User:Fyslee/WikiHelp

The Wikipedia reference desk works like a library reference desk. Before asking a question though, please try using the search box to find the answer you're looking for. For example, to find out more about the Seven Wonders of the World, you can find our article by entering Seven Wonders of the World into the box above. Also try searching the reference desk archives.

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

3 apostrophes will bold the text.

5 apostrophes will bold and italicize the text.

(Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything special --
there 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 bold '''the text'''. 

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

(Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything
special -- <br> there 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 (see below).

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 on one line and close it 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''' on one line 
and close it on the next.

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

Put text in a typewriter font. The same font is generally used for computer code.

Put text in a <tt>typewriter
font</tt>. The same font is 
generally used for <code>
computer code</code>.

Strike out or underline text, or write it in small caps.

<strike>Strike out</strike>
or <u>underline</u> text,
or write it <span style=
"font-variant:small-caps">
in small caps</span>.

Superscripts and subscripts: X², H₂O

Superscripts and subscripts:
X<sup>2</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O

• Please note the American spelling of "center".

<center>Centered text</center>

The blockquote command will indent both margins when needed instead of the left margin only as the colon does.

<blockquote>
The '''blockquote''' command will indent 
both margins when needed instead of the 
left margin only as the colon does.  
</blockquote>

Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->) only appear while editing the page.

• If you wish to make comments to the public, you should usually use the talk page.

Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->)
only appear while editing the page.
<!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. -->

Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them.

Using more equals signs creates a 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 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 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.

* ''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 

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.

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.

     definition lists

     can be

     nested 

     too

* 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.

A newline starts a new paragraph.
Often used for discussion on talk pages.

We use 1 colon to indent once.

We use 2 colons to indent twice.

3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.

: A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph.
A newline starts a new paragraph. <br>
Often used for discussion on talk pages.
: 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 horizontal dividing lines (----) to separate text.

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

You can make horizontal dividing lines (----)
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.^[1]

1. ^ CIA World Factbook, 2006.

For details, see Wikipedia:Footnotes and Help:Footnotes.

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/>

For details, see [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]]
and [[Help:Footnotes]].

Here's a link to a page named Official position. You can even say Official positions and the link will show up correctly.

Here's a link to a page named [[Official position]].
You can even say [[Official position]]s
and the link will show up correctly.

You can put formatting around a link. Example: Wikipedia.

You can put formatting around a link.
Example: ''[[Wikipedia]]''.

The first letter of articles is automatically capitalized, so wikipedia goes to the same place as Wikipedia. Capitalization matters after the first letter.

The ''first letter'' of articles is automatically
capitalized, so [[wikipedia]] goes to the same place
as [[Wikipedia]]. Capitalization matters after the
first letter.

The weather in London is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.

[[The weather in London]] is a page that doesn't exist
yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.

You can link to a page section by its title:

• List of cities by country#Morocco.

If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. #Example section 3 goes to the third section named "Example section".

You can link to a page section by its title:

*[[List of cities by country#Morocco]].

If multiple sections have the same title, add
a number. [[#Example section 3]] goes to the
third section named "Example section".

You can make a link point to a different place with a piped link. Put the link target first, then the pipe character "|", then the link text.

• About Links
• Cities in Morocco

Or you can use the "pipe trick" so that text in parentheses or text after a comma does not appear.

• Spinning
• Boston

*[[Help:Link|About Links]]
*[[List of cities by country#Morocco|
Cities in Morocco]]

*[[Spinning (textiles)|]]
*[[Boston, Massachusetts|]]

You can make an external link just by typing a URL: http://www.nupedia.com

You can give it a title: Nupedia

Or leave the title blank: [1]

You can make an external link just by typing a URL:
http://www.nupedia.com

You can give it a title:
[http://www.nupedia.com Nupedia]

Or leave the title blank:
[http://www.nupedia.com]

Linking to an e-mail address works the same way: mailto:someone@domain.com or someone

Linking to an e-mail address works the same way:
mailto:someone@domain.com or 
[mailto:someone@domain.com someone]

You can redirect the user to another page.

#REDIRECT [[Official position]]

Category links do not show up in line but instead at page bottom and cause the page to be listed in the category.

