To new editors: It is strongly recommended that you read this page before editing.
Hello, and thank you for taking a look at Logopedia's editing guidelines. Here are some things to remember when creating or editing pages:
On Logopedia, the source editor is strongly preferred over the default visual editor, so in case you are not using it, we recommend you to switch it before editing or creating a page.
Page structure
Headlines
Sections are topped with a level 2 heading (use == == around the heading in source editor) showing the years when the logo was introduced and, in some cases, discontinued. If we can confirm that a logo was introduced in 1982 and replaced in 1997, the headline will read "1982–1997" (an en dash (–) is much preferred compared to a hyphen). If a logo is still in use, the headline will read "1982–present".
If you can't confirm these dates, you should replace unsure dates with question marks. For example, if you know that a logo was introduced sometime between the 1960s and 1980s, and was replaced sometime between 1995 and 1999, the headline can read "19??–199?". Please refrain from using headers like "1990s" and stick to using "199?" instead.
If the page has had more than one name in its history and has changed its logo to reflect that, you should put the name used in the specified era as a level 2 heading and then the dates below as level 3 heading (use === === around the heading in source editor).
If there's a logo that has not fully launched, use "(tentative)" rather than "(upcoming)". "Tentative" is a more general term than upcoming, which should be used in case there's a change of plans on the launch of a logo.
Images
Below the headline telling us when the logo was used, the company/brand/product should have its primary logo from the specified era on its article (alternative logos may go in a subpage with the Primary Logos template at the top of the main page as long as it has more than 3 alternative logos). The logo should be centered and generally at between 150 and 300 pixels, depending on the proportions of the logo. An exception to this rule is if a logo's width is considerably larger than its height; then these logos can generally be between 350 and 450 pixels (example). You are only able do this in the source editor, where the correct code should look something like this: [[File:Example.svg|center|300px]]. Never upload an image as a "thumb" or "frameless", as these two codes are completely prohibited on our wiki.
Make sure the logo is of high quality. Low-quality images should only be used when a high-quality version is not available. The filetype hierarchy starts with SVG being the best, then PNG, JPG, GIF and finally WEBPs being generally the least preferred.
Be cautious with logo recreations! Recreations are only acceptable if they are carefully recreated from high-resolution originals, and are as accurate as possible to the original logo. Additionally, using artificial intelligence to upscale raster images is not permitted because it often creates inaccuracies.
Text
The next part of the section is a small line of text which describes the brand's development during the era. It should be placed underneath the logo.
Examples of basic information that should be included if available are including specific dates for the introduction and the designer(s) behind the logo. This can also be included by adding the Card template.
This section may also include other aspects of brand communication, such as advertising, liveries, merchandising, packaging etc.
Descriptions should not describe what the logo looks like (colors, shapes, designs etc.), as it's unnecessary.
Templates
Logopedia uses templates so pages are easier to navigate and flow nicely.
Common examples include:
- ImageTOC: gives a brief logo history at the top of the page (only pages with 3 or more logos may use the template).
- Logo notices: places a notice below a logo showing that it or the section it's placed at needs to be improved in some form (for example, SVG needed, Better logo needed, Missing logo, Missing year in article, etc.)
- Navboxes: placed at the bottom of a page and shows a company's assets.
- Primary Logos: placed at the top of a page (above ImageTOC if it is present) and automatically shows a page's subpages which may include alternate logos or other material.
- Chronology: shows predecessors and/or successors of a company at the bottom of the page, just above the Navbox if one is there.
However, there are various cases where these templates should not be used. On subpages (e.g. /Other), the template "Missing logo" should never be added below headers. It's likely that any logo tagged with this template doesn't have a variation in the first place. Related to the logo notice templates, when you want to add one of these templates to a gallery, you have to use the latter's "gallery" template, inserted by typing "(original template name) gallery".
Templates for specific types of pages (like, for example, television channels by a country) should never be created. They defeat the purpose of categories, which are a very important aspect of any wiki.
Infoboxes are banned from the wiki. They are unnecessary and point out details that descriptions may include. Any created infobox may be deleted after a few days or weeks since its creation.
Categories
Categories are a very important aspect of a wiki, meant to connect more pages to a single link for easier access and navigation.
