Help:Introduction to the Manual of Style/6

The MoS is a great resource, but you're not expected to read the whole thing! Here are the key principles to keep in mind:

1. Consistency – Keep style and formatting consistent within an article, and between articles where possible.
2. Stability – Avoid changing an article from one guideline-defined style to another without a very good reason.
3. Clarity – Aim to make the encyclopedia as readable as possible (e.g. wording, layout, formatting, diagrams).
4. Referencing – Make sure readers are able to trace information in the encyclopedia back to reliable sources.

The full MoS contains further advice on everything from punctuation to units of measurement to trivia. You can look up advice about specific issues using the MoS search box on the right. When in doubt, copy the formatting of an existing article (ideally a featured article) on a similar subject. Although it is important to follow the MoS where possible, verifiable content is more important than formatting!

• Wikipedia:Layout
• Wikipedia:Writing better articles

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