Difference between revisions of "Yugipedia:Manual of style"

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m (Date formats: "given" was originally a typo of "giving".)
(When to use italics. Added non-Yu-Gi-Oh! specific examples of when to use italics and quotation marks, since they're not that commonly know.)
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* Monster (when used by itself or after types of Effect Monsters, such as Gemini or Tuner)
 
* Monster (when used by itself or after types of Effect Monsters, such as Gemini or Tuner)
 
* [[Remove from play]]
 
* [[Remove from play]]
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==Italics==
 +
In prose terms which should be written in italics, include:
 +
* Books
 +
* Games
 +
* Films
 +
* Musical albums
 +
* Rōmaji text
 +
* Series
 +
* Sets from a game
 +
 +
Shorter works such as episodes, chapters and musical compositions use italics instead. Traditional games like [[chess]] and scriptures like the [[Book of the Dead]] are not written in italics or quotation marks.
  
 
==Quotation marks==
 
==Quotation marks==
In prose, card names are always written in quotation marks. e.g. "[[Dark Magician]]". When a portion of a card name that may refer to a group of cards is used, it is also written in quotation marks. e.g. "[[Elemental Hero]]".
+
In prose, terms which should be written in quotation marks include:
 +
* Card names
 +
** Portions of a card name that refer to a group of cards e.g. "[[Elemental Hero]]".
 +
* Chapters of longer works
 +
* Episodes of TV series
 +
* Instrumental compositions
 +
* Songs
  
 
If the last word in a sentence is within quotation marks, the period is only placed inside the quotation marks if it is part of the material being quoted. If the period is not part of the quoted material it is left outside. The same applies for other commas, question marks and exclamation marks. This practice is known as '''logical punctuation'''. In the United States and Canada, it is more common to leave periods and commas inside the quotation marks irrespective of whether it is part of the material being quoted. This practice is known as '''traditional punctuation'''.
 
If the last word in a sentence is within quotation marks, the period is only placed inside the quotation marks if it is part of the material being quoted. If the period is not part of the quoted material it is left outside. The same applies for other commas, question marks and exclamation marks. This practice is known as '''logical punctuation'''. In the United States and Canada, it is more common to leave periods and commas inside the quotation marks irrespective of whether it is part of the material being quoted. This practice is known as '''traditional punctuation'''.

Revision as of 22:31, 29 May 2011

The following styles are used in the content part of this site to ensure consistency within articles and formatting.

In most cases writing styles follow the ones used by Konami on cards in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game or other official Yu-Gi-Oh! media.

If something being quoted does not follow the styles outlined here, use the styles being quoted.

Proper English is always used unless it contradicts anything in this guide. Different forms of English have different styles. This guide highlights which ones are favored on this site.

The following apply to the content part of the site. When editing User, Talk or Forum pages, users may use whatever styles they prefer.

Spelling

American English spellings are used.

Common differences between American and British English spellings include:

British English American English British English examples American English examples Notes
Word endings
-ise
-isation
-yse
-ize
-ization
-yze
organise, polymerisaton, paralyse organize, polymerization, paralyze
-our -or armour, colour armor, color
-re -er centre, sabre center, saber
-gue g catalogue, dialogue catalog, dialog
-ce -se defence, offence defense, offense
Double consonants
-ll- -l- duellist, traveller duelist, traveler This applies to verbs ending in a vowel followed by "l". The "l" is doubled in British English, but not American English.
Silent letters
e judgement judgment In some cases, "judgement" is also used. e.g. "The Judgement Hand", but in most cases "judgment" is used.

Capitalization

Words considered to be proper nouns, proper adjectives etc. have their first letters capitalized, while common nouns, common adjectives etc. don't unless used at the start of the sentence.

Some card game terminology is capitalized different than normal English. The capitalizations used in gameplay terminology should be used on this site.

Gameplay terms which use all capital letters, include:

Gameplay terms which begin in capital letters include:

Gameplay terms which do not start with a capital letter, but are sometimes mistaken for starting with them include:

Italics

In prose terms which should be written in italics, include:

  • Books
  • Games
  • Films
  • Musical albums
  • Rōmaji text
  • Series
  • Sets from a game

Shorter works such as episodes, chapters and musical compositions use italics instead. Traditional games like chess and scriptures like the Book of the Dead are not written in italics or quotation marks.

Quotation marks

In prose, terms which should be written in quotation marks include:

  • Card names
    • Portions of a card name that refer to a group of cards e.g. "Elemental Hero".
  • Chapters of longer works
  • Episodes of TV series
  • Instrumental compositions
  • Songs

If the last word in a sentence is within quotation marks, the period is only placed inside the quotation marks if it is part of the material being quoted. If the period is not part of the quoted material it is left outside. The same applies for other commas, question marks and exclamation marks. This practice is known as logical punctuation. In the United States and Canada, it is more common to leave periods and commas inside the quotation marks irrespective of whether it is part of the material being quoted. This practice is known as traditional punctuation.

Yu-Gi-Oh! cards use logical punctuation, so the same is usually used on this site.

Examples:

  • Correct: This card's name is treated as "Harpie Lady".
  • Incorrect: This card's name is treated as "Harpie Lady."
(The period is not part of the source)
  • Correct: Chazz said "Cards are merely weapons."
(The period is part of the source)
  • Correct: Chazz said that cards are "weapons".
  • Incorrect: Chazz said that cards are "weapons."
(The period's presence in the source is uncertain and its usage within the quotation marks is unnecessary)

It is best to avoid adding a possessive apostrophe s ('s) that is not part of the source to a name in quotation marks.

Examples

  • Correct: The effect of "Rescue Cat".
  • Incorrect: "Rescue Cat"'s effect.
  • Incorrect: "Rescue Cat's" effect.

Date formats

Official sources usually use American date formats. e.g. January 5, 2000 or 1/5/2000. Sometimes 2000-1-5 is used.

January 5, 2000 is favored over 1/5/2000, as some readers may read the latter as 1 May 2000.

The format January 5, 2000 should be used in articles. Any dates inserted by the system will appear in whatever format the user has specified in Special:Preferences.

Shortened month names like "Jan" should be avoided unless used in tables where there is little room.

Examples

  • Correct: January 5, 2000
  • Incorrect: January 5 2000
  • Incorrect: January 5th, 2000
  • Incorrect: 5 January 2000
  • Incorrect: 5th January 2000
  • Incorrect: 5th of January 2000
  • Incorrect: 5/1/2000
  • Incorrect: 1/5/2000
  • Incorrect: 2000-1-5

When giving years, B.C. and A.D. (Before Christ and Anno Domini) are favored over B.C.E. and C.E. (Before Common Era and Common Era). Although the A.D. is omitted when giving years in its range.

Examples

  • Correct: 2000
  • Incorrect: 2000 A.D.
  • Incorrect: 2000 AD
  • Incorrect: 2000 C.E.
  • Incorrect: 2000 CE
  • Correct: 2000 B.C.
  • Incorrect: 2000 BC
  • Incorrect: 2000 B.C.E.
  • Incorrect: 2000 BCE

See also