Help:Contents

Basic text formatting

You can format the page using Wikitext special characters.

What it looks like	What you type
You can italicize text by putting 2 apostrophes on each side. 3 apostrophes will bold the text. 5 apostrophes will bold and italicize the text. (Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything special -- they are just ' left over ones' that are included as part of the text.)	You can ''italicize text'' by putting 2 apostrophes on each side. 3 apostrophes will '''bold the text'''. 5 apostrophes will '''bold''' and ''italicize'' '''''the text'''''. (Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything special -- <br /> they are just ''''left over ones'''' that are included as part of the text.)
A single newline generally has no effect on the layout. These can be used to separate sentences within a paragraph. Some editors find that this aids editing and improves the diff function (used internally to compare different versions of a page). But an empty line starts a new paragraph. When used in a list, a newline does affect the layout (see below).	A single newline generally has no effect on the layout. These can be used to separate sentences within a paragraph. Some editors find that this aids editing and improves the ''diff'' function (used internally to compare different versions of a page). But an empty line starts a new paragraph. When used in a list, a newline ''does'' affect the layout ([[#lists|see below]]).
You can break lines without a new paragraph. Please use this sparingly. Please do not start a link or italics or bold on one line and close it on the next.	You can break lines<br /> without a new paragraph.<br /> Please use this sparingly. Please do not start a link or ''italics'' or '''bold''' on one line and close it on the next.
You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: - Three tildes gives your signature: Example - Four tildes give your signature plus date/time: Example 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC) - Five tildes gives the date/time alone: 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)	You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: <br /> - Three tildes gives your signature: ~~~ <br /> - Four tildes give your signature plus date/time: ~~~~ <br /> - Five tildes gives the date/time alone: ~~~~~ <br />

Organizing your writing

What it looks like	What you type
Section headings Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them. Subsection Using more "equals" (=) signs creates a subsection. A smaller subsection Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs. Start with 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title.	== Section headings == ''Headings'' organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a [[table of contents]] from them. === Subsection === Using more "equals" (=) signs creates a subsection. ==== A smaller subsection ==== Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs. Start with 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title.
Unordered lists are easy to do: Start every line with a star. More stars indicate a deeper level. Previous item continues. A newline in a list marks the end of the list. Of course you can start again.	* ''Unordered lists'' are easy to do: ** Start every line with a star. *** More stars indicate a deeper level. *: Previous item continues. ** A newline * in a list marks the end of the list. * Of course you can start again.
Numbered lists are: Very organized Easy to follow A newline marks the end of the list. New numbering starts with 1.	# ''Numbered lists'' are: ## Very organized ## Easy to follow A newline marks the end of the list. # New numbering starts with 1.
Here's a definition list: Word Definition of the word A longer phrase needing definition Phrase defined A word Which has a definition Also a second one And even a third Begin with a semicolon. One item per line; a newline can appear before the colon, but using a space before the colon improves parsing.	Here's a ''definition list'': ; Word : Definition of the word ; A longer phrase needing definition : Phrase defined ; A word : Which has a definition : Also a second one : And even a third Begin with a semicolon. One item per line; a newline can appear before the colon, but using a space before the colon improves parsing.
You can even do mixed lists and nest them inside each other or break lines in lists. definition lists can be nested too	* You can even do mixed lists *# and nest them *# inside each other *#* or break lines<br>in lists. *#; definition lists *#: can be *#:; nested : too
A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph. A newline starts a new paragraph. Often used for discussion on talk pages. We use 1 colon to indent once. We use 2 colons to indent twice. 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.	: A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph. A newline starts a new paragraph. <br> Often used for discussion on talk pages. : We use 1 colon to indent once. :: We use 2 colons to indent twice. ::: 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.
You can make horizontal dividing lines (----) to separate text. But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.	You can make horizontal dividing lines (----) to separate text. ---- But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.
You can add footnotes to sentences using the ref tag -- this is especially good for citing a source. There are over six billion people in the world. References: For details, see Wikipedia:Footnotes and Help:Footnotes.	You can add footnotes to sentences using the ''ref'' tag -- this is especially good for citing a source. :There are over six billion people in the world.<ref>CIA World Factbook, 2006.</ref> References: <references/> For details, see [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] and [[Help:Footnotes]].

See also Wikipedia:Picture tutorial#Forcing a break (not just for pictures).

Links

You will often want to make clickable links to other pages.

What it looks like	What you type
Here's a link to a page named Official position. You can even say official positions and the link will show up correctly.	Here's a link to a page named [[Official position]]. You can even say [[official position]]s and the link will show up correctly.
You can put formatting around a link. Example: Wikipedia.	You can put formatting around a link. Example: ''[[Wikipedia]]''.
The first letter of articles is automatically capitalized, so wikipedia goes to the same place as Wikipedia. Capitalization matters after the first letter.	The ''first letter'' of articles is automatically capitalized, so [[wikipedia]] goes to the same place as [[Wikipedia]]. Capitalization matters after the first letter.
The weather in London is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.	[[The weather in London]] is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.
You can link to a page section by its title: List of cities by country#Morocco. If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. #Example section 3 goes to the third section named "Example section".	You can link to a page section by its title: *[[List of cities by country#Morocco]]. If multiple sections have the same title, add a number. [[#Example section 3]] goes to the third section named "Example section".
You can make a link point to a different place with a piped link. Put the link target first, then the pipe character "|", then the link text. About Links Cities in Morocco Or you can use the "pipe trick" so that text in parentheses or text after a comma does not appear. Spinning Boston	*[[Help:Link|About Links]] *[[List of cities by country#Morocco| Cities in Morocco]] *[[Spinning (textiles)|]] *[[Boston, Massachusetts|]]
You can make an external link just by typing a URL: http://www.nupedia.com You can give it a title: Nupedia Or leave the title blank: [1]	You can make an external link just by typing a URL: http://www.nupedia.com You can give it a title: [http://www.nupedia.com Nupedia] Or leave the title blank: [http://www.nupedia.com]
Linking to an e-mail address works the same way: mailto:someone@example.com or someone	Linking to an e-mail address works the same way: mailto:someone@example.com or [mailto:someone@example.com someone]
You can redirect the user to another page.	#REDIRECT [[Official position]]
Category links do not show up in line but instead at page bottom and cause the page to be listed in the category. Add an extra colon to link to a category in line without causing the page to be listed in the category: Category:English documentation	[[Help:Category|Category links]] do not show up in line but instead at page bottom ''and cause the page to be listed in the category.'' [[Category:English documentation]] Add an extra colon to ''link'' to a category in line without causing the page to be listed in the category: [[:Category:English documentation]]
The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's date preferences. These three dates will show up the same if you choose a format in your Preferences: 1969-07-20 July 20, 1969 20 July 1969	The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's date preferences. These three dates will show up the same if you choose a format in your [[Special:Preferences|]]: * [[1969-07-20]] * [[July 20]], [[1969]] * [[20 July]] [[1969]]