User:Raven Onthill/sandbox/Notes on Historical Citations

Notes on Historical Citations (A very incomplete list.) Example
 * 1) Use the cite templates.  They make generating valid citations easier, enable automated indexing, and contain helpful reminders of what is needed for a citation.
 * 2) Use reference data that describe the cited material, rather than locate it or identify a particular version.  URLs, except those of long-standing institutions, have a short half-life.  Use a DOI, use the OCLC number, and so on. An ISSN is useful for a journal article. If a valid URL or ISBN is available, give that in addition to a lasting reference.  (An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation of a book; it is too specific.)  I am aware this goes against Wikipedia common practice; the common practice gives this researcher, at least, hives.
 * 3) Give the first edition of a book in a citation, unless there is some reason to specifically cite a subsequent edition.  In that case give the citation of the earliest relevant edition of the book.  If it is necessary to cite a later edition, explain why ("This was added in the second edition," "The author changed their mind about blahblahblah,"  etc.) This makes historiography easier.
 * 4) Comment on your citation.  Explain, cite later editions, cite reasons why it matters.  Don't just give the bare citation with no hints to the readers.

Second edition, 2003,.