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User:Zocky/Article checklist

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This is a checklist for articles, currently under construction. Please feel free to help. Explanations of individual items are placed into noinclude tags, so they won't appear when the page is substed.

This is a checklist for technical and editorial issues in articles. It does not concern itself with the content, but rather with the many other little things that need to be done to every article. It's meant to be substed to the article's talk page. Editors can then go through the list, improve the article as needed, and discuss the issues as needed. In most circumstances, a signature at the end of a line will suffice to confirm that an item was checked on a certain date.

Article checklist

Name and disambiguation
Use {{for}} etc, as appropriate
  • Optional: There are links to parent articles at the top of the article
Introduction
Readers read articles in different ways, depending on circumstances. The introduction section exists to make life easier for readers who don't want to read an entire long article at a particular time.
  • The first sentence identifies and defines the subject of the article
The first sentence should answer the basic question about an article: Who or what exactly is it about? Sometimes, you just want to know who or what is somebody or something. Other times, you may simply want to find out immediately that a search has lead you to a wrong article.
  • The first paragraph establishes notability and provides context for the definition
The first paragraph should enable the reader to place the subject in the semantic web.
  • The introduction section provides an overview of the whole article
On one hand, a good introduction section serves as a shortcut for readers who are interested just in the overview on the subject. On the other, it provides information to the in-depth reader to understand the table of contents and navigate through the rest of the article.
  • The name of the article is included in the first sentence, if possible
  • Other important names are listed in the first paragraph
Important names include official names, native spellings etc.
  • Other relevant names are listed in the intro or an appropriate section
A long list of names can quickly make the first sentence hard to read and understand. Non-essential names should be included elsewhere.
Article body
  • The article is divided into apropriate sections
  • Sections are logically ordered
  • All text is correctly placed in sections
  • Each major section begins with an introductory sentence or paragraph
  • Optional: Detailed sections are split off into detailed articles
    • Split-off articles are properly linked
    • Overviews of split-off articles are provided in appropriate sections
Final sections
  • There is a see also section to provide instantly locatable links to related articles
    • Optional:Long lists of links are broken up into sections or multi-level lists
  • There is a references section to provide sources and references for the article
    • All sources are properly listed
    • Optional:Long lists of references are broken up into sections or multi-level lists
      See Sourcing below for more.
  • Optional:There is an external links section which provides links to appropriate resources on the web
    • Linked websites provide useful, topical information
    • Linked pages are available, and their URLs are current
    • Each link is properly described
  • Optional:There is a further reading section, which provides a list of printed books and/or articles on the subject
    • Listed books provide useful topical information
    • ISBNs are provided
      • Provided ISBNs are valid ISBNs
      • Provided ISBNs are correct ISBNs
Language
  • The article is written in a standard written variant of English
  • Choice of language variant is suitable and consistent
  • Choice of notations (measures, years, etc.) is suitable and consistent
  • Rare words and words with a specialized meaning are explained and/or linked
Text flow
  • Major sections make sense if read immediately after the previous section
  • Major sections make sense if read immediately after the previous major section
  • Major sections make sense if read immediately after the intro
  • Minor sections make sense if read immediately after the previous section
Sourcing
  • All non-obvious facts are either cited from a source, or marked with citation needed
  • All presented POVs are attributed to the originator, and either cited from a source or marked with citation needed
  • All sources are properly listed in the References section
  • The first paragraph is free of footnotes and any needed references are handled in the rest of the intro section.
Layout and formatting
  • The article uses standard layout, unless there is a good reason to do otherwise
  • There is a single blank line between paragraphs
  • Formatting and interpunction is consistent throughout the article
  • Bold
    • The name of the article is bolded in the first sentence
    • Other appropriate names are bolded on first use
  • Italic
    • Names of complete works (books, films, albums, etc.) are italicized
    • Cited individual words or expressions are italicized
    • Expressions used in the article with a specialized meaning are italicized on first use
  • Quotes
    • Names of smaller works or parts of complete works (chapters, acts, poems, songs, etc.) are "placed in quotes"
    • Meanings of cited individual words or expression are "placed in quotes"
    • Literally quoted statements are "placed in quotes"
Links and redirects
  • All relevant links are included
  • Only relevant links are included
  • Other articles are linked only once, unless there is a good reason to do otherwise
  • Appropriate redirects to the article are provided
  • There are no double redirects
Categories
  • The article is placed in appropriate categories
Images
  • All images are properly tagged and attributed on image pages
  • All images are aligned to the right and use the default thumbnail size, unless there is a good reason to do otherwise
  • If the article contains non-free images:
    • All non-free images are essential for the particular article
    • All non-free images are marked with fair-use justifications
Tags
  • Optional: {{expand}} is placed in appropriate articles
  • Optional: links to other projects are appropriately placed
Talk page
  • Old discussions are archived
  • Reader questions are answered (or redirected to an appropriate forum) on the user's talk page
  • Resolved disputes are archived and, if appropriate, summarised on the top of the page
  • Archived discussions are linked at the top of the page
  • Remaining issues are refactored by subject or, if more appropriate, summarised and archived
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