Add an extra colon to link to a category in line without causing the page to be listed in the category: Category:English documentation

[[Help:Category|Category links]] do not show up in line
but instead at page bottom ''and cause the page to be
listed in the category.''
[[Category:English documentation]]

Add an extra colon to ''link'' to a category in line
without causing the page to be listed in the category:
[[:Category:English documentation]]

The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's date preferences. These three dates will show up the same if you choose a format in your Preferences:

• July 20, 1969
• 20 July 1969
• 1969-07-20

The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's
date preferences. These three dates will show up the
same if you choose a format in your
[[Special:Preferences|]]:
* [[July 20]], [[1969]]
* [[20 July]] [[1969]]
* [[1969]]-[[07-20]]

The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: →

<nowiki>
The nowiki tag ignores 
[[Wiki]] ''markup''.
It reformats text by 
removing
newlines    and multiple
 spaces.
It still interprets special
characters: &rarr;
</nowiki>

The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: →

<pre>
The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: &rarr;
</pre>

Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting.

Putting a space at the
beginning of each
line stops the text   
from being
reformatted.  It still 
interprets Wiki
markup and special
characters: →

Leading spaces are another way
to preserve formatting.

 Putting a space at the
 beginning of each
 line stops the text   
 from being
 reformatted.  It still 
 interprets [[Wiki]]
 ''markup'' and special
 characters: →

A picture, including alternate text:

You can put the image in a frame with a caption:

This Wiki's logo

A picture, including alternate text:

[[Image:Wiki.png|This Wiki's logo]]

The image in a frame with a caption:
[[Image:Wiki.png|frame|This Wiki's logo]]

A link to Wikipedia's page for the image: Image:Wiki.png

Or a link directly to the image itself: Media:Wiki.png

A link to Wikipedia's page for the image:
[[:Image:Wiki.png]]

Or a link directly to the image itself:
[[Media:Wiki.png]]

Use media: links to link directly to sounds or videos: A sound file

Use '''media:''' links to link 
directly to sounds or videos: 
[[media:Sg_mrob.ogg|A sound file]]

{| border="1" cellspacing="0" 
cellpadding="5" align="center"
! This
! is
|- 
| a
| table
|-
|}

<math>\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}</math>

{{Transclusion demo}}

This template takes two parameters, and creates underlined text with a hover box for many modern browsers supporting CSS:

Hover your mouse over this text

Go to this page to see the H:title template itself: {{H:title}}

This template takes two parameters, and
creates underlined text with a hover box
for many modern browsers supporting CSS:

{{H:title|This is the hover text|
Hover your mouse over this text}}

Go to this page to see the H:title template
itself: {{tl|H:title}}

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

3 apostrophes will bold the text.

5 apostrophes will bold and italicize the text.

(Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything special --
there 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 bold '''the text'''. 

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

(Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything
special -- <br> there 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 (see below).

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 on one line and close it 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''' on one line 
and close it on the next.

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

Put text in a typewriter font. The same font is generally used for computer code.

Put text in a <tt>typewriter
font</tt>. The same font is 
generally used for <code>
computer code</code>.

Strike out or underline text, or write it in small caps.

<strike>Strike out</strike>
or <u>underline</u> text,
or write it <span style=
"font-variant:small-caps">
in small caps</span>.

Superscripts and subscripts: X², H₂O

Superscripts and subscripts:
X<sup>2</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O

• Please note the American spelling of "center".

<center>Centered text</center>

The blockquote command will indent both margins when needed instead of the left margin only as the colon does.

<blockquote>
The '''blockquote''' command will indent 
both margins when needed instead of the 
left margin only as the colon does.  
</blockquote>

Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->) only appear while editing the page.

• If you wish to make comments to the public, you should usually use the talk page.

Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->)
only appear while editing the page.
<!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. -->

Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them.

Using more equals signs creates a 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 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 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.

* ''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 

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.

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.

     definition lists

     can be

     nested 

     too

* 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.

A newline starts a new paragraph.
Often used for discussion on talk pages.

We use 1 colon to indent once.

We use 2 colons to indent twice.

3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.

: A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph.
A newline starts a new paragraph. <br>
Often used for discussion on talk pages.
: 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 horizontal dividing lines (----) to separate text.

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

You can make horizontal dividing lines (----)
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.^[2]

1. ^ CIA World Factbook, 2006.
2. ^ CIA World Factbook, 2006.

For details, see Wikipedia:Footnotes and Help:Footnotes.

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/>

For details, see [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]]
and [[Help:Footnotes]].

Here's a link to a page named Official position. You can even say Official positions and the link will show up correctly.

Here's a link to a page named [[Official position]].
You can even say [[Official position]]s
and the link will show up correctly.

You can put formatting around a link. Example: Wikipedia.

