Help:Introduction to the Manual of Style/linking quiz
The MoS
A vast resource
Article sections
Making articles readable
Images and refs
Enriching the text
Linking
Tying the encyclopedia together
Consistency
Final little things to think about
Summary
Review of what you've learned
Can you find the error in each passage?
Part I
Andy Warhol
In 1979, Warhol was commissioned by BMW to paint a Group 4 Race Version of the elite supercar BMW M1 for the fourth installment in the BMW Art Car Project.
In 1979, Warhol was commissioned by BMW to paint a Group 4 Race Version of the elite supercar BMW M1 for the fourth installment in the BMW Art Car Project.
Click on either BMW M1 or BMW Art Car Project and you'll immediately find a chain link to BMW. Even if the reader chooses not to follow the second link in the chain, the two specific links provide an explanation of what BMW is: a prestige German car manufacturer.
City of Manchester Stadium
Entry is gained by RFID smart card.
Underlying syntax: Entry is gained by [[radio-frequency identification|RFID]] smart card.
Entry is gained by radio-frequency identification (RFID) smart card.
Underlying syntax: Entry is gained by [[radio-frequency identification|radio-frequency identification (RFID)]] smart card.
(Or if there's a lot of linking in the vicinity, minimise the blue:
Entry is gained by radio-frequency identification (RFID) smart card.
Entry is gained by radio-frequency identification ([[radio-frequency identification|RFID]]) smart card.)Lisa the Vegetarian
The episode features several references to the Beatles and McCartney's solo career.
The episode features several references to the Beatles and McCartney's [[Paul McCartney (solo)|solo career]].
- The episode features several references to the Beatles and McCartney's solo career.
- The episode features several references to the Beatles and [[Paul McCartney (solo)|McCartney's solo career]].
Now it's clear that the link goes to a page on McCartney's solo career, and not to a page on solo career in terms of the Beatles all.
Fatboy Slim
Cook then formed Freak Power with horn player Ashley Slater and singer Jesse Graham. They released their debut album Drive thru booty in 1994, which contained the single "Turn on, tune in, cop out". The cut was picked up by the Levi's company for use in a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign. In 1996, Cook re-joined Freak Power for the second album More of everything for everybody.
Cook then formed Freak Power with horn player Ashley Slater and singer Jesse Graham. They released their debut album Drive thru booty in 1994, which contained the single "Turn on, tune in, cop out". The cut was picked up by the Levi's company for use in a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign. In 1996, Cook re-joined Freak Power for the second album More of everything for everybody.
So you searched for and found articles on "Freak Power", "Ashley Slater", and the song "Turn on, tune in, cop out" (great title!). These need to be linked.
Underlinking. And you searched for and did not find articles on "Jesse Graham", "Drive thru booty", and "More of everything for everybody". You can go ahead and link these items to create "red links" for them; this may encourage an editor to subsequently create real articles on those topics, but has the disadvantage of looking cruddy in the text. Certainly to be avoided near the top, or go create a stub to turn red to blue.
Overlinking. The link for "advertising" needs to be shot down on sight: your readers are expected to speak English, and the term is not technically important or that target article helpful for understanding this topic of Fatboy Slim. Shift the blue to guide your readers towards the valuable targets.
More elegant option? Just one thing I noticed by going to Levi's: the real name of the article to which this redirects is Levi Strauss & Co. so you might consider whether this is more elegant than "the Levi's company". Up to you.Carabane
The Jola are very distinct from other major ethnic groups in Senegal by their language, egalitarian society, freedom from political hierarchy, and lack of slavery.
The Jola are very distinct from other major ethnic groups in Senegal by their language, egalitarian society, freedom from political hierarchy, and lack of slavery.
Moving "their" into the pipe signals that the link is not just to a dictionary term, but a specific article apposite to the topic.
