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The first paragraph should [[Wikipedia:WP:GOODDEF|define]] or identify the topic with a [[Wikipedia:WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]], but without being too specific. It should establish the context in which the topic is being considered by supplying the set of circumstances or facts that surround it. If appropriate, it should give the location and time. It should also establish the boundaries of the topic. | The first paragraph should [[Wikipedia:WP:GOODDEF|define]] or identify the topic with a [[Wikipedia:WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]], but without being too specific. It should establish the context in which the topic is being considered by supplying the set of circumstances or facts that surround it. If appropriate, it should give the location and time. It should also establish the boundaries of the topic. | ||
==== | ====First sentence==== | ||
The first sentence should tell the nonspecialist reader what, or who, the subject is. | The first sentence should tell the nonspecialist reader what, or who, the subject is. | ||
*If possible, the [[ | *If possible, the [[UniWiki:Manual of Style#Article titles|page title]] should be the [[Wikipedia:Subject (grammar)|subject]] of the first sentence.<ref>For example: | ||
<blockquote>This '''Manual of Style''' is a [[style guide]] containing ... | <blockquote>This '''Manual of Style''' is a [[style guide]] containing ... | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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<blockquote>This [[style guide]], known as the '''Manual of Style''', contains ... | <blockquote>This [[style guide]], known as the '''Manual of Style''', contains ... | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
</ref> However, if the article title is merely descriptive—such as [[Electrical characteristics of dynamic loudspeakers]]—the title does not need to appear verbatim in the main text. | </ref> However, if the article title is merely descriptive—such as [[Wikipedia:Electrical characteristics of dynamic loudspeakers|Electrical characteristics of dynamic loudspeakers]]—the title does not need to appear verbatim in the main text. | ||
*Similarly, if the page is a [[ | *Similarly, if the page is a [[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Lists|list]], do '''not''' introduce the list as "This is a '''list of X'''" or "This '''list of Xs'''...". A clearer and more informative introduction to the list is better than ''verbatim'' repetition of the title. A good example of this is the [[Wikipedia:List of Benet Academy alumni|List of Benet Academy alumni]]. ''(See also [[#Format of the first sentence|Format of the first sentence]] below)''. | ||
*When the page title is used as the subject of the first sentence, it may appear in a slightly different form, and it may include variations, including [[ | *When the page title is used as the subject of the first sentence, it may appear in a slightly different form, and it may include variations, including [[Wikipedia:Synonym|synonyms]].<ref>For example, in the article "[[Wikipedia:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]]": | ||
<blockquote>The '''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland''', commonly known as the '''United Kingdom''', the '''UK''', or '''Britain''', is a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] [[island country]] located off the north-western coast of [[continental Europe]]. | <blockquote>The '''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland''', commonly known as the '''United Kingdom''', the '''UK''', or '''Britain''', is a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] [[island country]] located off the north-western coast of [[Wikipedia:Continental Europe|continental Europe]]. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
</ref> Similarly, if the title has a parenthetical disambiguator, the disambiguator should be omitted in the text.<ref>Thus, the article [[Egg (food)]] should start like this: | </ref> Similarly, if the title has a parenthetical disambiguator, the disambiguator should be omitted in the text.<ref>Thus, the article [[Wikipedia:Egg (food)|Egg (food)]] should start like this: | ||
<blockquote>An '''egg''' is an ovum produced by ... | <blockquote>An '''egg''' is an ovum produced by ... | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
*If its subject is definable, then the first sentence should give a concise definition: where possible, one that puts the article in context for the nonspecialist. Similarly, if the title is a [[ | *If its subject is definable, then the first sentence should give a concise definition: where possible, one that puts the article in context for the nonspecialist. Similarly, if the title is a [[Wikipedia:Technical terminology|specialised term]], provide the context as early as possible.<ref>For example, instead of: | ||
<blockquote>A '''trusted third party''' is an entity that facilitates interactions between two parties who both trust the third party. | <blockquote>A '''trusted third party''' is an entity that facilitates interactions between two parties who both trust the third party. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
write: | write: | ||
