<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Overview

Sometimes a topic's name has multiple meanings, and the creation of an article with said name in the title would lead to confusion. Disambiguation is the process by which contributors to SCIFIPEDIA may clarify ambiguous article titles by either redirecting a user or summarizing the multiple meanings on a single page containing links to the specific meanings.

For instance, Singularity. What exactly would we mean if creating an article titled Singularity? The technological term or the astrophysical term?

Process

Disambiguation here in SCIFIPEDIA depends upon whether or not the article in question already exists. If it doesn't, you have a couple of choices, but the process is relatively simple. If it does exist, a careful approach is recommended.

It is the usual convention in wikis to not create a Disambiguation page when there are only two possible meanings for a key word or phrase. However, for the purposes of SCIFIPEDIA, a Disambiguation page should be created whenever warranted, even for just two meanings. Inevitably, someone somewhere will discover or create another work that would fit very neatly within the scope of a Disambiguation page.

That being said, there's no need to anticipate every contingency. Create a Disambiguation page as existing meanings, works, and subjects warrant.

It is also a wiki convention to append a Disambiguation page's name with (disambiguation). However, that is not necessary for SCIFIPEDIA.

If the Article Doesn't Already Exist

• Create the article without modifiers in the title. For example, create an article called Singularity without clarifying in the title Singularity (Technology) or any other indicators as to its specific meaning.
• Summarize the meanings in some manner. List each meaning in a column with a link to the potential page. You may of course leave creating those pages for later. (Hint: you can make a bulleted list by inserting the asterisk or a list number ( * or # ) in front of each item.)
• Indicate this page is a Disambiguation page by including the template for Disambiguation pages somewhere near the bottom. Insert the template below the content but before any categories {{disambig}}
• Assign the page to all the applicable categories. However, do not assign it to the category Disambiguation. Including the above Disambiguation template does this automatically.
• Preview your Disambiguation page, correct it, and save it.
• If possible, go to each potential article you've listed and insert a stub in the page appropriate to at least one of the major categories and the stub category. For example, let's say you created a link in your Disambiguation page about Singularity to Singularity (Technology), which doesn't exist yet. Clicking on that link takes you straight to editing but this isn't your forte. So you make it a technology stub by inserting {{Technology-stub}}. You then assign it to two categories: [[Category:Technology]] and [[Category:Technology stubs]].

If an Article Is Already in SCIFIPEDIA

• First, and very important, use the What Links Here tool to take careful note of any articles linking to the ambiguously titled article. You should edit each of these to point to the moved page.
  

• Plan your move carefully: Choose an appropriate subject or title for the generic article to be the Disambiguation page.
• Choose straightforward names for the more specific child articles of the Disambiguation page. Use a simple modifier, in parentheses preferably. For example, Singularity (Astrophysics) or I, Robot (Movie).
• Capitalize your parenthetical as that is the convention in SCIFIPEDIA.
• Move the ambiguously titled article using the Move function:

• Please avoid using a colon, semicolon, ampersand, or question mark in the new page title (  : ; & or ? ). You can but do not have to use an underscore ( _ )for space(s) as the software translates this for you.
• You will be prompted for a new article name. As above, appending a short descriptive phrase in parentheses following the title will suffice. For example, Singularity (Astrophysics).
• You will also be asked to fill in a reason. It's always helpful to do so. That's the Space Scout creed.
• You will also have a choice to "Move talk pages as well, if applicable." Be sure to tick this box.

• Once the article has been moved, return to the list from the first step, above, and edit each article to reflect the new location of the moved page. This is a courtesy to future readers who expect to go straight to the relevant page, not be plunged into an ambiguous and uncaring wiki.
• Now return to the original page and edit it as outlined above for nonexistent articles. (Starting from the second step.)

Disambiguation Template

The Disambiguation Template is placed within a Disambiguation page in order to automatically categorize the page as a Disambiguation entry. It also places code within to show anyone who has been re-directed to it what page they thought they were getting. Hopefully, once here, that will be clarified.

It is appropriate in editing a Disambiguation page to place above the links to specific topics the template code {{disambig}}. This lets the reader know right off their journey hasn't finished.

Linking to a Disambiguation Page

Once a Disambiguation page has been created, there is rarely, if ever, any reason to link directly to it. It is there to catch errant browsers and not to be a jumping-off point. Instead, link directly to the specific article.

A Disambiguation page is not an appropriate vehicle for breaking down a subject into finer gradations. If a subject is truly ramshackle and complex (major genres like Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and so on come to mind), there should always be a regular article showing that addresses the subject itself. If related articles abound, consider starting a Portal.