Part II
Greengage
Soon after, Greengages were cultivated in the American colonies, and were even grown on the plantations of American presidents George Washington (1732–99) and Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826). However, the cultivation of greengages in North America has declined significantly since the 18th century.
Soon after, Greengages were cultivated in the [[Colonial America|American colonies]], and were even grown on the plantations of [[President of the United States|American presidents]] [[George Washington]] (1732–99) and [[Thomas Jefferson]] (1743–1826). However, the [[cultivation]] of greengages in [[North America]] has declined significantly since the [[eighteenth century|18th century]].
Probably none of the links is justified. Was that your conclusion?
- Soon after, Greengages were cultivated in the American colonies, and were even grown on the plantations of American presidents George Washington (1732–99) and Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826). However, the cultivation of greengages in North America has declined significantly since the 18th century.
- "Cultivated/ation" is a common word, and should not be linked. If it were going to be linked, the first rather than the second occurrence would be correct.
- Relevance test: The articles "American presidents", "Washington" and "Jefferson" are almost certainly irrelevant to this vegetable. If there's a section in either article about one of the president's passion for gardening, and it adds to readers' understanding, perhaps a section-link might be appropriate. However, a link in the other direction might be more appropriate (Greengage within the "Jefferson" article).
- "Adjacency: American presidents" and "George Washington" are jammed up against each other.
- Well-known geographical term: "North America" is a well-known geographical entity, and WP:LINK says they should not normally be linked. "American colonies" (piped from "Colonial America") is a well-known entity; perhaps there is a more focused section there on domestic agriculture, although it's unlikely.
- Chronological item: "18th century" is a chronological item—a huge one at that—and should not normally be linked.
Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick
As a result of his father's conflict with Uhtred and the Scottish king William the Lion, Donnchadh became a hostage of King Henry II of England.
As a result of his father's conflict with Uhtred and the Scottish king [[William I of Scotland|William the Lion]], Donnchadh became a hostage of King [[Henry II of England]].
As a result of his father's conflict with Uhtred and the Scottish king William the Lion, Donnchadh became a hostage of King Henry II of England.
As a result of his father's conflict with Uhtred and the Scottish king [[William I of Scotland|William the Lion]], Donnchadh became a hostage of [[Henry II of England|King Henry II of England]].
The generic "king", with a small k, is not part of the first compound title that is linked (as though, "the Scottish king, William the Lion"); but "King", with upper-case K, is part of the title "King Henry II of England": it is awkward to see part of the title black and part of it blue.
Voting age
A voting age is a minimum age established by law that a person must attain to be eligible to vote in a public election. The vast majority of countries in the world have established a voting age, with the implication that those of an age lower than the chosen threshold lack the necessary capacity to independently decide how to cast a vote. The voting age is sometimes considered to be of such importance that it is set by constitutional provision.
A voting age is a minimum age established by law that a person must attain to be eligible to vote in a public election. The vast majority of countries in the world have established a voting age, with the implication that those of an age lower than the chosen threshold lack the necessary capacity to independently decide how to cast a vote. The voting age is often of such importance that it is set by constitutional provision.
- The relevance test: The first four of the five linked items should probably not be linked ("law", "vote", "public" and "election"). If there is doubt, check the destination articles, which are far too general to assist all but readers who need an English dictionary at their side. "Public" was the stand-out useless link. We allowed the fifth link, to "Constitution", because it is more technical and less likely to be commonly understood as a concept (i.e., statute versus constitution). Some editors may not have linked it.
- Adjacent links: "public election" ("[[public]] [[election]]"). Aside from the question of their relevance, the reader should not have to hover their cursor over this patch of blue to learn whether it is one or two links. WP:LINK says: "When possible, avoid placing links next to each other so that multiple links look like a single one,... Consider rephrasing the sentence, omitting one of the links, or using a more specific single link." However, we concede that sometimes it's very hard to avoid adjacency.
