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Each "Main Article" page can have a corresponding talk page.  Below, the style to use on the two very different types of pages is outlined.
Each "Main Article" page can have a corresponding talk page.  Below, the style to use on the two very different types of pages is outlined.


==Main Article==
==Article==
===Naming pages===
See [[Grand Theft Wiki:Consistency]] for defailed information on language and naming pages.
The title of an article should be ''exactly'' the term used in-game.  For characters who have "nick-names," use the most common/obvious one, with redirects from the other options.
 
===Page Titles===
The title of an article should be ''exactly'' the term used in-game.  For characters who have "nick-names," use the most common/obvious one (eg [[Big Smoke]]). Neither British nor American spellings are preferred, but use those used ingame if possible, and try to remain consistent. If there are multiple possible names, or multiple possible spellings, create redirect pages for those and redirect them to the main article.
 
Use plurals when referring to types of things, eg [[Missions]], [[Vehicles]], [[Hidden Packages]]. Don't include punctuation or words such as "the", unless it is part of the actual name (eg [[In the Beginning...]].
 
When referring to specifically one game, say <code>[objects plural] in [long game name]</code>. For example: [[Missions in GTA Vice City]], not ''GTA Vice City Missions'' or ''Missions (GTA Vice City)''.
 
If referring to a game, use "GTA Vice City". If referring to a city, use "Vice City". See [[Project:Consistency]] for more examples.
 
Titles should be in title case, with capitalization of almost all words - except for internal articles, prepositions and conjunctions (eg in/the/a/is/if/to).
 
Examples:
*The Vitamins Are in My Fresh Brussels Sprouts
*Missions in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
*Welcome to the House of Fun
 
===Language===
As with titles, neither British nor American spellings are preferred. However, try to be consistent within an article, and always use the in-game spelling where possible.
 
For the first mention of (or link to) a game, use its full title (eg [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]). For every subsequent mention, abbreviate Grand Theft Auto to GTA (eg [[GTA Vice City]]) - but don't use a colon (:). If a title is being used lots, you may use an acronym, eg: <code>GTA 1, GTA 2, GTA III, GTA VC, GTA SA, GTA LCS, GTA VCS, GTA IV</code> (without a colon). Never use "VC" or "Vice City" to refer to a game, that should only be used to mention the city/place.
 
Sentences should be in sentence case, such as this sentence. Use capital letters for the first word in a sentence, proper nouns (eg names) and acronyms (eg SPANK). Don't use dots in acronyms, unless the game specifically uses them.
 
For numbers 1-10, use words (one, two, three), unless it is in a big list or for a mathematical calculation. For numbers above ten, use numerals (22, 54, 123) and use a comma to separate thousands (every three digits, from the right) eg 1,000,000. For small numbers, try to be accurate, using decimal places where appropriate.


===Content===
===Content===
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An article's main page should be informative and helpful to the reader.  It should contain complete and accurate details and should be easy to read.  Any information relevant only to editors should be added to the article's talk page.  Any discussion of the article's content or style should take place on the article's talk page.
An article's main page should be informative and helpful to the reader.  It should contain complete and accurate details and should be easy to read.  Any information relevant only to editors should be added to the article's talk page.  Any discussion of the article's content or style should take place on the article's talk page.
All content should abide to our [[Project:Copyright|Copyright]] restrictions.


===Attributions===
===Attributions===
Attributions (e.g. "written by GTAMAN") and dates/times (e.g. "added Apr 29, 2008") should not be included on the article's main page.  The wiki keeps a record of all edits, which editor it was made by, and when it was made. (However, comments left on talk pages ''should'' be signed, see [[#Talk Pages|below]]).
Articles should not include details of when content was added, or who by. All content written on a page is open to everyone, and it doesn't matter who wrote it. Nobody 'owns' any pages or sections, except what is inside their user pages. The history of a page shows exactly who edited what, and that cannot be modified. The only time you should sign your name is when you leave a comment on a talk page or in the forum.
 
===References===
When citing details that are not verifiable in-game, use the {{template|references}} tag to link to the source of the information.


===Game Information===
===Game Information===
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Many types of [[Grand Theft Wiki:Layout Guide|layouts]] are preferred for certain game pages, most using the appropriate [[:Category:Infoboxes|infobox]].
Many types of [[Grand Theft Wiki:Layout Guide|layouts]] are preferred for certain game pages, most using the appropriate [[:Category:Infoboxes|infobox]].
===References===
When citing details that are not verifiable in-game, use the {{template|references}} tag to link to the source of the information.


