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</blockquote> |
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This is a typical and highly improper misuse of disambiguating hatnotes. |
This is a typical and highly improper misuse of disambiguating hatnotes. |
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Instead, the information belongs in the body of the article, or in the articles about the book, or in a separate article about names, or all three places. |
Instead, the information belongs in the body of the article, or in the articles about the book, or in a separate article about names, or all three places. |
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===Linking to articles that are highly related to the topic=== |
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: black; border:1px solid black; padding: 1em;"> |
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:''This article is about the scientific study of extraterrestrial life; for treatment in popular culture, see [[Extraterrestrial life in popular culture]]. |
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'''Extraterrestrial life''' is [[life]] that may exist and originate outside the planet [[Earth]]. Its existence is currently hypothetical: there is as yet no evidence of extraterrestrial life that has been widely accepted by scientists... |
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</blockquote> |
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Instead of using a hatnote, it is better to [[Wikipedia:Summary style|summarize]] [[Extraterrestrial life in popular culture]] under a subsection of [[Extraterrestrial life]] in conjunction with the {{tl|main}} template. Alternatively it could be linked to in the See also section. |
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===Disambiguating terms that are not ambiguous=== |
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: black; border:1px solid black; padding: 1em;"> |
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<div style="border-bottom:1px solid black; font-size:170%;">Tree (set theory)</div> |
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. |
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:''For other uses, see [[Tree (disambiguation)]].'' |
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In [[set theory]], a '''tree''' is a [[partially ordered set]] ([[poset]]) in which there is a single unique minimal element (called the '''''root''''') and in which the set of elements less than a given element is [[well ordered]]... |
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</blockquote> |
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===External links=== |
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A previous version of the ''[[Hurricane Katrina]]'' article contained: |
A previous version of the ''[[Hurricane Katrina]]'' article contained: |
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: black; border:1px solid black; padding: 1em;"> |
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</blockquote> |
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The use of external help links in Wikipedia, though noble, cannot reasonably be maintained. In special cases, a link to an "External links" section with several links may be appropriate, but POV favoritism can be obstructive. In this case, the hatnote was removed entirely. |
The use of external help links in Wikipedia, though noble, cannot reasonably be maintained. In special cases, a link to an "External links" section with several links may be appropriate, but POV favoritism can be obstructive. In this case, the hatnote was removed entirely. |
Revision as of 06:59, 13 December 2005
Hatnotes are short notes placed at the top of an article before the primary topic. Hatnotes are solely intended to allow users to choose among several Wikipedia articles, usually when a user searches for an ambiguous term. This style guideline is intended to make this process more efficient by giving article pages a consistent look, and avoiding distracting information (such as extraneous links).
In almost all cases, hatnotes are Wikipedia:Disambiguation links, and should be limited to the simplest possible form, preferably linking to a standard [[Article (disambiguation)]] page.
In some justifiable cases, hatnotes feature a special type of clarification between terms, for articles during rapid editing or where some linkage to a related aspect appears warranted. Aside from very temporary under-construction notes, such notes should be trimmed to their most brief forms, and sorted either as disambiguations or footnotes, with a citation link from an introductory paragraph.
Should some tangential note (aside from proper disambiguation) be warranted — for example, in the case of informal alternate names, or details in reference to the name — the proper method is to use Wikipedia:footnotes.
Format
In most cases, a standard Wikipedia:Disambiguation template should be used. This permits the form and structure to change gracefully and uniformly over time. Currently, each note should be italicized and indented, without a bullet before the item.
The text in the note should not repeat information in the lede paragraph of the article. A horizontal dividing line should not be placed under a note, nor after the final item in a list.
Examples of proper use
Examples of improper use
Trivial information, dictionary definitions, and slang
When notes feature a trivial detail or use of a term, or links to overly specific and tenditious material, they are unwarranted.
- During a siege to invest a town or fortress means to surround it with a contravallation and a circumvallation.
Investment is a term with several closely-related meanings in finance and economics. It refers to the accumulation of some kind of asset in hopes of getting a future return from it...
In this case, there is no direct disambiguation, and the note listed is bound to be uninteresting to most readers. The proper disambiguation simply links to a separate Invest (disambiguation) page.
Legitimate information about the topic
A previous version of the Aisha article showed:
- Ayesha is sometimes used as a woman's name. Once popular only among Muslims, it was briefly popular among English-speakers after it appeared in the book She by Rider Haggard.
Aisha or Ayesha (Arabic عائشه `ā'isha = "she who lives") was a wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad...
This is a typical and highly improper misuse of disambiguating hatnotes. Instead, the information belongs in the body of the article, or in the articles about the book, or in a separate article about names, or all three places.
- This article is about the scientific study of extraterrestrial life; for treatment in popular culture, see Extraterrestrial life in popular culture.
Extraterrestrial life is life that may exist and originate outside the planet Earth. Its existence is currently hypothetical: there is as yet no evidence of extraterrestrial life that has been widely accepted by scientists...
Instead of using a hatnote, it is better to summarize Extraterrestrial life in popular culture under a subsection of Extraterrestrial life in conjunction with the {{main}} template. Alternatively it could be linked to in the See also section.
Disambiguating terms that are not ambiguous
Tree (set theory)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
- For other uses, see Tree (disambiguation).
In set theory, a tree is a partially ordered set (poset) in which there is a single unique minimal element (called the root) and in which the set of elements less than a given element is well ordered...
External links
A previous version of the Hurricane Katrina article contained:
- If you are trying to locate someone missing in Hurricane Katrina, or register yourself as found, you can use the site www.disastersearch.org [1]
Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall near New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 29, 2005, was one of the most destructive and expensive tropical cyclones to hit the United States...
The use of external help links in Wikipedia, though noble, cannot reasonably be maintained. In special cases, a link to an "External links" section with several links may be appropriate, but POV favoritism can be obstructive. In this case, the hatnote was removed entirely.
Templates
Template | Syntax | Expansion | Usage |
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{{Otheruses1}} | n/a | For other uses, see [[{{PAGENAME}} (disambiguation)]]. |
Used when you need disambiguation page of current page X |
{{Otheruses2}} | {{Otheruses2|Y}} | For other uses, see [[{{{1}}} (disambiguation)]] Template:Otheruses2 |
Used when disambiguation page of X sits at "Y (disambiguation)" |
{{Otheruses3}} | {{Otheruses3|Y}} | For other uses, see [[{{{1}}}]] |
Used when disambiguation page of X sits at "Y" |
{{Otheruses4}} | {{Otheruses4|Subject|Y|Z}} | This article is about {{{1}}}; for {{{2}}}, see'' [[{{{3}}}]] |
Used when page X is not Y and disambiguation sits at "Z" |
{{Otheruses6}} | {{Otheruses6|Y}} | For other uses of '''{{{1}}}''', see [[{{{1}}} (disambiguation)]]. Template:Otheruses6 |
Used when Y redirect dumps you at X and you need "Y (disambiguation)" |
{{Otheruses7}} | {{Otheruses7|Y|Z}} | For other uses of '''{{{1}}}''', see [[{{{2}}}]]. Template:Otheruses7 |
Used when Y redirect dumps you at X and you need disambiguation page which sits at "Z" |