- Suffix: Note the use of adjectival syntax in [[constitution]]al; you can always see this displayed in the edit mode. Such abbreviated syntax is easier to write and edit than the full piped version ([[constitution|constitutional]]), and is preferred to piping.
Tasmania
Through war, persecution and the introduction of infectious diseases to which they had no immunity, by 1833 the indigenous population dwindled to just 300.
Through the "Black War" between 19th-century European colonists and the indigenous people, the forced removal of those people beyond a "Black Line" drawn around European settlements and the introduction of infectious diseases to which they had no immunity, by 1833 the indigenous population had dwindled to just 300.
This is a good example of the subtle interaction between wikilinking and prose. "War" and "persecution" are probably misleading, even in summary style. Readers should not have to hunt down the meaning by travelling to those "hidden" links. Now that these links are more explicit, readers are more likely to want to find out more by clicking on them.
World War I
More than 15 million people were killed, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in history.
More than [[World War I casualties|15 million people]] were killed, making it one of the [[list of wars and disasters by death toll|deadliest conflicts]] in [[history]].
More than 15 million people were killed, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in history.
More than 15 million people [[World War I casualties|were killed]], making it one of the [[list of wars and disasters by death toll|deadliest conflicts]] in history.
Part III—Let's look at popular entertainers
John Denver
Denver became outspoken in politics in the mid-1970s. In 1976, he campaigned for the election of Jimmy Carter, who became a close friend and ally. Denver was a supporter of the Democratic Party, and a number of charitable causes for the environment, the homeless, the poor, the hungry, and the African AIDS crisis. He founded the charitable Windstar Foundation in 1976 to promote sustainable living. His dismay at the Chernobyl disaster led to precedent-setting concerts in parts of communist Asia and Europe.
Denver became outspoken in politics in the mid-1970s. In 1976, he campaigned for the [[1976 United States presidential election|election of Jimmy Carter]], who became a close friend and ally. Denver was a supporter of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], and a number of [[Charitable cause|charitable]] causes for the [[Environmentalism|environment]], the [[homelessness|homeless]], the [[poverty|poor]], the hungry, and the [[HIV/AIDS in Africa|African AIDS crisis]]. He founded the charitable [[Windstar Foundation]] in 1976 to promote [[sustainable living]]. His dismay at the [[Chernobyl disaster]] led to precedent-setting concerts in parts of [[communism|communist]] [[Asia]] and [[Europe]].
Denver became outspoken in politics in the mid-1970s. In 1976, he campaigned for the election of Jimmy Carter, who became a close friend and ally. Denver was a supporter of the Democratic Party, and a number of charitable causes for the environment, the homeless, the poor, the hungry, and the African AIDS crisis. He founded the charitable Windstar Foundation in 1976 to promote sustainable living. His dismay at the Chernobyl disaster led to precedent-setting concerts in parts of communist Asia and Europe.
Denver became outspoken in politics in the mid-1970s. In 1976, he campaigned for the election of [[Jimmy Carter]], who became a close friend and ally. Denver was a supporter of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], and a number of charitable causes for the environment, the homeless, the poor, the hungry, and the [[HIV/AIDS in Africa|African AIDS crisis]]. He founded the charitable [[Windstar Foundation]] in 1976 to promote [[sustainable living]]. His dismay at the [[Chernobyl disaster]] led to precedent-setting concerts in parts of communist Asia and Europe.
- "Jimmy Carter", the 1976 presidential candidate, probably needs to be linked, the more so because some readers will not be aware of his prominent role in US public life at the time.
- Trivial dictionary-type links that drown out the important ones are "charitable", "environment", "homeless", "poor", probably "communist", and certainly the common geographical terms "Asia" and "Europe".
- The other items seem well-judged as links.
Janis Joplin
During this period, she used other intoxicants and was a heavy drinker throughout her career; her trademark beverage was Southern Comfort.