===Links===
===Links===
Avoid cluttered links.  Only use a link for the first occurrence of a topic in each section; there is no reason to link to the same article multiple times in a section.  Only link to an article if the information is likely to help the reader; too many irrelevant links cause "pauses" when reading and can distract from the intention of the page.
Avoid cluttered links.  Only use a link for the first occurrence of a topic in each section; there is no reason to link to the same article multiple times in a section.  Only link to an article if the information is likely to help the reader; too many irrelevant links cause "pauses" when reading and can distract from the intention of the page. However if you are recommending to visit a particular page for further reading, then a link is required.


===Disambiguation===
===Disambiguation===
When an article shares a name with another article, such as two different games having missions with the same name, or a character's name also being the name of a mission, they must be disambiguated. The title of each page should be clarified, such as "Title (person)" and "Title (mission)", or "Title (GTA SA)" and "Title (GTA VC)". The title page, the one without any parenthesis, should use a {{template|disambig}} tag, and should link to the relevant articles.
When an article shares a name with another article, such as two different games having missions with the same name, or a character's name also being the name of a mission, they must be disambiguated.  
 
The title of each page should be clarified, often by adding an extra word to explain which subject the page is about. If a name is used for a mission and a character, use [[Big Smoke (character)]] and [[Big Smoke (mission)]].
 
If there is a different character/mission/vehicle with the same name in two different games/cities, specify the game/city name with its acronym, eg [[Downtown (Vice City)]]. This can extend to others, such as [[GTA San Andreas Cheats (PC)]] and [[GTA San Andreas Cheats (360]]
 
However, if one of the versions is a lot more prominent than the other, you can leave one page at its name, and only specify the less-important page. For example [[Big Smoke]] is the character, and links to [[Big Smoke (mission)]], which is less prominent. Likewise that [[Vice City]] refers to the city in the GTA III era, more than the less-prominent GTA 1 rendition; and [[GTA]] refers to the series rather than [[GTA 1]].
 
If there are more than 2 pages with the same name (or similar), you should create a disambiguation page at that page name (eg [[City Hall]]), use the {{template|disambig}} tag, and link to each possible page. Each of those pages should be named as above. You can include other links to pages with similar names, eg at [[City Hall]].
 
On each disambiguated page, or if there is a possible misspelling of a name, add a ''did you mean'' clause at the top of the page, eg:
 
<nowiki>:''This page refers to ____. Did you mean [[link]]?''</nowiki>


===Spoilers===
===Spoilers===
"Spoilers" should not be included on list-type pages, such as [[Missions in GTA San Andreas]] or [[Characters in GTA IV]]. Single-topic pages, however, like [[Carl "CJ" Johnson]] or [[Sir, Yes Sir!]] should contain complete and accurate details, and so should contain all spoilers related to the topic, without any "spoiler warnings."  If there is doubt as to whether a spoiler should be included, include it with a {{template|spoiler}} tag and a more experienced editor or admin will make the decision.
"Spoilers" are pieces of information revealing important plot developments, which many users don't want to know until they play that part of the game themselves. Spoilers should not be included on general pages (eg [[GTA IV]]) or list-type pages (such as [[Missions in GTA San Andreas]]).
 
Spoilers may be included on the article to which they directly relate to, such as the page for that mission or character. However, they should be discreet and not in the first sentence. For bigger spoilers, use the {{template|spoiler}} tag to make it very obvious not to read that section if the reader doesn't want to know the secrets. If you are unsure, place a spoiler tag and discuss it on the talk page.
 
We need to include as much relevant information as possible, but that doesn't mean spoiling the experience for our visitors.


==Talk Pages==
==Talk Pages==
===Content===
===Content===
A talk page (''i.e. [[Grand Theft Wiki talk:Style Guide]]'' notice the "_talk" added on to the end of the namespace) is used to discuss the article's style and content, or lack thereof.  Talk pages are not intended to discuss the articles' topic. For discussion of a topic, the [[Forum]] is more appropriate.
A talk page (''i.e. [[Talk:Main Page]]'') is used to discuss the article's style and content, not the subject matter. For discussion of a topic, such as a game or mission, the [[Forum]] is more appropriate.  


