Project:Grammar: Difference between revisions

While this Wiki is written in English, the standard choice is American English. Here, all rules regarding grammar and vocabulary in accordance to American English apply.

All articles begins with an uppercase letter. Other words in the title are to begin in lowercase.  In other words, article names are to follow the pattern using all lower case besides the first letter, unless the article specifically uses a proper noun.

For example: Kokushi musou.  Not ''Kokushi Musou''.

Tile calls may be expressed both as nouns and verbs. The terms of "to pon", "to kan", "to chii" have been accepted into the mahjong vocabulary. The past tenses of these verbs are respectively '''"ponned"''', '''"kanned"''', and '''"chiied"'''.  Declarations, wins and other actions also follow the same rule, that is '''noun form + (double final n / drop final e) + "ed"'''. This would give '''"riichied"''', '''"tsumoed"''', '''"chomboed"'''.

A number of [[Terminology|Japanese terms]] are apply to this game. However, neither readers nor even editors are required to know them all.  New players are especially not required to know any of the terminology, even the [[yaku]] and [[naki|tile calls]].  Though, the yaku and tile calls hold a special place within terminology, such that they're required knowledge in order become more familiar with the game.

So, this becomes a matter of how much terminology is used vs using direct English translation. Using Japanese terminology holds the advantage of conciseness. However, usage may become confusing, when such terms are "unfamiliar". On the other hand, English translation may lack an equivalent term or end up as "wordy". For now, discretion is required when utilizing terminology or translation. At this point, it becomes a balance between layman's terms and jargon.

A number of terms can be used interchangeably between the Japanese term and its English equivalent.  A prime example involves tile groups, such as [[koutsu]] and triplet. The article content dictates terminology usage.  More "advanced" content may lean more towards Japanese terminology, without concern for more "novice" readers.  English equivalents to Japanese terms are best consulted in either the [[List of terminology by alphabetical order|primary terminology list]] or the [[List of terminology translations|translation list]].  Once again, discretion is advised here.

Article titles of proper nouns follow capitalization, similar to that of "book titles". The first letter to each word is capitalized, with exception to "a", "an", or "the". Plus, prepositions and conjunctions are also not capitalized, such as "on", "for", or "but".

Names of tournaments are classified as proper nouns.  So, capitalization to these article names are applied as such.

It is established that the yaku are not to be treated as proper nouns. Therefore, proper noun capitalization does not apply to them.

It is important to note for any Wiki.  Multiple users each have their own viewpoints. With regards to editing, users do their best to supplement as many readers and editors as possible.  While agreement is ideal, dispute may be unavoidable.  Individuals or groups of individuals should do their best arrive at some sort of compromise, in order to proceed with the editing process and ultimately produce a good referential product.

It is important to note that players are a mix of both genders. So, articles are best written to address both, by using gender neutrality.

Articles and sections should be best written with generalizations in mind.  Though, specific articles and sections may require specificity. This is particularly applicable pertaining to [[rule variations]], where a multitude of different organizations have their own rules and approaches to the game.