FamilySearch Wiki:Manual of Style-Formatting

The following includes information regarding formatting in the Research Wiki Manual of Style.

Collection Links
Although there is no one absolute way to list a database in the Wiki, the following are guidelines to provide a more user-friendly experience.

Summary of elements in a database link:
 * 1) Bullet list: Start each database link with a bullet.
 * 2) List Dates: If dates are known regarding the database, repeat the dates in bold at directly after the bullet and before the database link. Do not use a hyphen after the dates or before the database link.
 * 3) Hyphen and bold: Use a hyphen between the dates and bold the dates
 * 4) Exact title: When it is possible, list the exact title of the database in the clickable link to the database
 * 5) List website: To inform the website/company providing the database, put "at" and the name of the website. To increase readability, do not link the name of the website to a general search page or main page. The only time a link should be added is when the websites are found in a database link listing multiple websites. Include a link directly to the database for that website. Use the Guidelines for more formatting instructions.
 * 6) Index/Images: Add whether the database contains an index, images, or both. Place that after an m-dash (preferred, but not required). Use the guidelines found below.
 * 7) ($): If the database is on a subscription website, indicate it by putting a dollar sign in parenthesis ($) at the very end of the database link. Use the guidelines found below.
 * 8) Other info: Add any additional notes that would be helpful for users to know about this database. This can include information about locality coverage or any other important information.
 * 9) Identical Databases on Multiple Websites Use the guidelines for formatting a database link that is available on multiple websites.

Databases
Below is the format of a database collection. This format especially helpful for a list of collections found on a Wiki page. *DATE RANGE [URL DATABASENAME] at WEBSITENAME — index & images, ($) Examples: Examples wikitext code: *1880-1920 Sweden Household Examination Books, 1880-1920 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($) * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1920 Sweden Household Examination Books, 1860-1947 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Guidelines for "Index & Images" Phrases
Give information regarding how complete the collection is, what it covers, or additional helpful information at the end of the database line, by using an m-dash (preferred, but not required) and one of the following phrases: Examples:
 * "index & images" or "index and images": used for collections that have indexes with images attached or browsable images available
 * "index": used for databases that are only an index and no images
 * "images": used for databases that only have browsable images available
 * 1840-2004 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004 at Ancestry — index, ($)
 * 1639-1962 New York, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index, ($)
 * 1847-1848 and 1908–1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; marriage license index on film goes to 1935
 * 1801-1890 Barber Collection- Newspaper Deaths at Ancestry — index, ($); information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
 * 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & some images

Linking to Websites

 * List the website the database is located on by stating, "at WEBSITENAME" after the name of the database
 * Put a dash after the website name to list further information regarding index, images, subscription fees, completeness of database, and other important notes regarding the database collection.
 * To increase readability, do not add a link to the website name.

Listing Databases on Wiki Page

 * When possible, list databases in chronological order.
 * When listing databases that do not have a beginning or ending date, you can use "Pre" and "Post" to help identify the dates the database may cover.
 * Do not use circa or ca. to identify about dates. The dates we list at the beginning of the database link are suggestions to what the database may cover and are not verified for accuracy on their websites. Thus, all database links are "about" dates and do not need to be marked as "about", "circa", or "ca.".

Examples:
 * 1846-1909 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index only
 * 1866-1909 New York City Births, 1866-1909 at NYC Dept of Records - index and images; has some earlier dates starting in 1760s
 * Post-1866 New York, New York, U.S., Index to Birth Certificates, Post-1866 at Ancestry - index only ($)
 * Pre-1909 [New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Birth Index, Pre-1909] at Ancestry; index only ($); Also at MyHeritage index ($)
 * 1910-1965 New York, New York, U.S., Birth Index, 1910-1965 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Identical Collection Databases on Multiple Websites

 * Some databases are shared on more than one genealogical website.
 * The first website listed should be formatted as found above.
 * Subsequent websites with the same database should be listed adding the relevant link to the website name.
 * FamilySearch databases should be listed first, when applicable.
 * The phrase, Also at: should be added before the list of additional websites.
 * Below is an example of the preferred way to list a database available on multiple websites:

Example:
 * 1849-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry($), MyHeritage($), FindMyPast($)

Example Wikitext Code: *1849-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry($), MyHeritage($), FindMyPast($)

Free Websites

 * Websites that are free and do not require a payment to view their information, do not require any indication in the link.
 * It can be assumed that databases without a "($)" are free.

