User:Declan/Style guide proposal

This is the beginnings of a proposed Style Guide for the Guild Wars Official Wiki.

What a Style Guide IS:

• A collection of guidelines used to standardize the way writers say things.
• A way to add consistency to writing to improve readability and ease of communication.
• A resource for writers and editors to reference so they don't have to spend time researching the correct term.

What a Style Guide IS NOT:

• An attempt to squash creativity.
• An attempt at telling a writer what to say.
• A way to make writers feel guilty about not following it to the letter.

Why we should use a Style Guide

• It allows writers and editors to quickly find the rules and terms they need to do their jobs.
• It improves readability for and communication of information to readers.
• It builds a sense that all writers and editors are working to create a cohesive project.

GENERAL IN-GAME

Issue	Guideline
a vs. an	Per Microsoft Style for Technical Publications (MSTP). Use the article, a or an, that applies to the sound of the first letter of the word that follows the article. Incorrect: To select an .com file…/To select a .exe file… Correct: To select a .com file…/To select an .exe file…
it’s	Gregg’s Grammar Guide. Do not use it’s to indicate possession… Incorrect: To select it’s name, click… Correct: To select its name, click…
cited references	Strunk and White. Do not write a statement of fact without citing an authoritative source. Incorrect: Grape juice gives you strength… Correct: According to a March, 1996 study in the Journal of Medicine, grape juice was found to increase muscle stamina…
features	Per Garbl’s Style Guide. Present in bulleted lists or tables to provide whitespace, clarity and brevity.
dates	Per Chicago. Names of months can be spelled-out or abbreviated.
acronyms and initialisms	Per MSTP. Introduce acronym/initialism on first instance by either putting the acronym/initialism or the full phrase in parenthesis. Incorrect: My Necro runs SS in FoW. Correct: My Necro runs SS (Spiteful Spirit) in FoW (Fissure of Woe).
PC	Do not use. Use computer. Incorrect: Correct:
serial comma	Per Chicago. Always use a comma before the conjunction in a series of 3 or more items. Incorrect: The main Quest arcs in GW:EN are the Norn, the Charr and the Asura. Correct: The main Quest arcs in GW:EN are the Norn, the Charr, and the Asura.
ellipses at the end of a clause	Use the “…” and the punctuation as normal (…! / …, / ….). Incorrect: So, we brought a Warrior with Frenzy...It wasn’t great. Correct: So, we brought a Warrior with Frenzy…. It wasn’t great.
leaving out text in a quote	Per older MLA. Use [. . .] to differentiate from the … used to indicate a pause. Incorrect: “So, we brought a Wammo…It wasn’t great.”. Correct: “So, we brought a Wammo [. . .] It wasn’t great.”.
quote marks	Use double quotes for a quote and single quotes for a quote within a quote. Incorrect: The Quest dialogue reads: ‘blah blah blah.’ Correct: The Quest dialogue reads: “blah blah blah.”.
Punctuation after quotes	Place only text being quoted within the quote marks. Always end the sentence with punctuation not in quote marks. This makes totally clear who said what in a quote. Incorrect: Then he says “Die.” Correct: Then he says “Die!”.
spaces	Include only one space after periods, colons, semi-colons, commas, exclamation marks, and quote marks. All modern non-monospace fonts automatically adjust the spacing to the correct width.
Keyboard shortcuts	Per Microsoft Help. Two or more keys simultaneously, list with a “+” sign between the keys. Keys pressed in succession, separate with a comma. Incorrect: To call a target, press the control key and space bar Correct: To call a target, press CTRL+SPACEBAR.
Keyboard references	Per Microsoft Help. Always caps. Incorrect: ctrl, alt, x, spacebar Correct: CTRL, ALT, X, SPACEBAR

REAL WORLD TERMINOLOGY

Guild Wars	Two words, both capitalized. Incorrect: I love GuildWars. Correct: I love Guild Wars.
ArenaNet	One word, capitalize the first A and the second N. Do not abbreviate. Incorrect: Arenanet developed Guild Wars. Correct: ArenaNet developed Guild Wars.
NCsoft corporation	Note corporation included. Capitalize the N and the C in NCsoft. Incorrect: NC soft publishes Guild Wars. Correct: NCsoft corporation publishes Guild Wars.
Campaign	Always ini-caps.
Expansion	Always ini-caps. Use only for Eye of the North.
Guild Wars Prophecies	Always ini-caps. Abbreviated Prophecies.
Guild Wars Factions	Always ini-caps. Abbreviated Factions.
Guild Wars Nightfall	Always ini-caps. Abbreviated Nightfall or NF.
Guild Wars Eye of the North	Always ini-caps. Abbreviated GW:EN.
Fansite	One word. Always ini-caps.
Fansite status	Per fansite kit. Ini-caps. Elite, Official, Listed, Specialty.
gameplay	One word.
in-game	Adjective. Describes a noun specific to the game. Incorrect: I like the in game materials storage. Correct: I like the in-game materials storage.
Template vs.Build	Use Build when talking about a skill set. Use Template when talking about in-game Template management or the Template file on the computer. Incorrect: Find your Build file on your computer. Correct: Find your Template file on your computer. Incorrect: Spiteful Spirit works well in the following Template. Correct: Spiteful Spirit works well in the following Build.
PC, NPC	Always all caps. See acronyms and initialisms. Incorrect: Pc, Npc. Correct: PC, NPC.
Player versus Player, Player versus Environment	Always cap Player and Environment. Abbreviated PvP and PvE.
Guild	Ini-caps. Incorrect: I belong to a guild. Correct: I belong to a Guild.
Alliance	Always ini-caps. Incorrect: This is a Luxon alliance. Correct: This is a Luxon Alliance.

