Wikipedia talk:Good article usage

WT:GAU

There are 108 articles in the current survey.

Initial Survey links (18 Natural sciences, 1 Mathematics)

Responses: #1-2, 4-8, 10-12, 18.

2006 Atlantic hurricane season (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:2006 Atlantic hurricane season#Survey
Atmosphere of Venus (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Atmosphere of Venus#Survey
Beringia (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Beringia#Survey
Cyclone Jokwe (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Cyclone Jokwe#Survey
Cygnus X-1 (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Cygnus X-1#Survey
Effects of Hurricane Dennis in Alabama (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Effects of Hurricane Dennis in Alabama#Survey
Effects of Hurricane Dennis in Mississippi (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Effects of Hurricane Dennis in Mississippi#Survey
Fleiss' kappa (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Fleiss' kappa#Survey
Formation and evolution of the Solar System (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Formation and evolution of the Solar System#Survey
Geyser (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Geyser#Survey
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Henoch-Schönlein purpura#Survey
History of aspirin (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:History of aspirin#Survey
Hurricane Lili (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Hurricane Lili#Survey
Mid-October 2007 tornado outbreak (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Mid-October 2007 tornado outbreak#Survey
Noble gas (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Noble gas#Survey
Ornatifilum (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Ornatifilum#Survey
Surface weather observation (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Surface weather observation#Survey
Tropical Storm Fay (2002) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Tropical Storm Fay (2002)#Survey
Wrought iron (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views), Talk:Wrought iron#Survey

Surveys added Apr 20

General WP:GAN headings are: Social sciences and society, Geography and places, History, Engineering and technology, Mathematics, Natural sciences and Miscellaneous.

Culture and society

Responses: #2.

Social work (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Ursasapien (talk) 12:20, 3 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Mirth & Girth (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) - Rob (talk) 15:51, 31 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Ivatan people (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Efe (talk) 06:28, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Education

King's College London (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Niaz ^{(Talk •}^Contribs) 17:15, 14 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Economics and business

Responses: #2, 4.

Forced labor in Germany during World War II (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 17:49, 21 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Peak uranium (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Kgrr (talk) 05:32, 2 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Blackwater Worldwide (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) SeanMack (talk) 13:00, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Stanley Marcus (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Lawikitejana (talk) 23:25, 15 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Law

Responses: #5.

Minority Treaties (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 17:45, 21 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
R v Bailey (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)
Criminal Damage in English law (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)
R v Hancock (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)
Burger King legal issues (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Jeremy ( Blah blah...) 06:46, 19 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Politics and government

Responses: #1, 3, 5, 13.

Dravidian parties (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Wiki San Roze^†αLҝ 13:34, 13 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Malaysian general election, 2008 (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Jannisri (talk) 10:58, 14 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Maria de Lujan Telpuk (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)--TonyTheTiger (t/c/bio/WP:CHICAGO/WP:LOTD) 18:31, 18 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Katie Sierra (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) скоморохъ 20:54, 22 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Benazir Bhutto (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 08:05, 30 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Nancy Pelosi (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Sfmammamia (talk) 17:39, 30 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Stephen Colbert presidential campaign, 2008 (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Teh Rote (talk) 01:35, 3 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Charles J. O'Byrne (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) MrPrada (talk) 00:49, 4 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Douglas Bruce (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Sethant (talk) 14:33, 4 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Chen Chi-mai (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Jerrch 02:25, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Jan Reimer (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Sarcasticidealist (talk) 19:02, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Sho Dozono (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) VanTucky 20:53, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
George H. W. Bush (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Happyme22 (talk) 05:17, 15 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Valenciano (talk) 14:55, 16 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Geography

Responses: #3.

Anstey Hill Recreation Park (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Peripitus (Talk) 03:30, 28 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Geography of Israel (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Flymeoutofhere (talk) 16:23, 8 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Mary Meader (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Editor of the wiki 01:53, 12 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Wilkins Peak (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Milonica (talk) 22:00, 14 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Somerset Coal Canal (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Hroðulf (or Hrothulf) (Talk) 16:56, 16 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Aspen Mountain (Wyoming) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)--Milonica (talk) 01:49, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Water privatization in Brazil (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Savidan 03:14, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Places

Responses: #5.

Atlanta, Georgia (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) JKeene (talk) 02:52, 22 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Cluj-Napoca (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 10:40, 28 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Campus of Texas A&M University (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)
Newport News, Virginia (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Chrisfortier (talk) 17:02, 4 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Blackburn (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) TreveX^talk 16:42, 14 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

World history

Responses: #2, 4, 5, 9.

