How To Edit SkepticWiki
From SkepticWiki
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[edit] Basic Editing Of A Page
As with most pages, you can click on 'Edit' in the top tabs, to see the meta-layout of a page. If any of the examples in this page are unclear, have a look at the formatting by using that feature and do likewise for this page.
The toolbar features ways to short-cut to using bold and italic font; internal and external links; creating titles (aka level two heading); embedded images; media file links (such as YouTube); mathematical formulae (LaTeX); ignoring the Wiki formatting; signatures and horizontal line.
For the following page, I'll go through the most commonly used elements within the SkepticWiki.
[edit] Creating A Title
Above is an example of a title. What is written here is body text.
To create a title, you use the 'equals' sign. Use two to begin (==) and then use two to close after the name of your title. Thus:
== Creating A Title ==
It is also known as a 'level two heading', in the toolbar.
You can see examples of pages within the SkepticWiki that use titles to separate different items within the page. These include (but are not restricted to) definitions, discussions, related links, particular case studies and references.
[edit] Italicized and Bold Text
You might like to make particular words or phrases within the body of the text to stand out. The toolbar feature at the top of the editing box allows for this. There are also ways to do it manually.
Items in italic font: This is in italic font. This is done by use of two quotation marks, at the start and close of the particular item:
''This is in italic font''
Items in bold font: This is in bold font. This is done by use of three quotation marks, at the start and close of the particular item:
'''This is in bold font'''
[edit] Links
Links within the SkepticWiki can be internal links, or external links. You can also create references at the end of your page (best done by creating a separate title for them). You can do this by using the internal and external link feature in the edit toolbar.
- External links take the reader to sites outside of the SkepticWiki. For example, [1].
By clicking on that link, I'm taken to an external site - 'The Digital Cuttlefish Blog'. It's done by using the square brackets, just one either side of the link:
[http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/]
You may notice that it's a number in a box when it's done that way. If you would like to have the name of the site displayed, simply leave a space after the url, write the name of the site and close the square brackets.
For example: GodlessBastard.com.
That was done by writing [http://www.godlessbastard.com GodlessBastard.com]
Please note - check that when you are doing a link to an external site, that you use the full address, including the http:// prefix.
- Internal links are links within the SkepticWiki. For example, Neck of the Giraffe.
By clicking on that link, I'm taken to a page within the SkepticWiki; in that case, the page about the neck of the giraffe. It's done by using the square brackets again, but this time two are used.
[[Neck of the Giraffe]]
If you wish the internal link to show up with a different name to the title of the article, follow the article name with the | character followed by how you wish the link to appear on your page; for example giraffe's neck will give a link to the same article, and is produced by entering:
[[Neck of the Giraffe|giraffe's neck]].
Internal links are case-sensitive except for the first letter of the article's name; so [[acupuncture]] will give you a link to the acupuncture article, but [[neck of the giraffe]] would be a broken link, because the G in Giraffe is capitalized in the article's title.
You can link to specific sections within an article using the # character; so, for example, if you write [[Genetics Glossary#Sex chromosomes|sex chromosomes]] you get a link which looks like this: sex chromosomes, which will take the reader who clicks on it directly to the entry for sex chromosomes in the Genetics Glossary article.
[edit] Images
To embed an image, you must first upload it at the Upload Page.
There you can see for yourself, the 'Browse' button and the summary for the image.
Please note: you must also check the box affirming that you are not violating any copyrights by uploading the file. At present this means you must only upload stuff that is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 or public domain. Check with the SkepticWiki if you have any doubts about the image you'd like to use.
When it is uploaded, it will feature on the Image List
You can then add it to your page - you can even direct where on the page you would like it to be featured and what size. For example, the image above has the following features:
[[Image:Igneous_rocks.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Composition of igneous rocks.]]
Therefore it is right-justified and 400px in size.
[edit] Making A List - Dot Points and Numbers
A list is a useful element to include in pages, to separate particular points. Although it is not featured in the toolbar, you can create a list by using the asterix. This is not featured in the toolbar, but is easy to apply.
- This is an example of a list item.
- Here is another example.
When writing such a list, you should check that you leave a space after the asterix and before your body text.
* This is an example of a list item. * Here is another example.
Numbers are quite useful as well, such as outlining an argument:
- 1 Is shaped for human hand
- 2 Has non-slip surface
This is done by placing a colon (:) before the number in question.
:1 Is shaped for human hand :2 Has non-slip surface
[edit] Horizontal Line
You may notice that the creation of a title also comes with a horizontal line. This can be placed in your page without the use of a title; it is best used sparingly. It is featured in the editing toolbar and looks like this when you're editing:
----
Here is an example of how it looks on the page:
[edit] The Sandbox
If you would like to try these features, it's suggested that you experiment in the SkepticWiki:Sandbox. You can look via the 'Edit' feature at any page and cut-and-paste it into the Sandbox, which can help you structure a page to meet existing standards. Experiment with as many elements as you like; you might consider drafting a structure beforehand and then seeing how it looks on screen.
[edit] How To Start A Brand New Page
You might discover that the topic you want to write about doesn't already have a page. It's actually quite simple to start one.
First, it's best to go to the Subject Index, which you'll find on the Main Page. Select the Index topic that best suits the page you wish to write - for example, Frauds and Scams.
There you can find an index page, where you can add the title of the page you wish to start. This is done by adding it as an internal link. For example:
[[My New Page All About A Fascinating Fraud]]
When you add this link, it will lead to an empty page when you click on it. Then you can start editing that new, empty page, with content.
[edit] Ongoing Editing
Above all, remember that none of us are perfect and we will make mistakes, and that your finely honed article may be cut to ribbons if your arguments don't stand up on their own. The very nature of a wiki is that it is constantly evolving and changing as new information replaces old.
If you make substantial changes to the text (and by that I mean more than just a couple of lines or correcting spelling) then use the discussion page to say why you made the changes. This is just a matter of courtesy. You may want to add a rebuttal or a variation while keeping the text as it is - in which case add a level 2 heading with some title like "Rebuttal" or "Another View" and add it to the text.
If you have any specific questions, you can check the Manual of Style or simply contact dradequate@googlemail.com for advice.
Oh, and please use a spelling checker.
