wikistijl

Wikistijl is a term used in wiki communities to describe the editorial style and conventions that guide the creation and organization of content across wiki projects. It encompasses principles such as neutral point of view, verifiability, and avoidance of original research. The core aim is to present information factually and with balanced coverage, giving due weight to different perspectives according to their prominence in reliable sources.

Neutral point of view requires presenting facts without advocacy or bias and specifying when there are contested interpretations. Verifiability means that statements must be supported by reliable, published sources; readers should be able to check sources rather than rely on the author’s authority. No original research means contributors should not introduce unpublished analysis or arguments.

Style and formatting guidelines cover language use, conciseness, and readability. Articles should use clear, formal language, avoid promotional or speculative phrasing, and employ consistent terminology. Internal links, citations, and a standard article structure with lead sections, summaries, and infoboxes help navigation and comprehension.

Guidelines vary by project and language, but most wikistijl conventions are codified in a Manual of Style or equivalent policy within a wiki, such as Wikipedia’s Manual of Style; editors discuss changes in community guidelines and on project talk pages. The practice is iterative, reflecting community consensus rather than a fixed authoring standard.

Overall, wikistijl represents the collaborative editorial ethos of wiki platforms: transparent sourcing, cooperative editing, and accessibility for a broad audience.