h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thank you for the warm welcome you gave me yesterday! I am right now trying very hard to get accquainted with this site. It looks like I am going to have a lot of fun here! I have not quite grasped yet the concept of contributing to the Guide. But I am sure I will figure it all out soon. I'll be seeing you around!

Nobody Particular

Oh, I do have a question here. Maybe you can answer it or direct me to the pace where I can find it.

What is the Edited Guide? Where is it? And if there is and Edited one where is the unedited one? Given that an unedited one exists where and what is that?



Nobody Particular

Okay, I think I can answer your questions best by taking you through the Guide Entry process.

If you've got something you think someone else out there might be interested in knowing, whether it be an explanation of supply-side economics or a review of a local restraunt, odds are that someone is.

First, make sure your idea hasn't already been covered by using the Search function for it. Then, when you're ready to write, look on the lower left side of your page. Under the heading "My Most Recent Guide Entries" will be a button that says "Add Guide Entry." Press this, and you will taken to a text entry page, where you will title and write your entry (You might want to check out the Beginner's Writing Workshop at http://www.h2g2.com/Writing-Beginners, the h2g2 Writing Workshop at http://www.h2g2.com/Writing-Workshop, and/or the Guide ML Clinic at http://www.h2g2.com/GuideML-Clinic)

After you've written and posted it, that's it! It's part of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and anyone around the world (and one day, the galaxy) will be able to read it, glean valuable information from it, and offer their personal comments about it.

The problem with this is that, although YOU, personally, are of course knowledgable, intelligent, and mature, many individuals out there are not. Since the Guide isn't really that big on telling Researchers what they can or can't write and post, we have a system that distinguishes good, reliable Guide entries from those that any yahoo might just write and post regardless of the facts, the feelings of others, or the accepted rules of grammar and spelling. This system is the Edited Guide.

If you feel that your entry should be made a part of the Edited Guide (just about ANYTHING is a potential Edited Guide entry), you can put it up for Peer Review at the Peer Review Page, http://www.h2g2.com/PeerReview. Other Researchers can also recommend your entry, just as you can recommend the entries of others that you come across (explicit directions on how to do all this are on the Peer Review Page).

Once your entry has been offered for Peer Review, one of our Scouts will examine it. They will offer their critique and may ask you to clarify something or make other necessary changes. Once the Scout agrees that it should be in the Edited Guide, he or she will forward it for Sub-Editing.

The Sub-Editors will examine your article for spelling, grammar, content, appropriateness, and plagairism (again, not that YOU would do such a thing, but the fact is that some people would and we just have to check ). At this point you will be informed on your personal page that your article is in the process of being edited.

Once the Sub-Editors are through Sub-Editing, they send it on down the line to Anna (http://www.h2g2.com/U25), the Deputy Editor. I'm not *exactly* certain what happens to it then, but I do know that, once it's reached Anna's desk, it's pretty much as good as an Edited Guide entry (our sub-editors do good work ).

The Edited Guide isn't really in a different "place" from the unedited one - it's just sort of a tag that gets put on any Guide entry that lets the reader know that the entry is clear and reliable. You can, however, see a list of all Edited Guide entries for the past month at http://www.h2g2.com/Month. About five entries per day are introduced into the Edited Guide.

I hope I've been able to help, and I'd like to extend a thanks of my own to you - I didn't realize how little I knew of the details of the Edited Guide Process until you asked! . If you have any more questions or comments, by all means feel free to let me know!

GRD

Thank you again for your help!

I have been spending the last few hours here making myself more familiar with this place. Lots of reading and a little writing. Lots of fun too!

You seem to be pretty knowledgable/resourceful! If I have any more questions in the future I will be sure to relay them to you!

Thanx again!

Nobody Particular

Hello! I, just today, have entered a article in the Guide! My first one! I am rather fond of it too! I would like you to swing on over to my page on your free time and check it out if you care to and have a minute. It is about Mexico's drinking water.

Thanks again!

Nobody Particular