On Logopedia, categories are usually placed using the source editor rather than the default "add category" button added by Fandom at the bottom of every page. To do so, you have to type "Category:Category name" in two square brackets, with every category added separated by a new line.
You should also add an order for categories. Generally, if the brand you're making a page for has several subsidiaries (or is, in its own, a subsidiary), you can add the category for the holding company at the very top. Next, you should add general "topic" categories (e.g. Category:Food and drink, Category:Restaurant chains). Then, you should add country-specific topic categories that include the country the brand operates in (e.g. Category:Food and drink in the United States). Next, add categories for the location of the brand's headquarters or the country it was established in (e.g. Category:United States). You may also add categories for the city/town and state/province the brand was founded in. When adding city/town and state/province categories, they would go before the country category. As an example, you would first add the category for the city (e.g. Category:Detroit), then you add the category for the state (e.g. Category:Michigan), and then you add the category for the country (e.g. Category:United States). Lastly, add categories for the decade and year the brand was established, placing the decade category before the year category (e.g. the Category:1990s category and then the Category:1995 category afterwards). The year category should always be the last category on a page.
If you're adding a year category, please do not add a category for every year a new logo was introduced by a brand. It's best to stick to when the brand was founded.
If you are creating or editing a page for a brand that no longer exists, any categories that begin with the words defunct or discontinued are to be added right after the general topic categories and right before the country-specific topic categories.
If you are creating or editing a page for a brand that has a presence around the world, you may add country-specific topic categories for every relevant country unless separate pages exist for the brand in each country. For example, the McDonald's page does not include country-specific categories for every country it operates in because there are separate pages for the brand in each country. These separate pages can be found in the McDonald's template at the bottom of the page. If separate pages for an international brand's presence in each country don't exist and you choose to add multiple country-specific topic categories to one page, you must ensure that they are listed in alphabetical order. An exception to this rule is that you may place the country-specific topic category that represents the brand's home country at the top of the country-specific category list. See the page for Pizza Hut as an example of this. You may also choose to add the "international" category (Category:International) to the page. It should be placed right after the country-specific topic categories and right before any location/country categories. See the page for Shure as an example of this.
Logo notices such as "SVG needed" and "Missing logo" will automatically add their own category to a page. You do not have to add the category manually; it is unnecessary.
Links
Links to pages that provide further information about the logos and branding are usually placed straight after the relevant text.
If you have a link that can't be put in a particular era, it should be placed at the bottom under the title "External links" in a level 2 heading (use == == around the text in source editor). However, try not to make too many external links about the same topic.
Factual accuracy
Accurate and properly sourced information is important if the wiki is to remain credible and of high quality. Therefore you should try to provide sources for your claims as often as you possibly can.
Make sure you are prudent about the information you post and double check information before posting.
False information will be removed on sight and is worthy of a block.
If you want to add a source for one of the details you added to a page, you can add "<ref>your link here</ref>" right next to the description of a logo. Once you've done that, create another level 2 heading under the title "References". It should be placed above External links, if it's present on the page. When you've created the heading, add the Reflist template below it.
Grammar and spelling
Grammar and spelling are also important so Logopedia can remain legible. This is also an English wiki, indicating that all pages must be written in English.
What NOT to do:
- Do not go on and on, or have run-on sentences, as they just keep going and going, they never end, this is an example of a run-on sentence, they don't stop. At least use semicolons and periods to separate run-on sentences.
- Do not spell incorrectly. Speling is importent, coz reeders dont lik wen you cant spel.
- This isn't a forum or social network. Avoid using abbreviated words and acronyms constantly. Dis is not good, u shud rite correctly.
- Do not have un-capitalized or unfinished sentences. it just looks weird on pages
- Do not capitalize every word in a sentence. You Should Not Do This, It Is Very Annoying.
- Use correct grammar on Logopedia, not correct grammar use on Logopedia ban/warn result.
- Don't forget to use punctuation, too.
Notability
All pages created on Logopedia must follow the notability guidelines. Please be sure to read through this before creating pages, and ensure that the subject of your page follows these guidelines.
Page deletion
Pages can only be deleted by admins, although if you wish a page to be deleted, type {{Delete|Enter reason here}} at the very top of a page.
For more information, see Logopedia:Criteria for deletion.
Thanks for reading, enjoy your time at Logopedia!