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Chalo Chatu:Writing better articles: Difference between revisions
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Chalo Chatu:Writing better articles (view source)
Revision as of 13:59, 8 January 2018
, 8 January 2018→Opening paragraph
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Normally, the opening paragraph summarizes the most important points of the article. It should clearly explain the subject so that the reader is prepared for the greater level of detail that follows. If further introductory material is appropriate before the first section, it can be covered in subsequent paragraphs in the lead. Introductions to biographical articles commonly double as summaries, listing the best-known achievements of the subject. Because some readers will read only the opening of an article, the most vital information should be included. | Normally, the opening paragraph summarizes the most important points of the article. It should clearly explain the subject so that the reader is prepared for the greater level of detail that follows. If further introductory material is appropriate before the first section, it can be covered in subsequent paragraphs in the lead. Introductions to biographical articles commonly double as summaries, listing the best-known achievements of the subject. Because some readers will read only the opening of an article, the most vital information should be included. | ||
===First sentence content=== | |||
The article should begin with a short declarative sentence, answering two questions for the nonspecialist reader: "What (or who) is the subject?" and "Why is this subject [[wp:note|notable]]?"<ref>For example: | |||
<blockquote> '''Levy Patrick Mwanawasa''' (3 September 1948 – 19 August 2008) was the third Republican President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. | |||
He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption.</blockquote> | |||
This example not only tells the reader that the subject was a Politician, it also indicates his field of expertise and work he did outside of it. The years of his birth and death provide time context. The reader who goes no further in this article already knows when he lived, what work he did, and why she is notable.</ref> | |||
* If possible, the page title should be the subject of the first sentence:<ref>For example: | |||
<blockquote>This '''Manual of Style''' is a [[style guide]] containing ...</blockquote> | |||
not | |||
<blockquote>This [[style guide]], known as the '''Manual of Style''', contains ...</blockquote></ref> However, if the article title is merely descriptive—such as [[Electrical characteristics of a dynamic loudspeaker]]—the title does not need to appear verbatim in the main text. Similarly, where an article title is of the type "List of ...", a clearer and more informative introduction to the list is better than ''verbatim'' repetition of the title. | |||
* When the page title is used as the subject of the first sentence, it may appear in a slightly different form, and it may include variations.<ref>For example, in the article "[[United Kingdom]]": | |||
<blockquote>The '''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland''', commonly known as the '''United Kingdom''', the '''UK''', or '''Britain''', is a [[Sovereignty|sovereign]] [[island country]] located off the northwestern coast of [[continental Europe]].</blockquote></ref> Similarly, if the title has a parenthetical disambiguator, the disambiguator should be omitted in the text.<ref>Thus, the article [[Egg (food)]] should start like this: | |||
<blockquote>An '''egg''' is an ovum produced by ...</blockquote> | |||
Not like this: | |||
<blockquote>An '''egg (food)''' is an ovum produced by ...</blockquote></ref> | |||
* If its subject is amenable to definition, then the first sentence should give a concise definition: where possible, one that puts the article in context for the nonspecialist. Similarly, if the subject is a [[Technical terminology|term of art]], provide the context as early as possible.<ref>For example, instead of: | |||
<blockquote>A '''trusted third party''' is an entity that facilitates interactions between two parties who both trust the third party.</blockquote> | |||
write: | |||
<blockquote>In [[cryptography]], a '''trusted third party''' is an entity that facilitates interactions between two parties who both trust the third party.</blockquote></ref> | |||
* If the article is about a fictional character or place, make sure to say so.<ref>For example: | |||
<blockquote>'''Homer Simpson''' is a fictional character in ''The Simpsons''.</blockquote></ref> | |||
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== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
