Valve Developer Community:Avoid peacock terms: Difference between revisions

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<div style="width:55em;background:#AAAAAA;padding:5px; border:1px solid black;">This article is borrowed from Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Avoid_peacock_terms]</div>
{{ModifiedVersion|Wikipedia:Avoid peacock terms}}
{{shortcut|VDC:APT}}


In articles, try to avoid '''Peacock Terms''' that merely show off the subject of the article without imparting real information.  
In articles, try to avoid '''Peacock Terms''' that merely show off the subject of the article without imparting real information.  
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* "indisputable..."
* "indisputable..."


These terms do not help establish the importance of an article.  Let the facts speak for themselves. If the [[ice hockey]] player, [[Canton (subnational entity)|canton]], or species of [[beetle]] is worth the reader's time, it will come out in the facts. Insisting on its importance clutters the writing and adds nothing.
These terms do not help establish the importance of an article.  Let the facts speak for themselves.


== Examples ==
== Inappropriate subjects ==


Consider the following two examples. Which do you think makes for more interesting reading?
On the converse side, if you are trying to dress up something that doesn't belong in the VDC&mdash;your band, your Web site, your company's product&mdash;think twice about it. The VDC is not an advertising medium or home page service. Developers are pretty clever, and if an article is really just personal gratification or blatant advertising, it's not going to last long&mdash;no matter how "important" you say the subject is.


:'''''William Peckenridge,''''' ''eighth '''Duke of Omnium''' ([[1642]]? - [[May 8]], [[1691]]) is considered, by some people, to be the most important man ever to carry that title.''


:'''''William Peckenridge,''''' ''eighth '''Duke of Omnium''' ([[1642]]? - [[May 8]], [[1691]]) was personal counselor to [[James I|King James I]], general in the [[Wars of the Roses]], a [[chemist]], [[bandleader]], and the director of the secret society known as [[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]. He expanded the title of Omnium to include protectorship of Guiana and right of revocation for civil-service appointments in [[India]].''
== See also ==
 
*[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Avoid_weasel_words#Unsupported_attributions|Wikipedia:Avoid weasel words]]
The first example simply ''tells'' the reader that William Peckenridge was important. The second example ''shows'' the reader that he was important. [[WP:Verify|Show]]; don't [[WP:NOR|tell]].
*[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Writing better articles|Wikipedia:Writing better articles]]


== Inappropriate subjects ==
[[Category:Wiki]]
 
[[Category:Help]]
* To be completed
 
== See also ==
*[[Avoid weasel words]]
*[[Guide to writing better articles]]

Latest revision as of 22:30, 15 June 2023

Info
This article is a modified version of the article available on Wikipedia icon Wikipedia. See the original article here.
Shortcut
VDC:APT

In articles, try to avoid Peacock Terms that merely show off the subject of the article without imparting real information.

Some terms to watch for:

  • "an important..."
  • "one of the most important..."
  • "one of the best..."
  • "the most influential..."
  • "a significant..."
  • "intriguingly..."
  • "indisputable..."

These terms do not help establish the importance of an article. Let the facts speak for themselves.

Inappropriate subjects

On the converse side, if you are trying to dress up something that doesn't belong in the VDC—your band, your Web site, your company's product—think twice about it. The VDC is not an advertising medium or home page service. Developers are pretty clever, and if an article is really just personal gratification or blatant advertising, it's not going to last long—no matter how "important" you say the subject is.


See also

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