Misplaced Pages:Relevance: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 10:32, 22 July 2007 editEdgarde (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers19,109 editsm →Keep articles focused: ft and does little← Previous edit		Revision as of 11:05, 22 July 2007 edit undoEdgarde (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers19,109 edits →Establishing relevance: Restore section. This is not a vote of confidence in theNext edit →
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	{{Proposed\|]<br />]}}		{{Proposed\|]<br />]}}
	{{Nutshell\|]}}		{{Nutshell\|Avoid tangents better suited to a different article. ]}}

	This guideline pertains to the '''relevance''' of content within articles. For guidelines regarding the relevance of articles or subjects as a whole, see ]. For guidance on the relevance of links to outside websites, see ]. For guidance on certain types of content in general, see ].		This guideline pertains to the '''relevance''' of content within articles. For guidelines regarding the relevance of articles or subjects as a whole, see ]. For guidance on the relevance of links to outside websites, see ]. For guidance on certain types of content in general, see ].
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	;Example		;Example
	An article entitled ] should be about the global computer network, not about networking, software, or computers in general.		An article entitled ] should be about the global computer network, not about networking, software, or computers in general.

			== Establishing relevance ==
			Even information specific to an article's subject may still fail to offer a broader understanding of the subject.

			When adding material to an article, consider the following questions:

			* Does it help define the subject?<!-- Goose does not like 'definition'. -->
			* Is it a distinguishing trait?
			* What impact has this had on the subject of the article?

			Try to phrase the material in a way that answers one of these questions. If needed, provide additional context; even some highly-relevant information can seem irrelevant when it is not clear how it has affected the subject. This is especially true when disparate facts are grouped together, such as in "Trivia" lists, which ].

			=== Definition ===
			Facts that are needed to provide a fundamental description of the subject are always relevant. These facts explain what the subject ''is'', what it ''does'' (or did), what it is ''notable'' for, and how it is ''distinguished'' from similar, related subjects. Such facts should be placed in the ], or in the first lines of the section to which they are most relevant.

			====Avoid dictionary-style definitions====
			], so dictionary-style definitions including ] or alternative meanings for the subject title are usually ''not'' appropriate, and should be moved to ]. In rare exceptions, the subject of the article will be a word itself, such as ] or ]. Otherwise, Misplaced Pages articles are about the ''subject'' of the article, not a parsing of the word or phrase used in the article's title.

			=== Details ===
			Here lay the Devil.

			==== Connections between subjects ====

			In many cases, a fact that connects two subjects may be important to one of the subjects, but not the other.

			Non-notable mentions of a well known subject do not merit inclusion in that subject's article simply for the mention. This is commonly the case with creative works that make references to other subjects; see ] for details.

			==== Relevance of biographical details ====

			Biographical subjects warrant special attention. Some people are famous due to their connection to ] events, without having any fame beyond the event. As such, they are not ]s, and details of their personal lives may be relevant to them as ''individuals'', but not to what has made them of encyclopedic interest. The amount of ] coverage of personal details an individual has received is a good indication of what Misplaced Pages should include on that individual. ] specifies additional limitations that should be followed when writing about living indviduals.

			=== Context ===

			==== Impact ====
			Impact can take many forms — including, but not limited to:

			* Causing the subject to come to public attention (i.e., increasing its ]).
			* Changing the subject's ''form'' or ''history'' (in particular, any of its ''fundamental'' or ''distinguishing'' traits).
			* Changing how the public perceives the subject.
			The effect that a fact has had on the subject should be evident in the article.

	== Keep articles focused ==		== Keep articles focused ==
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	If coverage of a subtopic grows to the point where it overshadows the main subject (or digresses too far from it), it may be appropriate to ] into its own article.		If coverage of a subtopic grows to the point where it overshadows the main subject (or digresses too far from it), it may be appropriate to ] into its own article.