During this period, she used other [[psychoactive drug|intoxicants]] and was a [[alcoholism|heavy drinker]] throughout her career; her trademark beverage was [[Southern Comfort]].
During this period, she used other psychoactive drugs and was a heavy drinker throughout her career; her trademark beverage was Southern Comfort.
"Intoxicants" could be anything from magic mushrooms to cocaine; "psychoactive drugs", the link target, is more specific and should be explicit in the text. It is hardly an obscure term, so probably doesn't need linking here.
Heavy drinking is not necessarily alcoholism; Wikipedia could conceivably be sued for libel for the confusion in this pipe. Do be careful: check the sources, and if she was an alcoholic through her heavy drinking, explain it, probably without linking.
The link to "Southern Comfort" is probably necessary, even though it is clear from the context and the upper-case initials that it is a brand of alcoholic beverage. The target article does put the product into temporal context, and describes its taste and high alcohol content.Bessie Smith
Smith's career was cut short by a combination of the Great Depression and the advent of "talkies", which spelled the end for vaudeville. While the days of elaborate vaudeville shows were over, Smith continued touring and occasionally singing in clubs. In 1929, she appeared in a Broadway flop called Pansy, a musical in which, the top critics agreed, she was the only asset.
Smith's career was cut short by a combination of the Great Depression and the advent of sound films, which spelled the end for vaudeville. While the days of elaborate vaudeville shows were over, Smith continued touring and occasionally singing in clubs. In 1929, she appeared in a Broadway flop called Pansy, a musical in which, the top critics agreed, she was the only asset.
Clearer linking word. "Talkies" is possibly a little informal for this context, and many readers will need to hit the link to find out what it means, which is undesirable. In any case, Talkies redirects to "Sound film", which is a much easier term for readers to understand: it should be used instead, and you can drop the quotation marks, since it's an obvious reference.
Underlinking. We chose to link Great Depression, although some editors may prefer not to, particularly in a densely linked passage. "Vaudeville" is a specific genre that is probably worth linking, unlike the well-known term "musical" (straight after the link to "Broadway theatre").Whoopi Goldberg
Goldberg performed the role of Califia, the radiant Queen of California, for a theater presentation called Golden Dreams at Disney's California Adventure, the second gate at the Disneyland Resort, in 2000. The show, which explains the history of the Golden State (California), opened on February 8, 2001.
Goldberg performed the role of [[Califia]], the radiant Queen of [[Island of California|California]], for a theater presentation called ''[[Golden Dreams]]'' at [[Disney's California Adventure]], the second gate at the [[Disneyland Resort]], in 2000. The show, which explains the history of the [[Golden State]] ([[California]]), opened on February 8, 2001.
Goldberg performed the role of Califia, the radiant Queen of the mythical Island of California, for a theater presentation called Golden Dreams at Disney's California Adventure, the second gate at the Disneyland Resort, in 2000. The show, which explains the history of California, "the Golden State", opened on February 8, 2001.
Goldberg performed the role of [[Califia]], the radiant Queen of the mythical [[Island of California]], for a theater presentation called ''[[Golden Dreams]]'' at [[Disney's California Adventure]], the second gate at the Disneyland Resort, in 2000. The show, which explains the history of California, "the Golden State", opened on February 8, 2001.
Chained links. Disney's California Adventure, needless to say, links to its location, "Disneyland Resort" in its first sentence. One link is quite sufficient if a reader wants to divert to these articles.
Deceptive piping. [[Island of California]] was reduced to a quite misleading pipe, [[Island of California|California]]. By visiting the article, you'll see that it needs to be explained in the text here.
Bad redirect. The Golden State goes to a whole group of articles, and the reader will have a hard time working out the intended one. In fact, there's no article specifically for this nickname of California, and the state is so well-known it is hardly worth the dilution. Don't link; instead, clarify the meaning in the text.
Conclusion. The sentence looks visually tidier, the important links stand out more, and the confusion introduced by the links has been clarified.