Clan Macfie (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Celtus (talk) 10:26, 10 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Assassination of Benazir Bhutto (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)--Kaypoh (talk) 04:02, 21 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Epikleros (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Ealdgyth - Talk 03:17, 31 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Hendrik Pieter Nicolaas Muller (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Michel Doortmont (talk) 18:35, 1 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Catherine de' Medici's court festivals (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) qp10qp (talk) 01:29, 4 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Gerard, Archbishop of York (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Ealdgyth - Talk 23:29, 5 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
William de St-Calais (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Ealdgyth - Talk 03:11, 9 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Ranulf Flambard (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Ealdgyth - Talk 00:23, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Augustus Jones (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Wily D 22:05, 14 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

War and military

Responses: #5, 8, 13.

William King (Royal Navy) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Wizardman 19:23, 16 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Henry Gratiot (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)_{WEBURIEDOURSECRETSINTHEGARDEN} [[User talk:WBOSITG|^{tell me a joke...}
Battle of Kostiuchnówka (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| talk} 17:47, 21 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Battle of Gettysburg, First Day (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 10:45, 28 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Battle of Verrières Ridge (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) serious revamping since its previous nomination in June 2007 Cam (Chat) 18:16, 29 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Cambodian Campaign (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 08:12, 30 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Cambodian Civil War (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 08:16, 30 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Byzantine-Arab Wars (780–1180) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Tourskin (talk) 18:57, 1 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Battle of Iwo Jima (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Kumioko (talk) 23:37, 1 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
2006 Riga summit (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Denis Tarasov (talk) 08:01, 4 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Le Quang Tung (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 02:29, 7 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
United States Special Operations Command (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Outdawg (talk) 17:51, 7 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Battle of Glasgow (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) EasyPeasy21 (talk) 15:01, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Omar Khadr (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Sherurcij ^{(Speaker for the Dead)} 07:53, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
36th Engineer Brigade (United States) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Ed!^(talk)_{(Hall of Fame)} 23:40, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Morotai Mutiny (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 09:08, 20 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Computing

Responses: #1

Microsoft Visual Studio (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) soum ^talk 05:40, 7 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Microsoft SQL Server (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) soum ^talk 05:40, 7 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Engineering

Amateur radio (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) BJ^Talk 01:35, 25 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Pitot-static system (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)Chrislk02 ^{Chris Kreider} 18:45, 26 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Subwoofer (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Noodle snacks (talk) 03:22, 7 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Transport

Responses: #4, 5.

New York State Route 418 (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) ^Mitch 32 ^contribs 20:49, 7 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Channel Tunnel (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 04:52, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
New Jersey Turnpike (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Dbm11085 (talk) 03:39, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) ErgoSum88 (talk) 04:08, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
M54 motorway (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Asdfasdf1231234 (talk) 21:41, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
New York State Route 20N (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) ^Mitch 32 ^contribs 20:21, 19 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
New York State Route 20SY (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) ^Mitch 32 ^contribs 13:49, 20 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Mathematics

Responses: #1.

Group (mathematics) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Jakob.scholbach (talk) 10:12, 15 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Biology and medicine

Responses: #1.

Thoroughbred (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Dana boomer (talk · contribs); Wikipedia:WikiProject Equine; Ealdgyth - Talk 19:52, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Aspirin (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) CrazyChemGuy (talk) 15:31, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Matthew Lukwiya (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) 79.68.227.117 (talk) 14:51, 20 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Meteorology and atmospheric sciences

Responses: #2, 6.

Cyclone Gamede (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) ♬♩ Hurricanehink (talk) 18:57, 13 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Hurricane Cosme (2007) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Juliancolton ^Tropical ^Cyclone 18:50, 15 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Monsoon trough (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) (self-nom) Thegreatdr (talk) 21:21, 15 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Tropical cyclone track forecasting (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) (self-nom) Thegreatdr (talk) 21:27, 15 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Climate (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) (self-nom) Thegreatdr (talk) 21:41, 15 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Effects of Hurricane Dennis in Georgia (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Juliancolton ^Tropical ^Cyclone 00:23, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Hurricane Barry (1983) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) --Kaypoh (talk) 09:19, 20 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Miscellaneous

Responses: #1-2.

Nabulsi soap (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Tiamut^talk 10:06, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Achaemenid Assyria (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) Article has gone through dramatic changes since its last GA review. Chaldean (talk) 02:14, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Starting things off...

As I've written and re-written this comment I've realised I'm not as sure as I thought about the right answer here. I guess part of the problem lies in the categorisation system, because the "A" class is largely redundant and/or ignored.

In favour of insisting that GAs are written in accordance with the MoS are at least two points:

It is perhaps the only time that anyone will take the effort to meticulously check the articles for the smaller points, which has the positive effect of making it easier and more pleasant to read for all readers
It familiarises editors with the MoS so they think about little things in their day to day editing. (For instance I'm careful to add an &nbsp: between numbers and units as a result of passing GAs, something that would never have occurred to me otherwise).