Subscription Websites
Examples:
 * If you refer to a subscription website or one which has a charge to obtain information, use the "($)" to indicate that there may be a fee for the site.
 * For websites requiring pound sterling, use "(£)."
 * 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004 at Ancestry — index, ($)
 * 1880-1920 Sweden Household Examination Books, 1880-1920 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)

Free Collections on Subscription Websites

 * When a collection is free to the public but housed on a subscription website, you can use the phrase, (Free collection) to make this indication.
 * NOTE: Websites that are free do not require any indication in the link. It can be assumed by the user that any database listed without a ($) is free.

Example:
 * 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Example wikitext code: *1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Free Indexes and Images for Pay

 * When a website offers free access to their index, but requires payment to access the records, use, "free index, images ($)" at the end of the link.

Example: Example wikitext code: *1900-1934 Minnesota Births, 1900-1934 at Minnesota Historical Society — free index, images ($)
 * 1900-1934 Minnesota Births, 1900-1934 at Minnesota Historical Society — free index, images ($)

FamilySearch Historical Records Collections - Using Templates
1. RecordSearch template: For FamilySearch Historical Records collections, use the RecordSearch template instead of an external link for any FamilySearch Historical Records databases.
 * See FamilySearch Templates for instructions on how to create the database link.
 * For additional Instructions for creating RecordSearch template links.

2. How to Use this Collection link: Add a link titled, "How to Use this Collection" to the corresponding Historical Records collection Wiki page.
 * a. From the collection details page, click the link that says "How to Use this Collection".
 * b. Use the code below to create the internal link. Hr screenshot.PNG
 * How to Use this Collection
 * c. Copy the name of the page and paste it to replace NAME OF PAGE in the code use above.

3. Add additional info: Add any additional information as shown in the examples above after the "How to Use this Collection" link. Example:
 * 1884-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Example wikitext code: *1884-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Example for browse only collections:
 * 1817–1979 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images; includes guardianship records

Example wikitext code for browse only collections: *1817–1979 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images; includes guardianship records

FamilySearch Collections With Limited Access
There are some FamilySearch Historical Collections that have limited access online and instead must be viewed at a Family History Center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Collections that have this limitation, will be indicated by the following: (*) When you hover over the "(*)", it displays the following: Due to contractual agreements, some images and/or databases on FamilySearch.org may only be viewed at a Family History Center or FamilySearch Affiliate Library.

Example:
 * 1884-1910 (*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Example wikitext code: *1884-1910 (*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

FamilySearch Catalog Links - Using Templates

 * FamilySearch Templates - This Wiki page explains how to create the templates listed in the examples below

FamilySearch Catalog Link to Digital Images

 * When possible, use the corresponding FamilySearch template to link to catalog entries that have links to digital images.
 * (*): Because the ability to view images varies from collection to collection for our patrons, add "(*)" at the end of the collection link to inform patrons that visiting a family history center or FamilySearch affiliate library may be required to view the images. Use "(*)" regardless of if the collection is currently unrestricted. Contracts are occasionally altered and there is no way to know if access has changed.

Example:
 * 1642-1904 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Example wikitext code: *1642-1904 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Source Citations
There are many accepted ways to create a source for a citation. Many sources in the reference section of Wiki pages follow The Chicago Manual of Style, but other forms are acceptable. Below are some suggested formatting regarding citations.

Reference Bibliography
When adding a reference to information within a Wiki article, use the following code:

Example: Chile’s official language is Spanish.

