Difference between revisions of "Help:Formatting"

You can italicize text by putting 2 apostrophes on each side.

3 apostrophes will embolden the text.

5 apostrophes will embolden and italicize the text.

(Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything special --
the last pair are just 'left over ones' that are included as part of the text.)

You can ''italicize text'' by putting 2 
apostrophes on '''each''' side. 

3 apostrophes will '''embolden the text'''. 

5 apostrophes will '''embolden''' and ''italicize'' 
'''''the text'''''.

(Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything
special -- <br /> the last pair are just 
''''left over ones'''' that are included 
as part of the text.)

A single newline generally has no effect on the layout. These can be used to separate sentences within a paragraph. Some editors find that this aids editing and improves the diff function (used internally to compare different versions of a page).

But an empty line starts a new paragraph.

When used in a list, a newline does affect the layout (<a href="#lists">see below</a>).

A single newline
generally has no effect on the layout.
These can be used to separate
sentences within a paragraph.
Some editors find that this aids editing
and improves the ''diff'' function
(used internally to compare
different versions of a page).

But an empty line
starts a new paragraph.

When used in a list, a newline ''does''
affect the layout ([[#lists|see below]]).

You can break lines
without a new paragraph.
Please use this sparingly.

Please do not start a link or italics or bold text on one line and end on the next.

You can break lines<br/>
without a new paragraph.<br/>
Please use this sparingly.

Please do not start a link or
''italics'' or '''bold''' text on one line
and end on the next.

• Three tildes gives your signature: <a href="User:Example">Example</a>
  
• Four tildes give your signature plus date/time: <a href="User:Example">Example</a> 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
  
• Five tildes gives the date/time alone: 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
  

You should "sign" your comments 
on talk pages:
- Three tildes gives your
signature: ~~~
- Four tildes give your 
signature plus date/time: ~~~~
- Five tildes gives the 
date/time alone: ~~~~~

Advanced Editing

Section headings

Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a <a href="Help:Table of contents">table of contents</a> from them.

Subsection

Using more "equals" (=) signs creates a subsection.

A smaller subsection

Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs.

Start with 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title.

== Section headings ==

''Headings'' organize your writing into 
sections. The ''Wiki'' software can automatically 
generate a [[Help:table of contents|table of contents]] from them.

=== Subsection ===
Using more "equals" (=) signs creates a subsection.

==== A smaller subsection ====

Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs.

Start with 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 
tags which should be reserved for page title.

• Unordered <a href="Help:List">lists</a> are easy to do:
  • Start every line with a star.
    • More stars indicate a deeper level.

• Previous item continues. </dd>

• • A newline
• in a list

marks the end of the list.

• Of course you can start again.

* ''Unordered lists'' are easy to do:
** Start every line with a star.
*** More stars indicate a deeper level.
*: Previous item continues.
** A newline
* in a list  
marks the end of the list.
*Of course you can start again.

1. Numbered lists are:
   1. Very organized
   2. Easy to follow

A newline marks the end of the list.

1. New numbering starts with 1.

# ''Numbered lists'' are:
## Very organized
## Easy to follow
A newline marks the end of the list.
# New numbering starts with 1.

Here's a definition list:

Word  </dt>

Definition of the word </dd>

A longer phrase needing definition </dt>

Phrase defined </dd>

A word  </dt>

Which has a definition </dd>

Also a second definition </dd>

And even a third </dd>

Begin with a semicolon. One item per line; a newline can appear before the colon, but using a space before the colon improves parsing.

Here's a ''definition list'':
; Word : Definition of the word
; A longer phrase needing definition
: Phrase defined
; A word : Which has a definition
: Also a second one
: And even a third

Begin with a semicolon. One item per line; 
a newline can appear before the colon, but 
using a space before the colon improves 
parsing.

• You can even do mixed lists
  1. and nest them
  2. inside each other
     • or break lines
       in lists.

• 1. definition lists </dt>

     can be

     nested  </dt>

     too </dd> </dd>

* You can even do mixed lists
*# and nest them
*# inside each other
*#* or break lines<br>in lists.
*#; definition lists
*#: can be 
*#:; nested : too

A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph. </dd>

A newline starts a new paragraph.
Should only be used on <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Talk page">Talk page</a>s.
For articles, you probably want the blockquote tag.

We use 1 colon to indent once.

We use 2 colons to indent twice.

3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on. </dd> </dd> </dd>

: A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph.
A newline starts a new paragraph.
Should only be used on talk pages.
For articles, you probably want the blockquote tag.
: We use 1 colon to indent once.
:: We use 2 colons to indent twice.
::: 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.

You can make <a href="W:horizontal dividing line">horizontal dividing lines</a> (----) to separate text.

But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.

You can make [[w:horizontal dividing line|horizontal dividing line]]s 
(----) to separate text.
----
But you should usually use sections instead,
so that they go in the table of contents.

You can add footnotes to sentences using the ref tag -- this is especially good for citing a source.

There are over six billion people in the world.<ref>CIA World Factbook, 2006.</ref> </dd>

References: <references/>

You can add footnotes to sentences using
the ''ref'' tag -- this is especially good
for citing a source.

:There are over six billion people in the
world.<ref>CIA World Factbook, 2006.</ref>

References: <references/>