wikiHow:Templates/Article

[edit] Overview: Article Templates

These templates can be used on article pages to attract the attention of other editors to a particular problem with an article, request that others not edit the article while you are making big improvements to it, or to notify admins about more serious issues with article content. Many of these templates automatically show the date they were added to the article to make it easier to track how long it has needed attention from editors or administrators.

[edit]Requests for Article Improvement

These templates are used to indicate that a particular aspect of an article needs improvement.

Accuracy

This template is used to mark an article for questionable accuracy. When using this, explain why you think it is not accurate on the discussion page of the article; this will help others to fact-check the article. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{accuracy}}

- To make:


				This article's accuracy is in doubt. See the discussion page. Please fact check, edit, cite references and remove this notice when the article has been improved. You may also comment on the discussion page. Notice added on 2008-05-28.

Attention

Use the Attention template when there are problems with an article that are not easily encompassed by the other templates. Because it does not specify a particular problem, you must go to the article's discussion page to explain what the problem is when you use this template. The date will be automatically added to the date.

Type this code: {{attention}}

- To make:


				This article needs an editor's attention, for reasons mentioned on its discussion page. Please edit this article and remove this notice once these issues have been resolved. Notice added on 2008-05-28.

Character Article

If an article does not meet the character article requirements, add this template to bring attention to it.

Type this code: {{character}}

- To make:


				This article does not meet Character Article Standards. Please edit it to bring it to standards . Notice added on 2008-09-26.

Citation Needed

If a statement is controversial or could benefit from being backed up by a reputable source, this template will signal to the reader that the statement has not yet been verified. Links to Reference Sources on wikiHow which explains the referencing system.

Type this code: {{fact}}

- To make:
  
  This statement needs a reference.

Clarity

This template is used to mark articles that are vague, confusing, or unclear. It will greatly help other editors to improve the article if you also leave a note on the discussion page as to what you found unclear about the article. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{clarity}}

- To make:


				This article is unclear, vague, or confusing. Please edit this article, clarify it, and remove this notice when the article has been improved. Notice added on 2008-09-17.

Cleanup

Use this template to indicate that an article needs significant improvements in organization and readability. Use for articles where the problems go beyond simple grammar, spelling, or formatting problems and major revisions are required. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{cleanup}}

- To make:


				This article may need to be cleaned up to meet wikiHow's quality standards. You can help by improving it and removing this notice when complete. Notice added on 2007-10-18.

Copyedit

Use the copyedit template to indicate that problems with an article's grammar or spelling. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{copyedit}}

- To make:


				This article needs copyediting for spelling, punctuation, style, or grammar. You can help by editing this now and removing this notice when the article has been improved. Notice added on 2008-05-28.

Format

Use the format template to let other editors know that an article has content that is acceptable for wikiHow, but is not written in our style. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{format}}

- To make:


				This article needs to be converted to wikiHow format as specified by the Writer's Guide. You can help by editing it now and then removing this notice. Notice added on 2007-10-18.

In Need of Pictures

Use this template to alert users that the article is in need of step-by-step pictures. This tag should not be used to suggest adding pictures to make the article more aesthetically pleasing. It should be reserved for articles that may include complex steps that are very difficult to relate without visual information, such as tying shoes, drawing, and so on.

Type this code: {{pictures}}

- To make:


				This article would benefit from step-by-step photos. You can help wikiHow by adding photos to this article. Click here for instructions. Notice added on 2008-06-24.

Introduction

Use the introduction template when an article needs a longer or more precise introduction.

Type this code: {{introduction}}

- To make:


				This article may benefit from a new introduction. You can help wikiHow by improving the current introduction, or writing a new one to match the format described in the Writer's Guide. Please remove this notice once this page has been improved. Notice added on: 2008-06-24.

Personal References

This template is used to mark articles that contain personal references that need to be removed. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{personal}}

- To make:


				This article contains personal references. Please edit this page to make the article more general. Remove this notice when the article has been improved. Notice added on 2008-06-26.

Stub

Use this template to mark the article as a stub, indicating that it is on a good topic for wikiHow, but that it isn't sufficiently complete or descriptive. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{stub}}

- To make:


				This article is a stub. You can help by expanding and clarifying it. Notice added on 2008-09-17.

[edit] Requests to re-title, merge or split an article

Use these templates to suggest that an article be given a new title, merged into another title, or divided into two separate articles. An administrator may be needed to fulfill these requests.

Title

Use this template to indicate that you think an article needs a new title. In accordance with our title policy, the title should be as clearly indicate the topic of the article, be as concise as possible, and be written using commonly-searched terms so readers can find the article. If you know of a good title, please suggest it in the template code (Replace the text New Title Here) with your suggested title. Otherwise, describe your concerns with the title and and possible solutions on the article's discussion page. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{title|New Title Here}}

- To make:


				An editor has suggested a title change How to New Title Here In accordance with the title policy, titles should be the most concise, most commonly searched way to describe the content. To suggest a new title, change this template or comment on the discussion page. Notice added on 2008-06-24.

Merge

Use the merge template when there are two articles that are on the same topic and the content from one should be combined with the other to produce a single comprehensive article. In lieu of this using this template, it can be much more efficient to do a "quick and dirty" merge yourself. When using this template, put the template on the article you would like to see merged (the Merge Source), and then list the title of the article it should be merged into (the Merge Target) in the template as shown below, replacing Merge Target Title with the title of the target article (do not use "How to" at the beginning of the title).

