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{{Todo|inline=1|discuss|text=This is not actually Xen Wiki policy currently, it is only a hypothetical proposal by one user.}}
'''''This page has been superseded by [[User:Sintel/Notability guidelines]].'''''
{{Editable user page|Edit this page's contents to keep it in line with the community consensus on its talk page and on the #wiki Discord channel.}}




From May 2025 onwards, the Xenharmonic Wiki is introducing new '''notability guidelines'''.  
'''This is not actually Xen Wiki policy, it is only a hypothetical proposal by one user.'''
 
 
{{archive}}
 
 
The Xenharmonic Wiki is introducing new '''notability guidelines'''.  


These are less strict than Wikipedia's guidelines. The main goal of these guidelines is to stem the tide of dozens of very short new pages about topics of limited musical usefulness.
These are less strict than Wikipedia's guidelines. The main goal of these guidelines is to stem the tide of dozens of very short new pages about topics of limited musical usefulness.


'''As a general rule: if you are at all unsure which of these categories your new page belongs to, make it a user page.'''
'''As a general rule: if you are at all unsure which of these categories your new page belongs to, make it a user page.'''
Older pages may not meet these guidelines, so feel free to edit or move older pages to bring them into compliance.


== What are user and main space pages? ==
== What are user and main space pages? ==
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Main space pages are pages without any prefix. For example "Major scale".
Main space pages are pages without any prefix. For example "Major scale".


== Banned content ==
== Pages with GENTLE notability requirements ==
In general the wiki is suffering from a lack of citations, so if you cite your sources, that is especially appreciated and goes a long way.
 
Pages that typically belong in main space include but are not limited to:
=== • Pages about composers, theorists or musicians ===
=== • Pages about instruments ===
=== • Pages about long-standing musical traditions ===
=== • Pages about widely used tunings or intervals ===
 
== Pages with MODERATE notability requirements ==
 
=== Using words or names you invented yourself ===
If you ever use a word or name that you invented yourself, '''mark it with [[:Template:Idiosyncratic]]'''.
 
If you use several such terms in one section of a page, then instead of using [[:Template:Idiosyncratic]] several times, instead place [[:Template:Idiosyncratic terms]] at the start of the section.
 
=== NEW pages about regular temperaments ===
These are great! We do need more pages dedicated to individual [[temperament]]s. But make sure to include all or almost all of the following:
* Interval chain (for [[rank-2]] temperaments) / [[Lattice]] (for [[rank-3]] temperaments and higher)
* Tables/spectra of tunings
* At least one paragraph explaining its structure
* At least one paragraph explaining its properties
* An infobox - use [[:Template:Infobox Regtemp]]
 
Thank you :)
 
== Pages with STRICT notability requirements ==
 
=== Pages with significantly more automated template content than human-written content ===
These should always be '''user pages''' - the exception is if they are about a [[MOS]] with 30 or fewer total steps, then they can go in main space.
 
If the page is about a very important topic (see below sections for elaboration) that is a priority for the wiki to cover, then include [[:Template:Stub]] at the BOTTOM of the page. This will tell future authors to write more content for your page, and once it is fleshed out, it can be moved to main space.
 
MOS pages DO still require the stub template when their manual content is sparse.
 
=== NEW pages about intervals, commas, or equal tunings ===
==== In general ====
The basic principle here is to have ''good rationale''.
 
'''Think about why you are creating this page.'''
 
'''Why does the concept you are writing a page for need to have its own article?'''
 
Did you come across this while playing with a scale or exploring compositional possibilities, or otherwise while investigating structures theoretically? ...If so, then there is some reason or context that the idea exists in; we therefore urge you to describe that reason when you are writing the page.


=== Objectively false claims ===
Additionally, question whether it is really necessary to create a page or if what you have the interest in talking about would belong as a mention on a different, already-existing page instead.
Objectively false claims (e.g. "the octave is 1500 cents") '''do not belong anywhere on the wiki''' and should be deleted.


This includes false claims about existing musical traditions (e.g. "the Indonesian slendro scale is 5edo.")
The below criteria are soft guidelines in general, but delineate what the good reasons are for a page to be made.


What IS allowed though, are comparisons, as long as they are accurate. (So you CAN say "the Indonesian slendro scale is ''similar to'' 5edo.")
==== Intervals ====
If you are unsure about meeting the below criteria, make it a '''user page'''.