Against it:

It discourages people from submitting articles with good content, but poor style, with the aim of "earning recognition" by achieving a good article status.

If we want to encourage people to add content, but don't really care about style, then perhaps we could remove the requirements of the MoS from the GA process. If we want Wikipedia to look professional and be easy to read, we should keep the MoS requirements in place.

I suspect the rest of any discussion here will be dominated between two irreconcilable groups: one with the first viewpoint, one with the second.

Perhaps a way to reconcile the two would be to make more distinction between "GA" and "A" class. Perhaps GA could be for articles with good content, and A could represent those that are complete and well edited. This would encourage people to add content (to make things GA), but not to forget about the article once it reached this stage (which, remember, is defined as being "good enough", not "good"): the incentive to tidy and expand the article to push for an achievable and well defined "A" class would be available.

I suspect that the argument there is that the "A" class is reserved for articles that will never make FA for one reason or another, but in my humble opinion, one never really notices A class articles, nor does anyone think "Hmm, let's put some time into making such and such a GA into a A".

There's my two cents, for whatever it's worth. I look forward to seeing how this discussion evolves!

Verisimilus T 18:45, 9 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's important that we not give any impression of what the right survey answers are, or it will bias the survey results (not that you did, but I'm hoping the conversation doesn't evolve into a set of right and wrong answers before the survey is complete). And, in fact, I don't know what the right perspective is. I know that some articles in Wikipedia should look in many ways like other online encyclopedias, because that gives us a certain dignity, and it will appeal to academics, journalists and professionals who are used to reading professionally-copyedited material. We need to appeal to them. I also know that, if we only allow editors on Wikipedia who write like professional copyeditors, we're in deep trouble :) We wouldn't even have enough editors to keep up with the vandalism. So, the best thing is just to acknowledge that different editors will have different styles, abilities, and goals, and their writing will not always conform to well-known style guides, and let's just survey them, see what they're doing, and see what works. - Dan Dank55 (talk) 05:10, 10 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Regarding A-class, see Martin's recent statement that they are important to some wikiprojects here: Wikipedia talk:Version 1.0 Editorial Team/Assessment#Fewer words?. - Dan Dank55 (talk) 02:36, 11 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I would agree with Verisimilus if I thought WP:MOS had any save the most tangential relationship with professional copyediting, but it does not: most of it is some editor's prejudices, having little warrant in English usage. When it does relate to English, it represents one of the national varieties of English, to the exclusion of others. (And when, by chance, it represents something accurately, it is not consulted; I have seen reviewers insist and object to the serial comma, although MOS actually says, correctly, that either is good English.) Septentrionalis PMAnderson 05:05, 24 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I probably don't want to respond til May 1 when the survey is over. But discussion on any of these points is welcome. - Dan Dank55 (talk)(mistakes) 13:27, 24 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Contentment

31 out of 31 respondents (Julian answered 5 times, others only answered once) at the WP:GAU survey either indicated that they wanted more feedback on the article in question, or indicated in some way that they were happy with the process as a whole. I don't want to make too much of that, but it does at least answer one question. There are people who claim that the style guidelines and article reviewers are terrible and get little respect, and I was happy to see no evidence of that from this random survey. (rewritten and transferred from project page) - Dan Dank55 (talk)(mistakes) 02:54, 23 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

"Not especially. Beejaypii (talk) 23:32, 23 April 2008 (UTC)" (Blackburn article)

"No, not really. Happyme22 (talk) 04:04, 21 April 2008 (UTC)" (George Bush article)

Difficult to understand how those responses can be interpreted as wanting more feedback on writing, wouldn't you agree? --Malleus Fatuorum (talk) 13:01, 20 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm saying that it's one or the other. Of the people who didn't say they wanted more feedback on the article in question, you can either easily see from their responses that they're happy with the process in general, or else you can tell from looking at their userpages (the 90 GA symbols on TonyTheTiger's page, for instance), or else they have clarified on their talk pages:

What I really meant was that I'm pretty confident when it comes to things like grammar, vocabulary, paragraph structure and general writing style. These are aspects of Wikipedia editing which I feel I don't really need much help with. On the other hand, I find the kinds of recommendations made by Jza84 as part of the GA review for the Blackburn article very useful. Beejaypii (talk) 18:00, 24 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Oh, yes, the GA process is fine. I wish it could be sped up a little, but I don't have any thoughts as to how. Sorry if I've done something incorrectly (I'm just not familiar with the GAU process). Happyme22
Sure, why not? The only reason I answered the way I did was that the survey so far preceded any feedback, yet it seemed to ask my opinion of the feedback I received. :) Lawikitejana (talk) 02:13, 23 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

- Dan Dank55 (talk)(mistakes) 02:54, 23 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

April

There have been billions of Aprils! Please don't leave out the year. Unfree (talk) 23:14, 6 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]