Bulbanews:Manual of style: Difference between revisions

Any questions or disputes regarding Bulbanews style should be directed to [[User talk:G50|G50]].

In addition to writing articles with factual, useful and relevant information backed up by reliable sources, Bulbanews contributors are expected to demonstrate fluency in the English language and a basic understanding of {{wp|Wikitext|wikicode}}. Some of the most commonly used aspects of wikicode are listed below. Should you forget, above the text editors for articles are a row of buttons with many common wikicode attributes.

* '''Text formatting:''' To make text bold, put three apostrophes on either side of it, such as <code><nowiki>'''Bulbanews'''</nowiki></code>. This will result in '''Bulbanews'''. However, bold text is mostly for any names or facts which need a very large amount of emphasis. For a normal emphasis (such as translations of Japanese text), it is common style to put text in italics, which is done with two apostrophes instead of three, such as <code><nowiki>''Bulbanews''</nowiki></code>. This will result in ''Bulbanews''. Use your judgment and follow precedent as to when bold or italics are appropriate.

* '''Links:''' Whenever something is referenced in an article that has its own article on {{bp|Bulbapedia}}, be sure to link to it. This is done by putting two brackets, a vertical pipe and the letters '''bp''' on either side of a word. For example, <code><nowiki>{{bp|Pokémon}}</nowiki></code> will result in {{bp|Pokémon}}. However, sometimes there's no way to use the exact name of an article in a sentence without the sentence being awkwardly worded. In these instances, to have different text display than the article's name, put vertical pipes between '''bp''', the article's name and the text you would like to display. For example, <code><nowiki>{{bp|Pokémon|Pocket Monsters}}</nowiki></code> will result in {{bp|Pokémon|Pocket Monsters}}, which you may notice links to the ''Pokémon'' article.

** '''Short links:''' There are several quick links which are not only useful, but common style. For example, when linking to a Pokémon article, typing <code><nowiki>{{p|Pikachu}}</nowiki></code> results in {{p|Pikachu}}, which you may notice links to the article ''Pikachu (Pokémon)'' on Bulbapedia. Another quick link is <code><nowiki>{{m|Splash}}</nowiki></code> for the move {{m|Splash}}, for example.

**'''External links:''' Other links can be done with using a single bracket. In this instance, a vertical line is not necessary to divide the name from the link. However, the full address is needed to link to a page. For example, to link to the Bulbagarden Forums, typing <code><nowiki>[http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/index.php Bulbagarden Forums]</nowiki></code> would result in [http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/index.php Bulbagarden Forums]. External links are primarily used to cite sources and to link to any related Web sites.

***'''Do not''' use any links or templates in an article's blurb. It will mess up the [[Front page]] and {{bp|User:BulbaBot|Bulbabot}}.

* [[File:001Bulbasaur.png|thumb|100px|Bulbasaur]] '''Images:''' Images are added in a manner similar to links. To add an image, link to the image's name, but add '''File:''' before the name. For example, <code><nowiki>[[File:001MS.png]]</nowiki></code> will add in the image [[File:001MS.png]]. Formatting attributes can be added to an image as well, divided with vertical lines. For example, <nowiki>[[File:001Bulbasaur.png|thumb|100px|Bulbasaur]]</nowiki> will add the image to the right. All images are uploaded to [http://archives.bulbagarden.net Bulbagarden Archives].

**If the image is for some reason hosted elsewhere, just insert the image's link. For example, entering <code><nowiki>http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/Encyclopika/Bulbasaur.jpg</nowiki></code> would result in the image showing. Do not link to images that do not belong to you or that you do not have permission to use.

* '''Headlines:''' These are not to be confused with traditional news article headlines. Wiki articles are divided by levels of headlines, much like a large outline. These are indicated by equals signs on either side of the headline text. There are six levels of headlines, with one equals sign being the first and highest level, which would look like <code><nowiki>=Headline text=</nowiki></code>, and six equals signs being the sixth and lowest level, which would look like <code><nowiki>======Headline text======</nowiki></code>. First- and second-level headlines are underlined. Text size decreases with lower level headlines.

Bulbanews ideally uses character names appropriate to their context and in a way that is understandable by English-language readers.

* Articles about English-language releases and anime episodes and movies should always use English character names.

* Articles about Japanese-language game and other merchandise releases should use English character names unless the original Japanese names are for some reason necessary for the translation to make sense. This also applies to articles relating to another language.

* Japanese-language anime episode titles should use the original Japanese character names. However, accompany the Japanese name with the English name in parenthesis or via the {{template|tt}} template inside of the article. The template should not be used in the article title, tagline, or blurb.

* Character names in other languages are rarely used on Bulbanews, but they should be translated to English. However, accompany the translated name with the English name in parenthesis or via the {{template|tt}} template.

Linking to the Bulbapedia articles that correspond with Pokémon-related names is especially important when Japanese names are used (such as in episode titles). Readers who are unfamiliar with Japanese names may hover their cursors over Bulbapedia links to see a name's English equivalent in the link's URL, or they may click the link to obtain more information.

All modern persons should have their name given in Western order. Since the definition of "modern" may vary from culture to culture, for the Japanese, all names from the Taishō period onwards should be given in Western order. Names from the Meiji restoration may be given in Western or Eastern order—use prevailing convention on a person-by-person basis. Names prior to the Meiji restoration should be given in Eastern order.

