User:Noleander/Featured Article Checklist


 * WP:LAYOUT
 * Limit sections to 2-levels deep ( ===Title=== )
 * Include tables or block quotes, to break up prose
 * Keep under 10K words
 * "See also" section strongly discouraged ... all related links should be in body or in NavBox
 * Do not start any section title with "The ..."
 * Section titles should be very terse, ideally one word


 * WP:LEAD
 * Maximum 4 paragraphs
 * Include some kind of InfoBox, if appropriate
 * No footnotes
 * Summarize the entire article


 * Writing
 * Each section should give who/what/where context
 * Big paragraphs = Good;  Small paragraphs = Bad.  Merge unrelated paragraphs if necessary.
 * Avoid short, choppy sentences. Merge them into longer sentences using semicolons, commas, or "and"
 * Long sentences can be okay if punctuation such as ,  - ;  (progressively longer pauses) are used judiciously.
 * Sentences should flow from one into the next
 * Paragraphs should flow into each other: first sentence of each should refer to prior paragraph
 * Use professional, aloof phrasing: no slang or familiarity
 * No dramatic, POV, or superlative words: best, wild, horrible, stunning, tremendous, outstanding
 * Run thru spell checker
 * Vary wordings for spice: dont repeat the same verb or adjective if a synonym is available.
 * Vary sentence beginnings: dont start all with "Smith [verb] …" or "He [verb] …". Mix it up.
 * Avoid 3 or more commas in one sentence: use ndashes or semicolons if multiple pauses are needed
 * Avoid vague words: 'also', 'now', 'some', 'a variety of', 'several', 'many' ... generally prose gets better when they are eliminated.


 * WP:LINK
 * Find duplicate links with "Highlight duplicate links" on left toolbar
 * Dont over link
 * Dont under link: okay to do in captions; & in ref list (1st author name)
 * No red links: create stub articles if needed
 * Also link first occurrence after lead
 * Repeat link if far from first link


 * WP:MOS
 * Use ndash (or ndash;) not hyphens … esp page num ranges, or date ranges (no spaces for ranges; yes space for pauses)
 * Hyphens only for adjective-Noun modifiers
 * Measurements used as adjectives with full word:  12-day trial;   12 days (not adj);  12 d. trial (not full word)   (ditto for miles, mm, etc)


 * Dont start any sentence with And or But
 * Avoid quotes marks unless quoting someone: use italics for emphasis
 * leave final punctuation ,. outside quotes "blah blah". unless it is part of quote per WP:LQ
 * Dont put ellipses at the start of a quote, even if quote starts mid-sentence
 * Avoid abbreviations, especially months: Feb -> February
 * Spell out most things: % -> percent;   12 -> twelve;   US -> United States   WW I -> World War etc
 * Job titles: normally lower case, but uppercase if before name: President Nixon; when he was president he ...


 * Cites
 * Footnotes & refs: format must be 100% uniform!!
 * ISBN numbers: uniform & all there
 * alphabetize
 * Consider separating Expla Notes from citations-notes?
 * If 2 cites are identical: consolidate with "name" tool: then later
 * Tool (see below) will do this automatically


 * Web pages: must have "Retrieved 20 November 2011" etc


 * WP:IMAGES
 * Lots of them, but space them reasonably
 * Must include "alt=" seeing impaired text; including InfoBox pic
 * Pic comments must establish Free, or Public Domain, or Fair use
 * Alternate sides Left and Right
 * Upload to Commons, not WP. Move from WP to Commons if necessary
 * Exception: Non-free (copyrighted) pics must be uploaded to WP not Commons;
 * Non-free images must identify the copyright holder, and must include a detailed fair-use rationale per WP:FAIR USE, especially (1) reduced resolution; (2) no free alternative;   (3) directly relevant to named article;    (4) historically important; (5) significantly helps readers understanding of article.  Emphasize that "picture conveys information in a way prose alone cannot".


 * Add to images of identifiable persons (Commons only)
 * Include correct free/public domain tag: "pre 1923" vs "pre 1978 and copyright not expired" etc
 * Excellent captions that relate the image to the article
 * use - for tall pictures to break for next section


 * WP:Verifiability
 * Every sentence, except obvious/trivial, has a footnote
 * Bundle multiple footnotes into one
 * Prefer Journals to books
 * Give page number always
 * Triple check that source does support the material


 * Tools
 * Find broken external URL links with http://toolserver.org/~dispenser/cgi-bin/webchecklinks.py?page=ARTICLENAMEHERE


 * Find ambig links with   http://toolserver.org/~dispenser/cgi-bin/dablinks.py?page=ARTICLENAMEHERE


 * Citation tool: This tool will edit the article and will combine duplicate cites: http://toolserver.org/~verisimilus/Bot/DOI_bot/doibot.php?edit=toolbar&slow=1&page=ARTICLENAMEHERE


 * Show Alt text for pictures with http://toolserver.org/~dispenser/cgi-bin/altviewer.py?page=ARTICLENAMEHERE


 * Page view stats: http://stats.grok.se/en/201201/ARTICLENAMEHERE  [subfolder is YYYYMM]


 * Find repeating links with tool on left page sidebar


 * Copyright violations: Coren's tool


 * Another copyright vio: Earwigs tool


 * Formatting ideas
 * Use template - to break after a picture
 * Use –  for ndashes without spaces; ndash with spaces
 * Use ; for bold small sec title
 * Use template quote box for decorative quotes (so can align left or right); use blockquote markup for indented quotes
 * Current year dollars: e.g.: $500,000 ($0 in 2024 dollars).
 * Miles/km or feet/meter conversions: 26.2 mi