ParadiseStation Wiki:Manual of Style/Typography
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This section of the Manual of Style describes Typography or the style and appearance of printed matter in our articles. Most importantly it will define what types of text decoration to use and when.
Text Decorations
Boldface
Bolt Text should be used in specific cases and very sparingly used to emphasize important information in small amounts. The benefit of bolding text is that is usually in the brightest and easiest to read color as well as having a thicker font. This allows for critical information to be seen first by readers. However, overusing it or highlighting more than a sentence is generally poor practice and counterintuitive to the usage of bold font in the first place.
Here is when bold text should be used:
- The most common use of boldface is to highlight the first occurrence of the article's title word or phrase in the lead section.
- For example this sub-articles name is "Typography" and the first time "Typography" is written in the introduction it is bolded.
- In the first column of tables, the name of the item is to be bolded (if not already done due to an interwiki link).
- Similarly, if terms are being defined in a list (term followed by colon), then the term and colon should be bolded.
- End of Section Notes
- Finally, boldface can also be used to emphasize text, this should be used sparingly and only to emphasize points that are absolutely critical for the reader to know.
Italics
Italicized text is used to emphasize important information and can be used much less sparingly than boldface. Italicized text is much easier on the eyes and can provide emphasis without the very vivid affect of boldface.
Here is when Italics should be used.
- Emphasizing text, note that this should only be done for a few words and generally not entire sentences.
Strikethrough
Strikethrough should be avoided. Generally only ever used for strikethrough humor which is discouraged anyway
Underscores
Underscoring should be avoided. It can easily be confused with actual links and generally does not look nice.
Fonts
A font is a particular size, weight and style of a typeface. The default font of the wiki is already set and for the most does not need to be altered except in special cases.
Font Family
Changing Font Families should be avoided except when emulating in-game font styles for identifying and explaining the User Interface to the reader.
Font Size
Changing Font Size can be helpful for declaring a section subject to the reader. It should only be used when headers are not feasible or in other edge cases.
Here is when non-default Font-sizes should be used:
- For emulating in-game font styles for identifying and explaining the User Interface to the reader.
- For usage in special div elements and templates
Lists
The benefits of using a list are that a list allows for concise and specific definitions of objects, ideas, and terms in a clean manner. Different types of lists should be used for different purposes, however, as a general rule of thumb: lists should not make up the entirety of a section, instead they should be used to complement a section. Explanatory text in the form of sentences/paragraphs should always precede lists as to provide context or commentary to make clear the listed items relevance to the article or section.
Bullet Lists
Bullet lists should be used mostly to define terms or groups together concise but separate snippets of information.
Here is when Bullet Lists should be used:
- Defining multiple terms in a row
- Looping together related but separate snippets of information
- Breaking down an aforementioned topic/subject into small, specific, and digestible parts
Numeric Lists
Numeric lists should be used to lay out a procedural manner in concise digestible steps. Much like in many legal documents, numeric lists should also be used to list out citable clauses defined in Standard Operating Procedure.
Here is when Numeric Lists should be used:
- Standard Operating Procedure Clauses
- Outlining step-by-step procedure to guide the reader through a process
Image Lists
Image lists are much like bulleted lists but instead of using bullets it used 32px image files. Image lists are very effective for visualizing an item for readers so they not only know the term being defined but also what it looks like in-game. Image lists are especially useful when a table would take up too much space or not fit in an article section.
Image lists should only be used to define in-game objects in associating with their in-game sprite.
End Marks
Exclamatory marks such as '?' and '!' should be used in moderation but can be extremely effective for article rhetoric when used correctly.
? - Question marks should be used to pose important thinking questions to the reader in order to foster critical thinking and set the reader up for the next section which will answer that question or set the reader on a path to answer it for themselves in-game. Question marks should not be used to pose rhetorical questions that imply a certain meaning or idea; Wiki pages should always be clear and transparent in the information or idea being conveyed or else it should not take a stance on the topic at all.
! - Exclamation marks should be used even more sparingly than question marks. These marks act as an alarm or "high-priority indicator" to the reader that the information being conveyed is important. Much like italics or boldface, exclamation marks should be used sparingly to emphasize information or sentences that the reader should watch/keep an eye out for. Occasionally, it is appropriate for articles to use exclamation marks to add a bit of personality/humor to a section that may be particularly dry or boring. Always keep in mind that moderation of end marks is the key to a well-written section!