=== Offensive content ===
If the page is about '''an interval''' that meets AT LEAST ONE of the following criteria, then it can be a main space page (''as long as it has at least a full paragraph of human-written content, rather than consisting mostly of just templates''):
The following content '''does not belong anywhere on the wiki''' and should be deleted:
* Both its numerator and denominator are 2 digits or less
* Content which promotes or risks promoting hatred or discrimination against any group of people
* It has a [[Wilson height]] of around 40 or less
* Content which is mean-spirited or in bad faith
* It is highly structurally important to some musical framework used by at least 2 people
* Content which is in any way obscene, lewd or scatological
* Anything which borders on, or hints at, any of the above


=== What to do if you see banned content ===
==== Commas ====
If you see banned content in a page, delete it. If the entire page falls under the umbrella of banned content, put [[:Template:Delete]] at tge top of the page.
If you are unsure about meeting the below criteria, make it a '''user page'''.


== Usually USER page content ==
If the page is about '''a [[comma]]''', then make it a main space page ONLY if AT LEAST one of the following is true:
* tempering it out has low [[badness]] and sensible structural interpretation in a ''non-absurd'' [[subgroup]]
* it is incidental to multiple temperaments elsewhere documented on the wiki
* it has [[essentially tempered chord]]s in a reasonable odd-limit,


=== Short or unfinished pages ===
Additionally, if it is to be a main space page, you MUST do the following:
These should usually be '''user pages'''.
* explain its particular xenharmonic value with at least a full paragraph of human-written text


If the page is about a composer, an instrument, or a widely used concept, then it can be a main space page.
If the above conditions aren't met, then make it a user page.


Either way, you should '''always include [[:Template:Stub]] at the BOTTOM of the page'''.
==== Equal tunings ====
If you are unsure about meeting the below criteria, make it a '''user page'''.


=== Subjective opinions or essays ===
If the page is about '''an [[equal-step tuning|equal tuning]] (ET)''', proceed with caution.  
Subjective opinions like "5/4 sounds happy" or "19edo is more useful than 17edo" should usually be on '''user pages'''.  


You can put them on main space pages too, but if you do, '''make sure to state clearly that this is a subjective opinion''', and ideally, whose opinion it is.
If the page is to be in main space, it must meet ALL the following criteria:
* At least one or more full paragraphs of ''thoughtful'', ''human-written'' content. The following types of content DO NOT count towards this:
** Tables, boxes or sentences auto-generated by templates
** AI-generated text
** Simple, superficial observations, e.g.:
*** "this ET performs well in the 2.9.15.11.17.23 subgroup"
*** "this ET tempers out x comma"
*** "this ET supports temperament"
Those are all still useful things to include, but only if you actually describe how they relate to this temperament and what that means for musicians or composers.


Some ways to do this (not an exhaustive list), include:
If you are making a main space page for an ET with an unusual [[equave]] or [[period]] (e.g. ED5/3, ED7, ED8/7, etc.), then there must be a VERY good reason why it's important; otherwise it should be a user page.
* "X person has used this tuning in Y way."
* "X person describes this tuning as having Y feeling."


=== NEW pages about intervals, commas, equal tunings, or regular temperaments ===
If you are making a main space page for an EDO, EDT, or other ET with hundreds or thousands of steps, then there must be an EXTREMELY good reason why it's important, otherwise it should be a user page.
These should usually be '''user pages'''.


If the page is about an interval, comma or tuning that has been deliberately, consciously used to make music by at least 2 people, then it can be a main space page.
Any time you make a new ED(n) page in main space, you MUST place a link to it on the page for "ED(n)". For example, if you make a page for 59ed5/4, you must place a link to it on the page "Ed5/4". Or if you make a page for 7465edo, you must place a link to it on the page "EDO".


=== New music theory concepts you came up with yourself ===
=== New music theory concepts you came up with yourself ===
These should usually be '''user pages'''.
These should usually be '''user pages'''.


If the concept is a simple, straightforward modification or extension of an already widely known concept, though, it is okay to put it in main space.
If at least 2 people use the concept OR if actual music has been made with the concept and is linked on the page, then it can go in main space.


