UniWiki:Manual of Style/Embedded lists: Difference between revisions

A series of definitions should use proper formatting for [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_(lists)#Definition_lists|definition lists]].  Definition lists take more space, but are quicker for the reader to scan.  Properly formatted definition lists are more [[WP:ACCESS|accessible]] to people using [[screen reader]]s and have a variety of technical benefits related to HTML validation, browser compatibility, and automatic implementation of future style changes.  Do not leave blank lines between list items.

The most typical reason for using a definition list is for [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_(glossaries)|a glossary]], in which case it is preferable to other formatting styles.  Very large definition lists or lists of items whose definitions contain more than one paragraph may be better presented in other formats, per [[Wikipedia:GLOSSARIES#Definition_list_wikimarkup]].  Definition list formatting is occasionally used for other purposes, such as subdividing large sections (e.g., lengthy [[WP:EL|External links]] or [[WP:FURTHERREADING|Further reading]] sections).   

A ''disease'' is any abnormal condition that impairs normal function, especially [[infectious disease]]s, which are clinically evident diseases that result from the presence of [[pathogenic]] microbial agents. ''Illness'' or ''sickness'' are usually synonyms for ''disease'', except when used to refer specifically to the patient's personal experience of their disease.  ''Medical condition'' is a broad term that includes all diseases and disorders, but can also include [[injuries]] and normal health situations, such as [[pregnancy]], that might affect a person's health, benefit from medical assistance, or have implications for medical treatments.

;Disease : Any abnormal condition that impairs normal function, especially [[infectious disease]]s, which are clinically evident diseases that result from the presence of [[pathogenic]] microbial agents.

;Medical condition : A broad term that includes all diseases and disorders, but can also include [[injuries]] and normal health situations, such as [[pregnancy]], that might affect a person's health, benefit from medical assistance, or have implications for medical treatments.

{{See also|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Lists of works|Wikipedia:Timeline}}

Lists of works of individuals or groups, such as bibliographies, discographies, filmographies, album personnel and track listings, as well as timelines or chronologies, are typically presented in simple list format, though it is expected that the information will be supported elsewhere in the article by prose analysis of the main points, and that if the lists become unwieldy, they are split off into stand-alone lists per [[WP:Summary style]]. The [[WP:NLISTITEM|content of a list]] is governed by the principle of [[WP:DUE|due weight]] and other [[:Category:Wikipedia content policies|content policies]], and that [[WP:NLIST|for people]] inclusion should be determined by [[WP:Source list]], in that the entries must have the same importance to the subject as would be required for the entry to be included in the text of the article according to Wikipedia policies and guidelines (including [[WP:Trivia sections]]). [[WP:CASTLIST|Cast lists]] are preferably presented in prose. Specific advice regarding timelines is given in [[Wikipedia:Timeline standards]].

{{Main|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Tables}}

Tables are a way of presenting links, data or information in rows and columns. They are a complex form of list. Tables might be used for presenting mathematical data such as multiplication tables, comparative figures, or sporting results. They might also be used for presenting equivalent words in two or more languages; for awards by type and year; complex discographies; etc. Consideration may be given to [[Help:Collapsing|collapsing]] tables which [[MOS:COLLAPSE|consolidate information covered in the prose]].

=== Related topics (navigational lists){{anchor|See also lists}}===

{{Shortcut|WP:NAVLIST|MOS:NAVLIST}}

{{see also|Wikipedia:Guide to layout#"See also" section|Wikipedia:Navigational templates}}

* Higher order (i.e. more general) articles and lists – this might include [[lists of people]], [[list of countries]], etc. For example, [[list of Indian language poets]] should link to both [[list of Indians]] and [[list of poets]].

* Lower order (i.e. more specific) articles and lists – for example, the [[Business]] page navigational list contains links to [[small business]], [[list of accounting topics]], etc.

There is some controversy over how many links to articles and links to lists that should be put in any article. Some people separate the "links to articles" (put in the "See also" section) from the "links to lists" (put in the "Related topics" section), but this is not necessary unless there are too many links for one section alone. Some feel the optimum number of links to lists that should be included at the end of any given article is one or two (or fewer). Others feel that a more comprehensive set of lists would be useful. In general, we should use the same criteria when deciding what list to include as we use to decide what articles to include in the '''See also''' section. We have to try to put ourselves in the readers' frame of mind and ask "Where will I likely want to go after reading this article?". As a general rule, the "See also" section should '''not''' repeat links that appear in the article's body or its [[Wikipedia:Navigation templates|navigation boxes]].

'''Reference lists''' show information sources outside of Wikipedia. The two most common types are:  

* "Web hyperlinks" – lists of links to web addresses other than Wikipedia, under the heading "External links"

{{Shortcuts|WP:ListFormat}}

{{See also|WP:SPLITLIST}}

Consideration should be given to keeping embedded lists and tables as short as feasible for their purpose and scope: material within an embedded list should relate to the article topic without going into unnecessary detail; and statistical data kept to a minimum per [[WP:NOT#STATS|policy]].  

Some material may [[Wikipedia:Page_size#Readability_issues|not be appropriate]] for reducing or summarizing using the [[WP:Summary style|summary style]] method. Consideration may be needed to either keep all the material embedded in the main article or split it off entirely into a sub-article, leaving a {{tl|See}} template which produces: {{See|Example list}}

* Use proper wikimarkup- or template-based list code ''(see [[WP:Manual of Style/Lists]] and [[Help:List]])''.

* Do not leave blank lines between items in a bulleted or numbered list unless there is a reason to do so, since this causes the Wiki software to interpret each item as beginning a new list.