User:AllCluesKey/sandbox

WikiProject Mathematics Talk-page
I'm not sure if this is the best place (please redirect me, if not), but I wanted to address the general community of wikipedia mathematics contributors and editors. I feel that there is a systematic tendency of mathematics articles to be written at a level (and using a type of language) inaccessible to the general reader. I am a graduate student in physics, and thus somewhat versed in mathematics at a technical level. None-the-less, the vast majority of mathematics articles I read are wholly unhelpful in explaining the topic, as the language and content is far too technical - and far too dependent on a thorough knowledge of auxiliary material. As is said in numerous meta-articles on writing wikipedia articles - one of the hardest things to do, is take into account the knowledge and ability of the reader. That being said, most mathematics articles seem to be specifically written as more of a reference to experts, than an introduction to a broad audience. In particular, I think there are two primary characteristics that make mathematics articles unreadable:
 * 1) Introductions are too thorough.  Obviously first, introductory paragraphs of an article can not provide a complete and exhaustive explanation of the topic.  Those paragraphs should thus not read as a rambling inventory of exceptions, caveats, somewhat related concepts, and cryptic jargon.
 * 2) Articles are too interdependent (read: use too much jargon).  The aim of a wikipedia article should not be as a technical reference for an expert, but instead as a general explanation for someone unfamiliar with the concept.