View source for Site Conventions

== Monospace Blocks ==
I only use monospace blocks when necessary - when I need multiple lines to line up character by character.  The most obvious examples are tab and chord charts, but they are equally valuable for similar tasks.  Example:
  -w- -w- h -w- -w- -w- h
 c   d   e f   g   a   b c

This doesn't always work when inside tables for example:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
|
 |-|-|
 |-|-|
|}

So we have to make it explicit:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|
<pre>
|-|-|
|-|-|
</pre>
|}

They should not be used for emphasis.  Use horizontal rules,...
----
:...indents, ''italics'', and '''bold text''' instead.

==Emphasis and Key Words==
* '''Whole statements that are the key phrase or group of phrases in a long page or section should be bolded.'''
* <u>Key Words</u> should be underlined.  And [[#Key Words|linked]] to their own page/section when available.  These should appear to introduce or define a concept or saying.
* Italics should be reserved for ''emphasizing a certain word or phrase'' in a sentence.
* '''''Artists''''' and '''''Gear Manufacturers''''' should be bold and italicized.
* ''Songs'' and ''Models'' should be italicized.

== Paragraphs ==
I find

that

it is hard to read

when people make numerous, one-line

consecutive paragraphs.  If you really want someone to read the last line of a paragraph, '''''use italics or bold text'''''.

== Relevant Links ==
I try to include a relevant links section on each page.  For lessons, these all have a prev/next link, to view the lessons in order.  Additionally, I try to link highly-related content.  This doesn't need to be taken to the extreme, though.  That's what the categories are for.

== Categories ==
[http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Categories Categories] are essentially tags that allow you to find all pages relevant for a single tag or concept.  I have a default set of categories that corresponds to the breakdown of the table of contents as well as others that may span a small number of pages.  There is no need to make a category that only has 1 member page, unless you plan on there being additional pages that fit the category.

You can see all the [[Special:Categories|existing categories here]].

== Q/A ==
I like all my pages to have a Q/A section.  This gives kind of a crowd-sourced lesson feel, where as a reader is progressing through the lesson, he may encounter some confusion and can add the question to the Q/A section.  Someone with the answer may notice an unanswered question and post the answer.  I like making unanswered questions bold to catch more attention and using an unordered list for the questions, with the answer(s) nested underneath as follows:

* Is this a question?
** Yes, it is.

* '''Is this an unanswered question?'''

== Breadcrumbs ==
Pages that are part of a series, or sections within a page can be easily navigated using breadcrumbs.  I like to use the following color conventions:

{{crumbs|blue|1
|Contents#Wiki|Top-Level Site Navigation
|Site Conventions#Breadcrumbs|or Top-Level Page Navigation
}}
{{crumbs|blue2|1
|Site Conventions|Current Page in Series
|Wiki Templates|Another Page in Series
|Site Conventions#Breadcrumbs|or 2nd Level Page Navigation
}}
{{crumbs|blue3|1
|SandBox|3rd Level Page Navigation
}}

View the source of the contents page to see some examples of how this is used.  The [[Contents#Reference|reference pages]] also have good examples of easy breadcrumbs make navigation.  See [[Wiki Templates#Wiki Templates|Wiki Templates]] for templates that make writing them easy.  Or try it out in the [[SandBox]].

[[Category:Wiki]]
[[Category:Introduction]]