Help:Editing

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. 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. 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: - Three tildes gives your signature: ~~~ - Four tildes give your signature plus date/time: ~~~~ - Five tildes gives the date/time alone: ~~~~~

HTML tags

You can use some HTML tags too. For a list of HTML tags that are allowed, see HTML in wikitext. However, you should avoid HTML in favor of Wiki markup whenever possible.

What it looks like	What you type
Put text in a typewriter font. The same font is generally used for computer code.	Put text in a <tt>typewriter font</tt>. The same font is generally used for <code> computer code</code>.
Strike out or underline text, or write it in small caps.	<strike>Strike out</strike> or <u>underline</u> text, or write it <span style= "font-variant:small-caps"> in small caps</span>.
Superscripts and subscripts: X2, H2O	Superscripts and subscripts: X<sup>2</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O
Centered text Please note the American spelling of "center".	<center>Centered text</center> * Please note the American spelling of "center".
Using the blockquote command, ... block quotations will be set apart, typically in a slightly different font ... and surrounded with whitespace.	Using the '''blockquote''' command, <blockquote> ... block quotations will be set apart, typically in a slightly different font ... </blockquote> and surrounded with whitespace.
Invisible comments to editors (<!-- -->) appear only while editing the page. If you wish to make comments to the public, you should usually use the talk page.	Invisible comments to editors (&lt;!-- --&gt;) appear only while editing the page. <!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. -->

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 Capable of being nested (but they won't fix your counting errors!). A newline marks the end of the list. New numbering starts with 1.	# ''Numbered lists'' are: ## Very organized ## Easy to follow #Capable of being nested (but they won't fix your counting errors!). 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. Should only be used on talk pages. For articles, you probably want the blockquote tag. 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. Should only be used on talk pages. For articles, you probably want the blockquote tag. : 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.<ref>CIA World Factbook, 2006.</ref> References: <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.
Intentionally permanent red link is a page that doesn't exist yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.	[[Intentionally permanent red link]] 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 a title that contains disambiguation text will appear with more concise link text. Spinning Boston	You can make a link point to a different place with a [[Help:Piped link|piped link]]. Put the link target first, then the pipe character "|", then the link text. * [[Help:Link|About Links]] * [[List of cities by country#Morocco|Cities in Morocco]] Or you can use the "pipe trick" so that a title that contains disambiguation text will appear with more concise link text. * [[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] External link can be used to link to a wiki page that cannot be linked to with [[page]]: http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fotonotes&oldid=482030#Installation	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] External link can be used to link to a wiki page that cannot be linked to with [[page]]: http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fotonotes &oldid=482030#Installation
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]] [[Category:Editor handbook]] 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]]

Just show what I typed

A few different kinds of formatting will tell the Wiki to display things as you typed them.

What it looks like	What you type
The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: →	<nowiki> The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: &rarr; </nowiki>
The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It also doesn't reformat text. It still interprets special characters: →	<pre> The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It also doesn't reformat text. It still interprets special characters: &rarr; </pre>
Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting. Putting a space at the beginning of each line stops the text from being reformatted. It still interprets Wiki markup and special characters: →	Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting. Putting a space at the beginning of each line stops the text from being reformatted. It still interprets [[Wiki]] ''markup'' and special characters: &rarr;

If you need to display special HTML characters you have to replace the initial "&" with "&"; e.g. to display the special character Right arrow (→) use: →. Template:See also

Images, tables, video, and sounds

After uploading, just enter the filename, highlight it and press the "embedded image"-button of the edit_toolbar.

This will produce the syntax for uploading a file [[Image:filename.png]]

This is a very quick introduction. For more information, see:

• Help:Images and other uploaded files for how to upload files
• Wikipedia:Extended image syntax for how to arrange images on the page
• Help:Table for how to create a table

What it looks like	What you type
A picture, including alternate text: This Wiki's logo You can put the image in a frame with a caption: File:Wiki.png This Wiki's logo	A picture, including alternate text: [[Image:Wiki.png|This Wiki's logo]] The image in a frame with a caption: [[Image:Wiki.png|frame|This Wiki's logo]]
A link to Wikipedia's page for the image: Image:Wiki.png Or a link directly to the image itself: Media:Wiki.png	A link to Wikipedia's page for the image: [[:Image:Wiki.png]] Or a link directly to the image itself: [[Media:Wiki.png]]
Use media: links to link directly to sounds or videos: A sound file	Use '''media:''' links to link directly to sounds or videos: [[media:Classical guitar scale.ogg|A sound file]]
This is a table	{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" align="center" ! This ! is |- | a | table |- |}

Software source code

You can format software source code. See Mediawiki: Extension:SyntaxHighlight GeSHi.

What it looks like	What you type
<source lang=cpp> // 'Hello World!' program include <iostream> int main(){ std::cout << "Hello World!" << std::endl; return 0; } </source>	<source lang=cpp> // 'Hello World!' program #include <iostream> int main(){ std::cout << "Hello World!" << std::endl; return 0; } </source>

Templates

Templates are segments of Wiki markup that are meant to be copied automatically ("transcluded") into a page. You add them by putting the template's name in {{double braces}}. It is also possible to transclude other pages by using {{:colon and double braces}}.

Some templates take parameters, as well, which you separate with the pipe character.

What it looks like	What you type
	{{Transclusion demo}}
	{{Help:Transclusion Demo}}
This template takes two parameters, and creates underlined text with a hover box for many modern browsers supporting CSS: Go to this page to see the H:title template itself: Template:Tl	This template takes two parameters, and creates underlined text with a hover box for many modern browsers supporting CSS: {{H:title|This is the hover text| Hover your mouse over this text}} Go to this page to see the H:title template itself: {{tl|H:title}}