Example wikitext code: Chile’s official language is Spanish.

Adding References Heading
Add a heading 2 or heading 3 (whichever is more appropriate for the page) named References as the last header on the page; i.e. at the bottom of the page before the NAVBOX and Category templates. The reference list tag is added below the header in the following format: == References ==

More information can be found on Source Citation Formats

Bibliography List in Body of the Wiki Page
When there are long lists of books or articles within a Wiki page, use the suggested format. This allows users to easily scan a list of pertinent resources. Add the information in the following order, left to right: 1. First element: add a bullet at the beginning of each book/article citation 2. Second element: Title of book in italics 3. Year of publication 4. Add the word “By” and then put the author’s full name, starting with first name 5. Add publication information, using the following: publication location, followed by colon, publisher. 6. Add the phrase "Online at:" at the end following the publisher. Bold and italicize the phrase for better visibility. Examples: Examples wikitext code: *Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton Counties, Nebraska. 1890. Chicago, Illinois: Goodspeed Pub. Co. Online at: Internet Archive *History of Washington County, Iowa : from the first white settlements to 1908. 1909. By Howard A Burrell. Chicago, IL: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton Counties, Nebraska. 1890. Chicago, Illinois: Goodspeed Pub. Co. Online at: Internet Archive
 * History of Washington County, Iowa : from the first white settlements to 1908. 1909. By Howard A Burrell. Chicago, IL: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.

Formatting Guidelines:
 * Capitalize the complete title.
 * If the title is really long, just give the first portion of the title and leave off the rest.
 * If there is ever information missing use the following guidelines:
 * Missing author: leave it blank and move on to the publisher information.
 * Missing publication date: use n.d.
 * Missing publication place: use n.p.
 * Missing publisher: use n.p.

Example of no author, no date of publication, no place of publication, and no publisher information:
 * Niobrara Centennial 1856-1956. N.d. N.p: n.p.

Repositories - Contact Information
Below is the suggested format for listing information about a specific repository in the Wiki:

INSTITUTION NAME ADDRESS ADDRESS ADDRESS Telephone: ####### Email: [mailto:address@email.com address@email.com] [URL Website] [URL Facebook]

(optional: brief description of institution hours/services, etc. Please indent using a colon) Example: Seychelles National Archives 5th June Avenue P.O. Box 720 Victoria, Mahe Seychelles Telephone: +248 4 321 333 Email: [mailto:archives@seychelles.net archives@seychelles.net] Website Facebook


 * Family history research is done Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm on appointment.
 * Genealogical Research at the National Archives has a fee.

Example wikitext code: Seychelles National Archives 5th June Avenue P.O. Box 720<br Victoria, Mahe Seychelles Telephone: +248 4 321 333 Email: [mailto:archives@seychelles.net archives@seychelles.net] Website Facebook :Family history research is done Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm on appointment. :Genealogical Research at the National Archives has a fee.

Geographical Names
See Naming Conventions for Geographic Names for more information.

Acronyms and Abbreviations
Example: The International Genealogical Index (IGI) was a computer file created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 * The first time you use a term that can be abbreviated, write it out and put the acronym in parentheses.


 * Acronyms and Abbreviations - a list of acronyms and abbreviations defined in the Wiki.

Organizing Information
In an article, subheadings or sections should be used to organize the content and keep similar information together. Subheadings should help users scan an article to find the information they need.

Guidelines for Subheadings/section Titles
Use the guidelines for article titles with the following differences. Once you put in a title it can't be changed by you but subtitles can be changed, removed and reorganized by you.


 * 1) There are many templates that will help to organize a page. Two great examples:


 * FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject County Page Template
 * FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject U.S. Counties


 * 1) Use Help pages. They are guides to assist in the detailing of a page. An example:


 * Help:Adding details to a Family History Center page


 * 1) Another guide that will help you organize a page is Headings for Articles about Records


 * 1) Then go to Editing the Wiki. This page gives many ways to add to your page and options to use.