How to use h2g2
Created | Updated Mar 7, 2004
This is a brief guide to h2g2.
Find out more by taking a tour of h2g2
Read the welcome to h2g2
Where's everything moved to?
Your space
The "My Space" link is now on the left-hand side.
When in your own space, your introduction will at the bottom, when visiting other people's spaces, it will be at the top.
Discuss this Entry
is now "Start a New Conversation" at the bottom of an entry, or "Leave a Message" on the right for people.
Edit Details
from your Personal Space (where you change your name), is now Preferences on the left.
Search
there's now a search box at the top-right of every page, under the box for searching the whole of the BBC. Click on "Advanced Search" for more options.
What is h2g2?
H2G2 is a guide to Life, the Universe and Everything. The idea is to create an encyclopedia-style guide to everything.
The site was initially set up by Douglas Adams, based around the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. You can read his origional welcome to members of h2g2
All the h2g2 entries are written by members of the public. In order to make sure they are accurate, they are assessed by other people in Peer Review.
If you have written an entry, you can send it to be checked in Peer Review by clicking on "Submit for Review" on the right hand side of your entry. But make sure the entry falls inside the Writing Guidelines first. You can also submit other people's entries: to stop people doing this, click on the "Not for Review" box above the "Add Entry" button.
If an entry is in Peer Review, it will say so in the info bar on the right hand side. Click on the "Peer Review" link there to add to the comments made on the entry. Changes you suggest can make it into the entry.
The best entries are chosen from Peer Review, and are shown on the front page.
The best entries are chosen by scouts and checked by sub-editors.
Entries which have appeared on the front page are called Edited Entries. They are placed in a category with similar entries, for example Mythology and Folklore. You can browse through all these categories, or search (searching includes non-edited entries).
You can also view h2g2 in different designs (known as skins).
These are Brunel, Alabaster and Classic Goo. You can change the default in the Preferences section.
Things to do in h2g2
The Post
The h2g2 Post is an online magazine which comes out weekly. It contains short stories, poems, games and things.
Join a Society
If you want to speak to people who are interested in the same things as you are, look through the list of h2g2 groups, specifically the societies. The list was made by The Post.
Ask or Answer a Question, or have a chat
Ask the h2g2 Community is where people usually chat.
How do I are where serious questions are posted.
Misc Chat is a place to waffle on without disturbing anyone.
If you need help
The h2g2 help on the left may have the answer.
Also, you can ask the Assistant Community Editor (ACE) who leaves you a message when you first use h2g2, and have been members for a while.