You can put formatting around a link.
Example: ''[[Wikipedia]]''.

The first letter of articles is automatically capitalized, so wikipedia goes to the same place as Wikipedia. Capitalization matters after the first letter.

The ''first letter'' of articles is automatically
capitalized, so [[wikipedia]] goes to the same place
as [[Wikipedia]]. Capitalization matters after the
first letter.

The weather in Moscow is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.

[[The weather in Moscow]] is a page that doesn't exist
yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.

You can link to a page section by its title:

• List of cities by country#Morocco.

If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. #Example section 3 goes to the third section named "Example section".

You can link to a page section by its title:

*[[List of cities by country#Morocco]].

If multiple sections have the same title, add
a number. [[#Example section 3]] goes to the
third section named "Example section".

You can make a link point to a different place with a piped link. Put the link target first, then the pipe character "|", then the link text.

• About Links
• Cities in Morocco

Or you can use the "pipe trick" so that text in parentheses or text after a comma does not appear.

• Spinning
• Boston

*[[Help:Link|About Links]]
*[[List of cities by country#Morocco|
Cities in Morocco]]

*[[Spinning (textiles)|]]
*[[Boston, Massachusetts|]]

You can make an external link just by typing a URL: http://www.nupedia.com

You can give it a title: Nupedia

Or leave the title blank: [2]

You can make an external link just by typing a URL:
http://www.nupedia.com

You can give it a title:
[http://www.nupedia.com Nupedia]

Or leave the title blank:
[http://www.nupedia.com]

Linking to an e-mail address works the same way: mailto:someone@domain.com or someone

Linking to an e-mail address works the same way:
mailto:someone@domain.com or 
[mailto:someone@domain.com someone]

You can redirect the user to another page.

#REDIRECT [[Official position]]

Category links do not show up in line but instead at page bottom and cause the page to be listed in the category.

Add an extra colon to link to a category in line without causing the page to be listed in the category: Category:English documentation

[[Help:Category|Category links]] do not show up in line
but instead at page bottom ''and cause the page to be
listed in the category.''
[[Category:English documentation]]

Add an extra colon to ''link'' to a category in line
without causing the page to be listed in the category:
[[:Category:English documentation]]

The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's date preferences. These three dates will show up the same if you choose a format in your Preferences:

• July 20, 1969
• 20 July 1969
• 1969-07-20

The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's
date preferences. These three dates will show up the
same if you choose a format in your
[[Special:Preferences|]]:
* [[July 20]], [[1969]]
* [[20 July]] [[1969]]
* [[1969]]-[[07-20]]

The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: →

<nowiki>
The nowiki tag ignores 
[[Wiki]] ''markup''.
It reformats text by 
removing
newlines    and multiple
 spaces.
It still interprets special
characters: &rarr;
</nowiki>

The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: →

<pre>
The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: &rarr;
</pre>

Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting.

Putting a space at the
beginning of each
line stops the text   
from being
reformatted.  It still 
interprets Wiki
markup and special
characters: →

Leading spaces are another way
to preserve formatting.

 Putting a space at the
 beginning of each
 line stops the text   
 from being
 reformatted.  It still 
 interprets [[Wiki]]
 ''markup'' and special
 characters: →

A picture, including alternate text:

You can put the image in a frame with a caption:

This Wiki's logo

A picture, including alternate text:

[[Image:Wiki.png|This Wiki's logo]]

The image in a frame with a caption:
[[Image:Wiki.png|frame|This Wiki's logo]]

A link to Wikipedia's page for the image: Image:Wiki.png

Or a link directly to the image itself: Media:Wiki.png

A link to Wikipedia's page for the image:
[[:Image:Wiki.png]]

Or a link directly to the image itself:
[[Media:Wiki.png]]

Use media: links to link directly to sounds or videos: A sound file

Use '''media:''' links to link 
directly to sounds or videos: 
[[media:Sg_mrob.ogg|A sound file]]

{| border="1" cellspacing="0" 
cellpadding="5" align="center"
! This
! is
|- 
| a
| table
|-
|}

<math>\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}</math>

{{Transclusion demo}}

This template takes two parameters, and creates underlined text with a hover box for many modern browsers supporting CSS:

Hover your mouse over this text

Go to this page to see the H:title template itself: {{H:title}}

This template takes two parameters, and
creates underlined text with a hover box
for many modern browsers supporting CSS:

{{H:title|This is the hover text|
Hover your mouse over this text}}

Go to this page to see the H:title template
itself: {{tl|H:title}}