The primary and preferred method of romanization of Japanese used on Bulbanews will be the utilization of the '''trademarked name''' of the subject in question. For example, while {{p|Umbreon}}'s Japanese name of '''ブラッキー''' would be taken literally to be romanized as ''Burakki'', the name copyrighted by Game Freak and Nintendo is in fact ''Blacky'': note how "''Burakki''" is a close approximation of this in katakana. A table of these trademarked names is found [[bp:List of Japanese Pokémon names|here]], itself derived from various official Nintendo sources as well as the Japanese list of trademarks.

The secondary method of romanization of Japanese used on Bulbanews will be the {{wp|Hepburn romanization|Hepburn standard}}, itself used widely by the world outside Japan to transliterate Japanese text. Long vowels are indicated by using the macron-topped letters '''Ā Ē Ī Ō Ū ā ē ī ō ū''', and should be used rather than a doubling of the letter, a tilde, a circumflex, or an unmarked vowel. Please note that if the copyrighted romanization uses one of these that it is not wrong (i.e., '''オオタチ''' ''Ootachi'', {{p|Furret}}, which is trademarked with the doubled O).

* I-macron ('''Ī ī''') and e-macron ('''Ē ē''') is to be used when romanizing Japanese words of foreign origin, hence ''kōhī'' for コーヒー but ''Iizuka'' for いいづか. A hint to look out for is whether or not a ''bō'' ('''ー''') is used to lengthen it.

* With ン/ん, there is some free choice whether to use '''n''' or '''m''' when followed by labial consonants '''p''', '''b''', '''f''' and '''m'''. Follow popular or established convention on a word-by-word basis, hence, ''Namba'' for ナンバ but ''Hanba'' for はんば.

* To simplify matters, always romanize ポケモン as ''Pokémon''; when ポケ is an abbreviated form of Pokémon, romanize it as ''Poké''.

* The word '''Pokémon''' is always capitalized, as well as the names of Pokémon species. So are nouns starting with "Poké," such as {{bp|Pokéblock}}, {{bp|PokéNav}} and {{bp|Poké Flute}}. Note, however, there is no one common trend for spelling of words beginning with "Poké"—they can be written as a compound word, with the second part of the word capitalized or uncapitalized, or as two words with the second word capitalized. Also note that this applies to many nouns starting with "Pokémon," such as {{bp|Pokémon Trainer}}.

* Specific terminology is different; leveling up and legendary Pokémon have a lowercase L, as "starter Pokémon" would have a lowercase "s" (but, of course, a capital P in Pokémon).

* Specific types are called "the Water type" and "the Rock type" when used as nouns and "Water-type" and "Rock-type" when used as adjectives, while their subject pages are {{bp|Water (type)}} and {{bp|Rock (type)}}, respectively. ''Squirtle is a "Water-type"'' is not correct; ''Squirtle is a '''Water type''''' and ''Squirtle is a '''Water-type Pokémon''''' are.

Episodes of the {{bp|Best Wishes series}} are titled {{bp|BW001}}, {{bp|BW002}}, etc. Similarly, episodes from the {{bp|Diamond & Pearl series}} are titled {{bp|DP001}}, {{bp|DP002}} and so on.

Episodes of the [[bp:Advanced Generation series|Advanced Generation]] are titled {{bp|AG001}}, {{bp|AG002}} and so on. Note that {{bp|AG101}} is ''Vanity Affair''—the skipped episode is {{bp|AG101 (unaired)}}. Both clip shows in the anime's history are also counted as episodes.

Side story episodes are {{bp|SS001}}, {{bp|SS002}} and so on in the order they were aired in Japan.

''For further details, please see the [[a:Archives:Manual of style|Archives manual of style]]''.

* If there is official artwork, such as the {{bp|Ken Sugimori}} stock artwork, anime stock artwork or video game sprites, this is always the preferred image. These images can usually be found in the Archives categories for each Pokémon or character. For example, Sugimori artwork of Bulbasaur could be found by accessing [[a:Category:Bulbasaur|Category:Bulbasaur]] on the Archives.

**Anime stock artwork of Pokémon should only be used for articles about the anime, while {{pkmn|Dream World}} Pokémon artwork should only be used for articles relating to the Dream World (as well as {{pkmn|Global Link}} in certain cases). Otherwise, the Sugimori artwork should be used. Sprites should only be used when no other artwork is available, excluding when tables are used. Uncommon artwork, like those from Pokémon Center promotions and Pokémon distributions, may be used when appropriate.

* Keep your opinion out of what you write unless it is a column or editorial. Avoid opinionated words—articles must convey a neutral tone.

* Avoid exclamation points, and never use one in a serious news article.

* "Toward" and related words, such as "afterward," "forward" and "backward," do not have an '''s'''.

* Titles ahead of a name are capitalized, such as "Frontier Brain {{bp|Noland}}." Put a long title in back of a name (making it lowercase). If it is a job description, it is always lowercase, such as "challenger {{bp|Ash Ketchum}}."

* It is ''Wii'', not ''the Wii'', and not ''Nintendo Wii''. The same applies for ''Wii U''. However, ''Nintendo DS'' is correct style.

* Subjects and verbs must match, such as "Electric and Psychic '''are''' my favorite types." Some misleading pronouns are singular, such as "everyone": "Everyone brought their Poké Balls" is incorrect—instead, write "Everyone brought his or her Poké Balls."

* Some guidelines were adapted from Nils Rosdahl's ''Notes on News Style''.