<blockquote>In [[cryptography]], a '''trusted third party''' is an entity that facilitates interactions between two parties who both trust the third party. | <blockquote>In [[Wikipedia:Cryptography|cryptography]], a '''trusted third party''' is an entity that facilitates interactions between two parties who both trust the third party. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
* Keep [[Redundancy (linguistics)|redundancy]] to a minimum in the first sentence. Use the first sentence of the article to provide relevant information that is '''not''' already given by the title of the article. The title of the article need not appear verbatim in the lead.<ref>For example, instead of | * Keep [[Wikipedia:Redundancy (linguistics)|redundancy]] to a minimum in the first sentence. Use the first sentence of the article to provide relevant information that is '''not''' already given by the title of the article. The title of the article need not appear verbatim in the lead.<ref>For example, instead of | ||
<blockquote>'''Pakistani-Iraqi relations''' are the relations between [[Pakistan]] and [[Iraq]]. | <blockquote>'''Pakistani-Iraqi relations''' are the relations between [[Wikipedia:Pakistan|Pakistan]] and [[Wikipedia:Iraq|Iraq]]. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
consider: | consider: | ||
<blockquote>[[Iraq]] and [[Pakistan]] established [[diplomatic relations]] in 1947. | <blockquote>[[Wikipedia:Iraq|Iraq]] and [[Wikipedia:Pakistan|Pakistan]] established [[Wikipedia:Diplomatic relations|diplomatic relations]] in 1947. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Remember that the title '''need not''' always appear in the lead if the article title is descriptive, and in any case the statement '''''relations''' are relations'' does not help a reader who does not know the meaning of ''diplomatic relations''. In this case, the editor of the second version sensibly opted to include '''new''' information (that relations were established in 1947) in the first sentence, rather than repeating the title. | Remember that the title '''need not''' always appear in the lead if the article title is descriptive, and in any case the statement '''''relations''' are relations'' does not help a reader who does not know the meaning of ''diplomatic relations''. In this case, the editor of the second version sensibly opted to include '''new''' information (that relations were established in 1947) in the first sentence, rather than repeating the title. | ||
Sometimes a little redundancy is unavoidable. The ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' has to be called by its proper name in its article, and cannot be called anything other than a ''dictionary'' in the first sentence. Even in these cases, the first sentence '''must''' provide information not given in the title. But try to rephrase whenever possible. Instead of: | Sometimes a little redundancy is unavoidable. The ''[[Wikipedia:Oxford English Dictionary|Oxford English Dictionary]]'' has to be called by its proper name in its article, and cannot be called anything other than a ''dictionary'' in the first sentence. Even in these cases, the first sentence '''must''' provide information not given in the title. But try to rephrase whenever possible. Instead of: | ||
<blockquote>The '''Oxford English Dictionary''' [...] is a comprehensive dictionary of the English language. | <blockquote>The '''Oxford English Dictionary''' [...] is a comprehensive dictionary of the English language. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
consider: | consider: | ||
<blockquote>The '''Oxford English Dictionary''' [...] is the premier dictionary of the English language. | <blockquote>The '''Oxford English Dictionary''' [...] is the premier dictionary of the English language. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Both contain some redundancy, but the second is better because it tells us that the OED is the world's ''most respected'' dictionary of English. Again, someone who knows what the word ''dictionary'' means will probably assume that any dictionary is ''comprehensive'', so they do not need to be told that.</ref> | Both contain some redundancy, but the second is better because it tells us that the OED is the world's ''most respected'' dictionary of English. Again, someone who knows what the word ''dictionary'' means will probably assume that any dictionary is ''comprehensive'', so they do not need to be told that.</ref> | ||
*Try to not overload the first sentence by describing everything notable about the subject. Instead use the first sentence to introduce the topic, and then spread the relevant information out over the entire lead. | *Try to not overload the first sentence by describing everything notable about the subject. Instead use the first sentence to introduce the topic, and then spread the relevant information out over the entire lead. | ||
*While a commonly | *While a commonly recognizable form of name will be used as the title of biographical articles, fuller forms of name may be used in the introduction to the lead. For instance, in the article [[Wikipedia:Paul McCartney|Paul McCartney]], the text of the lead begins: "'''Sir James Paul McCartney''' ...". | ||
====Format of the first sentence==== | ====Format of the first sentence==== | ||