Tilcayo Cats:Neutral point of view
This page is a Tilcayo Cats policy. The Clowder and all of The Coalition follow it.Shortcut: TC:NPOV See all policies and guidelines.
| This page in a nutshell: Describe a subject the way the best independent sources do, giving each view space in proportion to its weight in those sources. Write plainly: no praise, no puffery, no hidden criticism. |
Every Tilcayo Cats article is written from a neutral point of view. This cannot be overridden by consensus, by payment or by the subject's wishes.
The rules
- Follow the sources' weight. The main views in reliable, independent sources get space in proportion to how much those sources discuss them. Tiny-minority views are left out.
- State facts as facts and opinions as opinions. "The bridge opened in 1901" is a fact. "The bridge is beautiful" is an opinion, and belongs in the article only as someone's view: "The architect Jane Smith called it…", with a citation.
- Plain words. No promotional language ("leading", "innovative", "award-winning", "world-class", "passionate"), no weasel words ("some say", "it is widely believed") and no loaded words ("claimed", "admitted", "regime") unless the sources use them and they are attributed.
- No hidden promotion. Lists of clients, products, awards and staff, and "notable customers" sections, are removed unless independent sources discuss them.
- No criticism sections for their own sake. Put sourced criticism where it belongs in the article.
Fringe views
A view held by very few experts is described only in proportion to its coverage in independent reliable sources, and never presented as equal to the mainstream. Pseudoscience is described as pseudoscience when reliable sources describe it that way.
Paid and connected editing
Neutrality applies with extra force to anyone with a connection to the subject; see TC:COI and TC:VOLE. A vole cannot pay for a friendlier tone.