GAME MECHANICS

armor rating	Never armor level or armor class.
damage types	Per skill descriptions. Incorrect: This wand does Fire damage. Correct: This wand does fire damage.
conditions	Per skill descriptions. Ini-caps. Incorrect: Mark of Rodgort causes burning. Correct: Mark of Rodgort causes Burning.
minions	Per in-game UI. Use only for Necromancer "Animate" Spells.
attribute names	Perattribute descriptions. Always ini-caps. Incorrect: This Build needs high ranks in soul reaping. Correct: This Build needs high ranks in Soul Reaping.
Energy	Always ini-caps.
Adrenaline	Always ini-caps. Never Adrenalin.
cast time	Lower case.
recharge	Lower case.
Energy pip	Pip is not ini-caps.
Health	Always ini-caps.
skill type capitalization	Per skill descriptions. Skill types are always capitalized (Hex, Spell, Enchantment, etc.). Incorrect: Spell Breaker is an enchantment that blocks spells. Correct: Spell Breaker is an Enchantment that blocks Spells.
skill	Capitalize only when referencing a skill type. Incorrect: Critical Eye cannot be removed because it is a skill. Correct: Critical Eye cannot be removed because it is a Skill.
resurrect	. Never rez. Incorrect: I was taking a dirt nap while waiting for a rez. Correct: I was taking a dirt nap while waiting to be resurrected.
favor of the gods.	Per in-game. Lower case. Abbreviated favor.
Area of Effect.	Per skill descriptions. Lower case. Incorrect: The areas of effect in Guild Wars are Adjacent, Nearby, In the Area, and Earshot Correct: The areas of effect in Guild Wars are adjacent, nearby, in the area, and earshot

PROFESSIONS AND SKILLS

skill names	Per skill descriptions. Always ini-caps.
Signet of Capture	Always ini-caps. Never cap sig.
Profession names	Always ini-caps. Never abbreviate them. Incorrect: The Guild Wars Professions are assassin, dervish, elementalist, mesmer, monk, paragon, ranger, ritualist, warrior. Correct: The Guild Wars Professions are Assassin, Dervish, Elementalist, Mesmer, Monk, Paragon, Ranger, Ritualist, Warrior.
Profession	Always ini-caps. Never class. Incorrect: Guild Wars has six core professions. Correct: Guild Wars has six core Professions.

LIVING OBJECTS

race / culture	Always ini-caps. Elonian, Kournan, Kurzick, Dwarf, Tengu, Human, Undead, Asura, Luxon, Vabbian, Canthan,
Charr	Singular and Plural: Charr
Asura	Singular and Plural: Asura
Norn	Singular and Plural: Norn
Sylvari	Singular and Plural: Sylvari
Animal Companion	Always ini-caps.
NPC names	Cap as done in game. For venders, not required to list the text in the brackets. Incorrect: Xunlai agent [Storage]. Correct: Xunlai Agent.
mob names	Always except for named mobs (i.e. Shiro; Moltov Rocktail)
mob	Always lower case.
Henchmen	Ini-caps.
Hero	Ini-caps.
insignia slot

ITEMS

Platinum	Abbreviated Plat Incorrect: I need more plat for the armor. Correct: I need more Plat for the armor.
Gold	Always ini-caps to differentiate from gold drops. Incorrect: Correct:
faction	Lowercase to differentiate from Factions. Incorrect: I just farmed Luxon Faction. Correct: I just farmed Luxon faction.
loot	Always lower case.
drop	Never use as a noun. Use item, weapon, off-hand item, unique item, etc.
unique item	Lowercase. Also called green item.
armor names	Always ini-caps. Incorrect: Hagen can craft elite fur-lined armor. Correct: Hagen can craft Elite Fur-Lined armor.
Insignia	Always ini-caps.
upgrade component	Never mod.
upgrade component names	Always ini-caps. Incorrect: Daggers can be upgraded with one dagger tang. Correct: Daggers can be upgraded with one Dagger Tang.
miniature	Per Devotion shrine in the Hall of Monuments.
Rune	Always ini-caps.
Inscriptions	Always ini-caps.
weapon names	Always ini-caps. Incorrect: Warriors can use axes, hammers, and swords. Correct: Warriors can use Axes, Hammers, and Swords.
Ascended armor	Ini-caps on Ascended.
Consumable item
Elite armor

LOCATIONS

Continent	Ini-caps.
Zones	All zone names are ini-caps per in-game. Never use abbreviations (ToA, DoA, FoW, UW, etc.) Incorrect: My favorite zone is lakeside country. Correct: My favorite zone is Lakeside Country.
zone type	If a zone has multiple types, list the zone type in lower case in parenthesis (). Incorrect: My favorite zone is Sunjiang District. Correct: My favorite zone is Sunjiang District (exporable).
Quest	Per in-game UI. Always ini-caps.
Mission	Per in-game UI. Always ini-caps.
Mission ranks	Mission completion, Expert level, Master level.
Mission rewards	Standard level, Expert level, Master level.

USER INTERFACE

User Interface components	All except for:
Compass
Weapon Sets
Performance Monitor
Danger Zone	Ini-caps. Commonly “aggro bubble” or “agro circle”.
Mission Map	Ini-cap per in-game UI.
Vault Box	Ini-caps per in-game UI.

GENERAL IN-GAME

AE	Always caps, no periods. Also called the Mouvelian Calendar.
Bounty	Ini-caps.
Points	Ini-caps. Includes Sunspear Promotion Point, Lightbringer Point, Dwarven Point
Lightbringer Point
character	Lowercase.
Fame	Ini-caps.
PvP-only character
rolplaying character	Lowercase. Not PvE character, since the character can also play PvP.