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This page is a SmashWiki guideline, a principle that suggests how users should contribute and conduct themselves. When editing this page, please ensure that your revision reflects consensus. If in doubt, consider discussing changes on the talk page. |
In a nutshell, a stub is a short or incomplete article that could be expanded. If you see an article that has not reached the needed depth for its subject, you should mark it as a stub, by typing {{stub}} at the end of the page. This template adds a couple of sentences indicating that the article is a stub. It also categorizes the incomplete article as a stub (see the stubs category), so that editors can identify and expand the needy articles.
Special stub tags exist for articles in the Smasher namespace and for sections of articles. A smasher article should be tagged by typing {{smasher-stub}}, and a section stub should be marked {{sectstub}} directly under its header.
You should, however, hold discretion before tagging articles as stubs. Not every short page should be labeled a stub. This page provides policy on when and where to wield the stub template.
Which articles are stubs?
In terms of length, a stub is an article that is only a few sentences long. This length, however, is not a fast and steady rule. You shouldn't, for instance, add a stub tag to a short article about an unimportant topic. On the other hand, some subjects are so important (like Super Smash Bros. Melee or wavedash) that even a description of several paragraphs might be short enough for the article to be deemed a stub.
How can you figure out whether or not an article can appropriately be tagged a stub? That depends on the subject.
- Crew and Smasher articles: a minor, regional-level player (such as Smasher:Aftermath) should never be tagged a stub, because SmashWiki just has too many short Smasher articles. On the other hand, a Smasher that competes on the national level (such as Smasher:Isai Alvarado) or has great significance in the Smash community or tournament scene (such as Smasher:Gideon) should be tagged a stub if the subject's influence isn't adequately discussed. These same guidelines apply to crews as well.
- Gameplay articles: every gameplay-related article requires a description or definition of the subject, or else it is a stub. You should also tag important gameplay elements (such as wavedash) as stubs if they do not discuss how the subject relates to the community or to tournament play.
- Character articles: this subjects is important and requires a substantial article. A character article is a stub if it does not discuss the character's most notable attributes in the game, such as his or her special attacks. You do not, however, need to include in-depth information about that character's appearance in other, non-Smash games).
- Stage articles: a stage article is a stub if it does not at least describe the stage's layout. This includes the movement of stages such as Brinstar Depths or Hyrule Castle. A stage article should also indicate its legality in tournaments.
- Sections: sections of articles follow the same guidelines as articles when determining whether it should be tagged as a stub. If it's a broad enough subject that it could be expanded to fill several paragraphs and subsections, the section should be marked with the sectstub tag.
Removing the stub tag
If a former stub has been lengthened so that it can no longer be considered a stub, you may remove the stub tag. You do not need to request permission to take it off. In some cases, however, it would be nice if you made a note of it in the article's talk page, particularly if the page's stub status is controversial.