Keep each conversation on one page.  Do not reply to a talk page comment on another page.  Keeping a conversation in one place makes it easy for other editors (who may benefit from the conversation) to follow the flow of conversation.
Try to keep each conversation on one page - do not reply to a talk page comment on another page.  This is the same for user talk pages - reply on the same page as what you are replying to, wherever possible. Keeping a conversation in one place makes it easy for other editors (who may benefit from the conversation) to follow the flow of conversation. However some users may forget to check a talk page for replies after they have commented, so you may place a link on their talk page reminding them to look there.


===Attributions===
===Attributions===
On an article's talk page, attributions are made by typing four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>) at the end of your comment.  This adds the time of the post and your signature (usually a link to your user and/or talk page(s).)
On an article's talk page, attributions are made by typing four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>) at the end of your comment.  This adds the time of the post and your signature (usually a link to your user and/or talk page(s).)


===Topics===
===Sections===
Always preface a new topic with a two-tier header <nowiki>(i.e. ==My Topic==).</nowiki>  A reply should be indented with a colon (:), and each additional reply should include one additional colon. When a conversation has many replies, the fifth comment should have no colons.  For example:
Always preface a new topic with a two-tier header (i.e. <code><nowiki>==My Topic==</nowiki></code>). A reply should be indented with a colon (:), and each additional reply should include one additional colon. When a conversation has many replies, the fifth comment should have no colons.  For example:
==My Topic==
This is my topic.
:Reply 1
::Reply 2
:::Reply 3
::::Reply 4
Reply 5
:Reply 6
 
==Language==
*As page names, neither American nor British spellings are preferred; it is preferred to have both as pages, and have one redirect to the other.  Where applicable, the alternative spelling should redirect to the spelling used in-game.
 
*Within the text of an article, neither American not British spellings are preferred, but should be consistent within the article, and should use the spelling used in-game wherever possible.
 
*Within the text of an article, numbers should be written out in words, so long as it is two words or less.  Tables and statistics, however, should be written out numerically. When referring to something in-game, it should be written out as it is portrayed on the game.
 
*At all times, the exact text used in-game should be used on the wiki, with redirects from alternative spellings.


*When naming pages, use the following guidelines:
<pre>==My Topic==
**Game main page:
This is my topic.
***The game's full title should be used
:Reply 1
***Grand Theft Auto 1 & 2 use Arabic numerals
::Reply 2
***Grand Theft Auto III & IV use Roman numerals
:::Reply 3
***Games without a numeric indicator should include a colon (:) after "Grand Theft Auto"
::::Reply 4
**Pages including a game's name in the title:
Reply 5
***Use "(Topic) in GTA (Game)" - removing the parenthesis and using the appropriate term.
:Reply 6</pre>
***No colons are necessary when "Grand Theft Auto" is abbreviated as "GTA"


*When including a game title in the text of an article, the first occurrence should be the full title with no abbreviations.  Subsequent occurrences may be abbreviated using "GTA 1", "GTA San Andreas", "GTA IV", etc. no colons are necessary when "Grand Theft Auto" is abbreviated as "GTA"
In a conversation between 2 or 3 people, you can indent your next reply using the same number of colons, to make it obvious who is speaking - but that doesn't work if you only reply once, or if there are lots of people replying.


==See Also==
==See Also==
*'''[[Grand Theft Wiki:Policy|Policy]]''' - This page outlines what policy is, and the processes behind it
*'''[[Grand Theft Wiki:Policy|Policy]]''' - This page outlines what policy is, and the processes behind it
*'''[[Grand Theft Wiki:Rules|Rules]]''' - The rules of Grand Theft Wiki must not be broken on any accounts
*'''[[Grand Theft Wiki:Rules|Rules]]''' - The rules of Grand Theft Wiki must not be broken on any accounts
*'''[[Grand Theft Wiki:Layout Guide|Layout Guide]]:''' − The preferred layouts for game information pages
*'''[[Grand Theft Wiki:Consistency|Consistency]]''' - Making sure articles are consistent across the wiki
*'''[[Grand Theft Wiki:Consistency|Consistency]]''' - Making sure articles are consistent across the wiki
*'''[[Help:Editing|Editing]]:''' − How to use Grand Theft Wiki, find your way, and edit pages
*'''[[Help:Editing|Editing]]:''' - How to use Grand Theft Wiki, find your way, and edit pages
*'''[[Help:How To|How To]]:''' - How to format text, images, tables, and pages
*'''[[Help:How To|How To]]:''' - How to format text, images, tables, and pages
*'''[[Help]]:''' - Help with many different aspects of Grand Theft Wiki
*'''[[Help]]:''' - Help with many different aspects of Grand Theft Wiki
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