This is a modified copy of the h2g2 Writing Guidelines, intended purely to document suggested amendments from this Conversation. It is not supposed to in any way be used as an alternative to the real Guidelines, nor is it intended to be a definitive revision of any kind. It is simply one possibility that is collated from the postings in the Conversation. It is not guaranteed to be accurate and is not intended to express the personal opinion of any contributing party, or the Editors. The contributors listed on this page contributed to the Conversation mentioned above, correct down to post 106.

Deciding What to Write for the Edited Guide

The Edited Guide is a collection of some of the best factual entries on h2g2 chosen by you via Peer Review. But what makes a good Edited Entry, and what can you do to increase your chances of us finding your prose irresistible enough to put on the front page of h2g2?

For more detail, carry on reading through this entry, but for the moment, here's a quick list:

• Write about reality
• Be original
• Fill in the gaps
• Plan your entry
• Write about what you know
• Research your entry throughly
• Be instructive, informative and factual
• Write in your own style
• Try to make your entry balanced
• Don't try too hard to be funny
• Write Entries of appropriate length
• Avoid writing in the first person
• Try and use good spelling and grammar
• Do not copy from other sources.

1. Write About Reality

The Edited Guide is a real-life guide to life, the universe and everything, it is not a work of fiction. If you would like to write fiction feel free to do so, but please don't ask us to edit it, especially if it makes gratuitous reference to Douglas Adams and his books. If you would like help with writing fiction, you'll find it at the page.

2. Be Original

One hurdle that you need to overcome is to find something that isn't already included in the Edited Guide or is in the process of becoming Edited. You can check whether or not this is the case via our search engine. Edited entries will be marked as 'Edited' and entries on their way to becoming Edited are marked as 'Recommended'. If there's already an Edited Entry that covers the subject, approach the topic from a different angle, rather than writing a new entry on exactly the same thing. In addition, try and avoid putting an entry into Peer Review that's similar to one that's in there already, as it upsets fellow Researchers.

3. Fill in the Gaps

Often we come across helpful comments on site suggesting that we should have an entry on say, The Rolling Stones, because currently there isn't one. If you do discover any gaps like this in the Guide, help us to fill them. Get researching and write some entries on subjects that aren't in the Guide yet. Another good source of inspiration is the Categorisation system. If you work your way through a few branches of the system, you'll soon find an obvious gap to fill.

4. Plan Your Entry

Plan your entry, and think carefully about its structure. If your entry is planned with care, you'll probably find that it will flow well and will fall naturally into sections, as with the following entries...

• Insanity and the Law
• Putney, London, UK
• Jai-Alai
• Is The Necktie Dying?

5. Write About What You Know

It's also important to write about what you know. If you like films, write about films. If you like cooking, write about food or recipes. You'll see canny observation and personal perspective among the following entries, each written by people like you, so tell us about your pet topics:

• Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
• McMurdo Station, Antarctica
• Sadako and the Peace Crane
• The Storage of Eggs

6. Research Your Entry Thoroughly

The starting point for many entries is often passion or curiosity for a subject. Entries should not be short on facts or detail and you should do your research. It's often clear when Researchers' entries are true labours of love:

• Billy the Kid
• The Simpsons
• Railways on the Isle of Wight, UK
• Galway City, County Galway, Ireland

7. Be Instructive, Informative and Factual

A potential Edited Entry will essentially be instructive, informative and factual. This is important. If these three factors form the base of your entry then you are heading in the right direction. It would be fair to say we are often astounded by the quality and detail of some of the entries. Hats off to the Researchers of these great entries:

• Spoons
• Handy Mandarin Chinese Phrases
• How Soap Works
• Classical Guitars

8. Write in Your Own Style

Write in your own words. Each of the following entries has a completely different style, making the Guide a varied and fascinating place to be.

• Tango to San Telmo
• The Agony of Being a Chicago Cubs Fan
• The Hanger Lane Gyratory System
• Alaskan Fish Plants

9. Try to make your entry balanced

h2g2 is a great place to have opinions and get things off your chest, but for the Edited Guide we're looking for balanced entries rather than subjective rants. We're looking for entries that show both sides of the argument, especially on potentially contentious topics. Here are some examples:

• Cigarettes
• Mormonism - A Question and Answer Session
• Evil from a Western Perspective
• Condoms

10. Don't Try too Hard to be Funny

Especially if your entries comprise one-line jokes. Lots of our early Researchers thought that because the original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books were funny, they should make sure all their Guide Entries were packed with side-splitting jokes. If you happen to be funny, that's great. Just don't try to force it.

11. Write Entries of Appropriate Length

We are not necessarily looking for long entries, just well-researched, well-balanced, well-written ones. We've found that Researchers are much more likely to read entries and comment on them if it's possible to read them in one sitting. As a general guide, it's usually difficult to adequately cover a topic in less than 250 words, but if your Entry is getting a bit lengthy, consider splitting it into smaller sub-topics or indicate whereabouts the entry should be divided up into separate entries. Entries can be both factual and succinct, like these:

• RobiComb - the Coolest Reason to Have Lice
• Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
• Murray Walker - Commentator Extraordinaire
• Ackees

12. Avoid Writing in the First Person

Because h2g2 is a collaborative guide, we may add in comments and material from other Researchers, and we'll credit them. Having an entry in the first person wouldn't make sense with a number of authors credited, so please write in the third person.

13. Spelling and Grammar

Please always try use correct spelling and grammar, and make sure your GuideML works if you're using it. You can find a bunch of useful tips in our entry on English Usage in the Edited Guide.

14. Do Not Copy From Other Sources

When you sign up to h2g2 you agree to the BBC Terms and Conditions, which include a whole section on not infringing other people's copyright. In other words, please do not copy chunks of text from other Internet sites or from anywhere else. Not only does plagiarising other people's work break our terms and conditions, it is also illegal in most countries. If it is discovered that you have been copying, the entry will be removed from the site and you could be barred, so please don't do it. After all, you wouldn't want someone to steal your work and pretend it's their own, would you?

You can find more information about what this means in the entry on Intellectual Property Law.

Other Useful Information

The following entries might also be of interest:

• Learning to Write on h2g2
• English Usage in the Edited Guide
• Using Approved GuideML in the Edited Guide
• Peer Review
• The Collaborative Writing Workshop
• The h2g2 Writing Workshop
• What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?

Thanks again for all your hard work - and remember, even if your entry is not edited, it will still be a part of the Guide and will show up in the search engine. One of our guiding principles is that we never throw anything away - you never know when it might come in handy!