Difference between revisions of "Template:Distinguish/doc"

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imported>Codename Lisa
(Bypassing a problematic redirect)
imported>Bagumba
(Bold rewite: scratching my head over what is a literal ambiguity)
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<code><nowiki>{{Distinguish | articlename1 | articlename2 | articlename3}}</nowiki></code> {{Distinguish|articlename1|articlename2|articlename3}}
 
<code><nowiki>{{Distinguish | articlename1 | articlename2 | articlename3}}</nowiki></code> {{Distinguish|articlename1|articlename2|articlename3}}
  
This hatnote is generally used when there is an ambiguity that is not necessarily literal, but one that can be reasonably assumed to exist for a portion of the readership substantial enough to warrant a hatnote. When applying it, care should be taken to [[WP:TRHAT|avoid trivial uses]].
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This hatnote is generally used when there can be confusion with a similar term. This is typically used when readers have misspelled their desired title, and the error would be apparent by simply displaying the alternative term without further explanation.  For example, consider a reader looking for the punctuation mark who instead ends up at [[coma]]:
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<blockquote>[[Coma]] → {{Distinguish|Comma}}</blockquote>
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Readers are presumed to recognize that they actually wanted ''comma'' by merely looking at the spelling, and this case generally requires no further explanation.
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However, {{tlx|distinguish}} is not suitable when the difference is not readily apparent without further explanation. Consider a reader looking for a game they believe is named Reversi:
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<blockquote>[[File:Red x.svg|15px|link=]] [[Reversi]] → {{Distinguish|Reversis}} </blockquote>
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In the above hatnote, it is not generally apparent how the suggested Reversis is different from Reversi, which is also a game.
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<blockquote>[[File:Green check.svg|15px|link=]]  [[Reversi]] → {{About|the board game|the card game|Reversis}}</blockquote>
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Using {{tlx|about}} instead of {{tlc|distinguish}}, the differences in the suggested article is explained upfront without requiring the reader to click through and differentiate the terms on their own.
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{{tlc|Distinguish}} should only be used when the ambiguity exists for a portion of the readership that is sufficient to warrant a hatnote. Care should be taken to [[WP:TRHAT|avoid trivial uses]].
  
 
== Redirects ==
 
== Redirects ==

Revision as of 00:29, 1 February 2016

Usage

{{Distinguish | articlename1}}

{{Distinguish | articlename1 | articlename2}}

{{Distinguish | articlename1 | articlename2 | articlename3}}

This hatnote is generally used when there can be confusion with a similar term. This is typically used when readers have misspelled their desired title, and the error would be apparent by simply displaying the alternative term without further explanation. For example, consider a reader looking for the punctuation mark who instead ends up at coma:

Coma

Readers are presumed to recognize that they actually wanted comma by merely looking at the spelling, and this case generally requires no further explanation.

However, {{distinguish}} is not suitable when the difference is not readily apparent without further explanation. Consider a reader looking for a game they believe is named Reversi:

Red x.svg Reversi

In the above hatnote, it is not generally apparent how the suggested Reversis is different from Reversi, which is also a game.

Green check.svg ReversiScript error: No such module "about".

Using {{about}} instead of {{distinguish}}, the differences in the suggested article is explained upfront without requiring the reader to click through and differentiate the terms on their own.

{{Distinguish}} should only be used when the ambiguity exists for a portion of the readership that is sufficient to warrant a hatnote. Care should be taken to avoid trivial uses.

Redirects

See also

  • {{Distinguish2}}, for multiple disambiguation targets or prepending "the".
  • {{About}}, links the reader to other articles with similar titles or concepts that they may have been seeking instead.