Either way, you should '''always include [[:Template:Idiosyncratic terms]] at the top of the page'''.
Either way, you should '''always include [[:Template:Idiosyncratic terms]] at the top of the page'''.
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These are topics like "1edo" which are nonrandom, but which are difficult to actually make music with.
These are topics like "1edo" which are nonrandom, but which are difficult to actually make music with.


If you have little to say about such a topic, it should be a '''user page'''.  
In most cases these should be a '''user page'''.  


If you have a lot to say (at least 2 paragraphs), it can be a main space page.
If the topic is a foundational building block to understanding other, more musically useful topics (which 1edo is for example), then it can go in main space, as long as it has a decent amount of human-authored content and is not just templates.


Either way, it should '''always include [[:Template:Niche]] at the top of the page'''.
Either way, it should '''always include [[:Template:Niche]] at the top of the page'''.
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They should '''always include [[:Template:Worldbuilding]] at the top of the page'''.
They should '''always include [[:Template:Worldbuilding]] at the top of the page'''.


== MAIN space content requiring extra caution ==
== Essays/opinion pieces ==
 
These should always be '''user pages'''.
=== Using words or names you invented yourself ===
If you ever use a word or name that you invented yourself, '''mark it with [[:Template:Idiosyncratic]]'''.
 
If you use several such terms in one section of a page, then instead of using [[:Template:Idiosyncratic]] several times, instead place [[:Template:Idiosyncratic terms]] at the start of the section.
 
== General MAIN space content ==
Pages that typically belong in main space include but are not limited to:
* Pages about composers, theorists or musicians
* Pages about instruments
* Pages about long-standing musical traditions
* Pages about widely used tunings or intervals
 
In general the wiki is suffering from a lack of citations, so if you cite your sources, that is especially appreciated and goes a long way.


== Entries on list and gallery pages ==
== Entries on list and gallery pages ==
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=== Temperament family, clan or collection pages ===
=== Temperament family, clan or collection pages ===
Only include temperaments which have low badness in a sensible JI [[subgroup]] with at least some substantial musical usefulness.
Only include temperaments which have low [[badness]] in a non-absurd, non-arbitrary subgroup, or are restrictions of such to lower prime limits.
 
It is highly recommended to include least one sentence of rationale, for why this temperament was documented or why this particular extension may be chosen.
 
==== Extensions ====
If you are documenting an [[extension]] to a base temperament, especially in the [[13-limit]] and higher where multiple primes may dictate conflicting tuning tendencies, do so only if the extension:
* is the best available extension to the given [[subgroup]]/[[prime limit|limit]] in a specific tuning subrange of the base temperament, OR
* is particularly simple compared to other extensions to the same subgroup, OR
* splits the base temperament's [[generator]]s in a nontrivial way and is better than other extensions to do the same by either of the above criteria
 
If the extension is to a subgroup that does not fill out a prime limit, it should be explained why it is natural or reasonable to consider this.


=== Tables of commas ===
=== Tables of commas ===
Only include commas which are tempered out by at least one musically useful temperament, AND which are necessary for defining that temperaments (not incidental).
Only include commas which are [[tempered out]] by at least one low-badness [[temperament]] in a non-absurd, non-arbitrary subgroup, AND which are important for defining that temperament (not incidental).  
 
([[List of superparticular intervals]] is an exception in that that page explicitly intends to include ''all'' superparticulars within a given limit.)


=== Entries that don't meet the above criteria ===
=== Entries that don't meet the above criteria ===
List them on your own user page instead.
List them on your own user page instead.
== Banned content ==
=== Objectively false claims ===
Objectively false claims (e.g. "the octave is 1500 cents") '''do not belong anywhere on the wiki''' and should be deleted.
This includes false claims about existing musical traditions (e.g. "the Indonesian slendro scale is 5edo.")
What IS allowed though, are comparisons, as long as they are accurate. (So you CAN say "the Indonesian slendro scale is ''similar to'' 5edo.")
=== Offensive content ===
The following content '''does not belong anywhere on the wiki''' and should be deleted:
* Content which promotes or risks promoting hatred or discrimination against any group of people
* Content which is mean-spirited or in bad faith
* Content which is in any way obscene, lewd or scatological
* Anything which borders on, or hints at, any of the above
=== What to do if you see banned content ===
If you see banned content in a page, delete that content off of the page. If the entire page falls under the umbrella of banned content, put [[:Template:Delete]] at the top of the page.
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