	In this situation, the main article provides a concise overview of the subject. Where it touches on related topics or subtopics, details not directly relevant to the overall topic are expanded upon in linked articles.		In this situation, the main article provides a concise overview of the subject. Where it touches on related topics or subtopics, details not directly relevant to the overall topic are expanded upon in linked articles.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Revision as of 11:05, 22 July 2007

The following is a proposed Misplaced Pages policy, guideline, or process. The proposal may still be in development, under discussion, or in the process of gathering consensus for adoption.

Shortcut

]

This page in a nutshell: Avoid tangents better suited to a different article. Stay on topic!

This guideline pertains to the relevance of content within articles. For guidelines regarding the relevance of articles or subjects as a whole, see Misplaced Pages:Notability. For guidance on the relevance of links to outside websites, see Misplaced Pages:External links. For guidance on certain types of content in general, see Misplaced Pages:What Misplaced Pages is not.

Scope

The article title usually defines a scope for the article's content. In other words, facts added to an article should be about the subject of the article.

The lead paragraphs may further specify the subject scope through a concise description. Avoid making an explicit statement of scope, unless it is needed as part of a disambiguation.

Information added to articles on very general subjects should address the entire subject, rather than meandering into related topics for which more specific articles exist (or should exist). Articles on very specific subjects will provide room for far greater detail.

Example

An article entitled Internet should be about the global computer network, not about networking, software, or computers in general.

Establishing relevance

Even information specific to an article's subject may still fail to offer a broader understanding of the subject.

When adding material to an article, consider the following questions:

Does it help define the subject?
Is it a distinguishing trait?
What impact has this had on the subject of the article?

Try to phrase the material in a way that answers one of these questions. If needed, provide additional context; even some highly-relevant information can seem irrelevant when it is not clear how it has affected the subject. This is especially true when disparate facts are grouped together, such as in "Trivia" lists, which should be avoided.

Definition

Facts that are needed to provide a fundamental description of the subject are always relevant. These facts explain what the subject is, what it does (or did), what it is notable for, and how it is distinguished from similar, related subjects. Such facts should be placed in the lead section, or in the first lines of the section to which they are most relevant.

Avoid dictionary-style definitions

Misplaced Pages is not a dictionary, so dictionary-style definitions including etymologies or alternative meanings for the subject title are usually not appropriate, and should be moved to Wiktionary. In rare exceptions, the subject of the article will be a word itself, such as Cf. or Fuck. Otherwise, Misplaced Pages articles are about the subject of the article, not a parsing of the word or phrase used in the article's title.

Details

Here lay the Devil.

Connections between subjects

In many cases, a fact that connects two subjects may be important to one of the subjects, but not the other.

Non-notable mentions of a well known subject do not merit inclusion in that subject's article simply for the mention. This is commonly the case with creative works that make references to other subjects; see Misplaced Pages:"In popular culture" articles for details.

Relevance of biographical details

Biographical subjects warrant special attention. Some people are famous due to their connection to notable events, without having any fame beyond the event. As such, they are not public figures, and details of their personal lives may be relevant to them as individuals, but not to what has made them of encyclopedic interest. The amount of reliable coverage of personal details an individual has received is a good indication of what Misplaced Pages should include on that individual. Misplaced Pages:Biographies of living persons specifies additional limitations that should be followed when writing about living indviduals.

Context

Impact

Impact can take many forms — including, but not limited to:

Causing the subject to come to public attention (i.e., increasing its notability).
Changing the subject's form or history (in particular, any of its fundamental or distinguishing traits).
Changing how the public perceives the subject.

The effect that a fact has had on the subject should be evident in the article.

Keep articles focused

Unlike a paper encyclopedia, Misplaced Pages has unlimited capacity, but the depth of Misplaced Pages's coverage must be balanced against the readability of its articles. An article that is dense with information only tenuously connected to the subject is miserable to read, and does little to inform the reader about the subject.

Summary style

Further information: Misplaced Pages:Summary style and summary style

If coverage of a subtopic grows to the point where it overshadows the main subject (or digresses too far from it), it may be appropriate to spin it off into its own article.

In this situation, the main article provides a concise overview of the subject. Where it touches on related topics or subtopics, details not directly relevant to the overall topic are expanded upon in linked articles.