Type this code: {{merge|Merge Target Title}}

- To make:


				An editor has suggested that this article be merged with: "How to Merge Target Title" Per the merge policy, if these topics are determined to be similar but distinct, then the articles will remain separate. Please comment on the discussion page. Notice added on 2008-06-24.

Split

Use the Split template when an article contains information that really covers two topics. A hypothetical example might be "How to Change Your Car's Oil and Add Washer Fluid." In this case there are two complete topics in the article, changing the oil and adding washer fluid. For articles like this, just apply the split template and suggest two new article titles as shown below (replace Suggest Title One and Two with your suggested titles).

Type this code: {{split|Suggest Title One|Suggest Title Two}}

- To make:


				An editor has suggested that this article or section be splitinto the following: "How to wikiHow Suggest Title One" and "How to wikiHow Suggest Title Two" The above new titles have been proposed in accordance with wikiHow's Merge Policy and Title Policy. Please comment on the discussion page. Notice added on {{{date}}}.

[edit]Requests that others avoid editing an article

Occasionally an editor is starting a new article or is engaging in a major overhaul of an existing article. These templates are an effective way to communicate to other editors that they should avoid editing an article for the duration that the template is on the article. However, it is considerate to others not to leave these templates on for too long, so please try to keep track any articles you have placed these templates on and remove them promptly once you are done editing the article intensively.

In Use

Use this template to indicate that you are making major revisions to an existing article. The date will automatically be added.

Type this code: {{inuse}}

- To make:


				This article is "in use", indicating that it is undergoing a major edit. As a courtesy, please do not edit this article while this message is displayed. This notice was placed on 2008-06-24. If this was over two weeks ago, please contact the editor who added this notice to see if they are finished with the article before removing the tag. The editor will be listed in the article's edit history. If there is no response from them within 5-7 days, anyone may remove the tag.

Under Construction (In Progress)

Use this template to indicate that you have just started an article to inform other editors that you are working on a new article and it should not be tagged or marked for deletion for incompleteness. The date will automatically be added to this template.

Type this code: {{inprogress}}

- To make:


				This article is "in use", indicating that it is undergoing a major edit. As a courtesy, please do not edit this article while this message is displayed. This notice was placed on 2008-06-24. If this was over two weeks ago, please contact the editor who added this notice to see if they are finished with the article before removing the tag. The editor will be listed in the article's edit history. If there is no response from them within 5-7 days, anyone may remove the tag.

[edit] Articles Violate Deletion Policy or Copyrights

Use these templates to draw the attention of wikiHow Administrators in the case of articles that may need to be removed from wikiHow as violations of our policies or the copyrights of others.

Copyvio

This template is used to identify articles that may have been copied from other sources without permission of the original rights holder. To use this template, open the article using the advanced editor and delete all the content, then add the template. When using this template you need to provide the URL of the copied material as shown below (or add details on the discussion page if you cannot link to the material).

Type this code: {{copyvio|URL of the copied material}}

- To make:

POTENTIAL COPYRIGHT VIOLATION

The content on this page has been marked as a possible copyright infringement. It appears to infringe on the copyright of the text from the following link:

[URL of the copied material Click here to view the page that may have been plagiarized.]

As of 2008-06-24, this page is now listed on the Copyright Problems listing.

If you hold the copyright or have permission to share this article on wikiHow, please indicate so on the discussion page.'
Notes to the author of this article:

This page can remain on wikiHow only if we receive confirmation that we have permission from the copyright holder to post it here: Please indicate that we have the copyright holder's permission by posting on the discussion page.
Unless the copyright status of this content is clarified, this page will be deleted approximately 7-14 days after its listing.
Posting copyrighted material without the express permission of the copyright holder is a violation of applicable law and of wikiHow policy. Those who repeatedly post copyrighted material may be blocked from further editing.
We understand that copyright law and wikiHow policies can be confusing. Don't panic. Before writing future articles here, you can learn about you can legally use copyrighted content as a research source on wikiHow or how you can request permission from a copyright holder to legally import content to wikiHow.

Nominated For Deletion (nfd)

Use this template on articles that violate wikiHow's deletion policy. When using this template you should also go to the article's discussion page and explain clearly why the article violates the deletion policy (e.g., what article it duplicates, why it isn't a how-to article, etc.). This information is very important to others who have to consider whether the article should be kept or deleted. See the deletion policy for the three-letter codes used in the template to indicate what part of the wikiHow deletion policy the article violates.

Type this code: {{nfd|Reason or 3-letter code}}

- To make:


				This page has been nominated for deletion with the reason of: "Reason or 3-letter code". Please comment on the discussion page as to whether it meets our criteria for deletion. Continued edits are appreciated, but please do not remove this tag. This article will be reviewed at least 1 week after 2008-06-25.

Speedy Deletion

The speedy deletion template is used to indicate that an article needs to be immediately deleted. It should only be used on articles that are patent nonsense, are highly offensive, or contain serious use of profanity (particularly in the title, where it cannot easily be removed). If these criteria aren't met, the article should probably receive a standard {{nfd}} template instead.

Type this code: {{speedy}}

- To make:


				This article has been nominated for speedy deletion. In accordance with the Deletion Policy, an administrator may immediately delete a new article on wikiHow if it is patent nonsense, contains profanity, or is highly offensive. If this article does not satisfy any of these criteria, please consider nominating the article for deletion instead. You may also comment on the discussion page for this article. Notice added on {{{date}}}.