Help:Editing Guide

Nevada Wiki: Editing Guide

Welcome to the Nevada Wiki Editing Guide! This guide will help you contribute articles, fix errors, and expand knowledge about Nevada’s cities, people, events, and landmarks. Whether you're using the Visual Editor or the Source Editor, we've got you covered.

Note: You must be a registered user with a confirmed email address to edit or create pages.

Contents

1. Account Requirements 2. Editing Modes 3. Creating a New Page 4. Editing Existing Pages 5. Using Templates 6. Adding Categories 7. Linking Between Pages 8. Adding References 9. Adding Images and Media 10. Styling and Formatting 11. Naming Conventions 12. Using Talk Pages 13. Editing Rules and Etiquette

Account Requirements

• You must be logged in to edit or create pages.
• Your email must be confirmed.
• Some features may be restricted to autoconfirmed users (typically after a few edits or a few days).

Editing Modes

Visual Editor

• Works like a word processor.
• Use the toolbar to add formatting, links, templates, and images.
• Good for general contributors or quick edits.

Source Editor

• Allows editing in raw wikitext format.
• Needed for advanced templates, formatting, or debugging.
• Use the "Edit source" tab at the top of the page.

Creating a New Page

1. Use the search box to see if the page already exists. 2. If not, click the red link or "Create the page" option. 3. Use templates when appropriate for consistent structure (see below).

Editing Existing Pages

• Click "Edit" or "Edit source" on a page.
• Make your changes.
• Use the "Edit summary" box to briefly describe your changes.
• Preview before saving.

Using Templates

Templates help keep content standardized.

In Visual Editor

• Go to Insert > Template
• Enter the template name and fill in the fields

In Source Editor

Paste the template code manually:

{{InfoboxCity
 | name = Reno
 | population = 264165
 | county = Washoe
}}

See Nevada Wiki:Templates for a list of available templates.

Adding Categories

In Visual Editor

• Click the ☰ menu > Categories

In Source Editor

Add categories at the end of the page:

[[Category:Cities in Nevada]]
[[Category:Geography of Nevada]]

Linking Between Pages

In Visual Editor

• Highlight text, click the link icon, and search for the page.

In Source Editor

Use the following syntax:

[[Las Vegas]]
[[Las Vegas|The city of Las Vegas]]

Adding References

In Visual Editor

• Use the "Cite" menu to add references or custom sources.

In Source Editor

Use the following format:

Las Vegas was founded in 1905.<ref>Encyclopedia of Nevada, 2020</ref>

==References==
<references />

Adding Images and Media

• Upload images using the "Upload file" link in the sidebar.

In Visual Editor

• Use Insert > Media

In Source Editor

Use the following code:

[[File:LasVegasStrip.jpg|thumb|Las Vegas Strip at night]]

Styling and Formatting

• Use headings with == Like This ==
• Use bullet points (*) and numbered lists (#)
• Italics: ''italic'' | Bold: '''bold'''
• Use tables and templates for structure

Naming Conventions

• Use proper nouns with title case (e.g., "Lake Mead")
• Use singular titles unless the subject is a list
• Avoid slang, abbreviations, or unofficial names unless widely recognized

Using Talk Pages

• Use the Talk tab to discuss changes or improvements.
• Sign your messages with --~~~~ to include your username and timestamp.

Editing Rules and Etiquette

• Be respectful to other editors.
• Provide sources for factual claims.
• Avoid copying content from copyrighted sources.
• Preview your changes before saving.

Thank you for contributing to Nevada Wiki!