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How to Format a wikiHow Article

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Format a wikiHow Article



At wikiHow, we try to have all of our pages follow a consistent format for easier readability. Not all instructions lend themselves to this format, but most do. So, when you're editing pages, try to keep the following guidelines in mind!

Edit Steps

  1. 1
    Limit each step to one main action to identify and describe a part of the process that the title describes: for the reader to do (stepwise).
    • If an article needs to be converted to action steps: Place {{format}} at the top in the article.
  2. 2
    Write your step as either an "abstract - nonphysical" -- or "concrete - physical" process:  
    1. Actions that are Abstract, invisible actions: "Consider...", "Recall", "Be thoughtful...", "Limit...".
    2. Actions that are Concrete, "viewable" behaviors: "Cut...", "Draw...", "Screw in...", "Paint...", "Splash-on...".
  3. 3
    Eliminate using only an explanation or just a definition as a step. Explanations and definitions are to be included in your steps, of course -- or those may be placed in bulleted sub-steps, and may be in quotation marks, if they are attributed to an outside source.
  4. 4
    Avoid transitional or introductory wording: on most steps, start with a clear action verb-- an activity for the one following it to perform. Do not start with, "First", "Then", "Also" or similar introductory words.
    • Start each step with an action verb as a good guideline -- for example notice the verbs of the current article: "Limit...", "Write...", "Make...", "Eliminate...", "Avoid..." and "Start...".
    • Keep in mind that not all topics and writing styles lend themselves to that rule of thumb. As long as each step clearly and discretely brings the reader closer to accomplishing the goal outlined in the title, the wording does not always need to be changed so that the first word is an action verb. Articles on topics like knitting, crochet, programming, and mathematics may call for patterns, abbreviations, and formulas that instruct without using action verbs. Example: http://www.wikihow.com/Crochet-a-Cat-Hat
    • Conditional phrases are acceptable. Example, "If the top turns brown, remove it from the oven immediately."
    • Some steps involve observing to make sure you're on the right track, especially when images are provided for reference, especially with recipes and crafts. Example: "After 15 minutes, the mixture should thicken to the consistency shown" or "After unfolding the flap, the creases should look like this".
    • If the action verb is the same for every step, it can be excluded altogether, as it's probably implied by the nature of the article. Example: Instead of writing "Sign A like this...Sign B like this..." you can exclude the word "Sign" and go directly to the letter. http://www.wikihow.com/Fingerspell-the-Alphabet-in-American-Sign-Language
  5. 5
    Compare the following two examples of steps, beginning with a (1) heading versus (2) verb. Either method would briefly describe a process or technique -- such as when making a book:  
    1. Binding. This part of the process will ensure that your book and its sections don't fall apart. Weave the thread through each hole, starting at the top and crossing over the previous stitch.

      VERSUS

    2. Weave a thread through each hole for binding the book sections together, starting at the top and crossing over the previous stitch. This part of the process will ensure that your book doesn't fall apart.
  6. 6
    Break up very long steps. You can divide it into separate steps, or into substeps. The substeps can be in bulleted (#*) or numbered (##) format. Keep in mind that if the substeps get so numerous or long that the reader may forget which step they're on, subsections may be more appropriate (described in the next step).
  7. 7
    Subsections come in handy when listing multiple methods on one page. They're also useful for breaking down a very long process into phases. They are created in the advanced editing interface by surrounding words with three equal signs (===Subheading===). A subsection can have its own brief introduction before the steps begin, if necessary. If you find that each subsection might require its own set of tips and warnings, however, that's a sign that the article might need splitting. Here are some examples of good use of subsections:

  8. 8
    Put long lists into a separate subsection. If a long list forces a reader to scroll down to get to the next step, it probably needs to be moved into its own subsection. If it has more than one column, consider using a table instead (see How to Make Wiki Tables).
  9. 9
    Consolidate the ingredients. The ingredients list goes before the steps. If there are several recipes in the article, try to keep them all together with bullets (*) and sub-bullets (**) like this:

    • For Recipe 1
      • ingredients
      • ingredients
      • ingredients
    • For Recipe 2
      • ingredients
      • ingredients
  10. 10
    Make sure the Things You'll Need are objects. A good rule of thumb is that if it's not something you can buy at a store or find in your cabinets or closet, it probably shouldn't be on this list.

Edit Tips

  • Even if there are many subsections, always make sure there is a steps section heading, or else the title will not say "How to" at the beginning, and other things will start to go wrong with the page (for example, a tool will insert a video into the beginning of the article when there is no steps section heading).
  • Instructions are usually followed in chronological order, but if steps can be followed in any order, they can be listed as bullets under one step, or step numbers can be replaced by bullets (in which case you should force the page to open in advanced editor so that numbers don't get automatically re-inserted).
  • It's not required that the same word is used throughout the article, when a synonym is available. How to Husk Corn, for example, uses both "husk" and "shuck" interchangeably.
  • Colors can be used minimally to highlight text, like in How to Use English Punctuation Correctly.
  • Click here for a list of articles in need of formatting.
  • See http://www.wikihow.com/wikiHow:Use-Advanced-Wiki-Syntax to find more scripts and links.
  • Even articles on "How to Understand..." should be instructional. How to Understand the Tao Te Ching is a good example; note how it provides steps which tell the reader what to do in order to better understand the context of the book they are reading. It is appropriately distinct from How to Read the Tao Te Ching.
  • The maximum number of equal signs that can be used in subheadings is six. The more equal signs, the smaller.

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Last edited:
January 10, 2012 by Garshepp

Categories:
Formatting

Recent edits by: Evest, Garshepp: Jobs, religious freedom, 1st Amendment Rights, Cece (see all)

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