CAT:Documentation/Style Guide

CAT Style Guide

This style guide outlines the writing standards and editorial expectations for the Consumer Action Taskforce (CAT) Wiki. Its purpose is to ensure consistency, clarity, and professionalism across all articles while maintaining accessibility for a general audience.

Core Principles

General Accessibility

The CAT Wiki aims to be accessible to all readers, from consumers seeking information to regulatory figures researching issues. Contributors should:

• Write clearly and concisely
• Avoid unnecessary technical jargon
• Define technical terms when they must be used
• Structure information logically
• Use descriptive headings and subheadings

Tone and Voice

Factual and Non-Accusatory

• Make factual statements only when directly supported by sources
• Avoid direct condemnation of specific companies or individuals
• Use indirect attribution for criticism: "Reports indicate..." or "Studies have shown..."
• Present information objectively without emotional language

Professional and Measured

• Maintain a calm, professional tone
• Avoid inflammatory language
• Present balanced information
• Focus on documented facts rather than speculation

Language Standards

Technical Content

• Minimize technical details unless essential
• Provide clear, concise explanations when technical content is necessary
• Include definitions for technical terms
• Use examples to illustrate complex concepts

Quotations

• Censor explicit language in quotations
• Choose quotations that convey information professionally
• Provide context for all quotes
• Use reliable, verifiable sources

Article Structure

Standard Sections

Each article should include:

• Clear introduction
• Well-organized main content
• Comprehensive references
• Relevant categories
• Related articles section

Formatting

• Use consistent heading levels
• Include appropriate white space
• Apply wiki markup correctly
• Maintain readable paragraph lengths

Source Guidelines

Acceptable Sources

• Legal documents and court filings
• Official company statements and documentation
• Regulatory filings and decisions
• Verified news reports
• Academic research
• Technical documentation

Citation Format

• Use <ref> tags for all citations
• Include access dates for online sources
• Provide context for citations
• Link to archived versions when available

Content Types

Incident Articles

• Focus on factual timeline
• Document all sources
• Avoid speculation
• Include relevant technical details without overwhelming readers

Company Articles

• Maintain neutral point of view
• Document practices with sources
• Avoid promotional content
• Focus on consumer-relevant information

Theme Articles

• Present balanced overview
• Include multiple perspectives
• Provide clear examples
• Connect to specific incidents

Common Issues to Avoid

Language

• Inflammatory rhetoric
• Unsourced claims
• Technical jargon without explanation
• Direct attacks or accusations

Structure

• Walls of text
• Excessive technical detail
• Unorganized information
• Missing citations

Content

• Promotional material
• Personal opinions
• Unverified claims
• Speculation about motives

See Also

• Core Patterns
• Templates
• Quick Start Guide

⚠️ Article status notice: This article needs additional work

This article needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues.

This notice will be removed once sufficient documentation has been added to establish the systemic nature of these issues. Once you believe the article is ready to have its notice removed, visit the discord and post to the #appeals channel.

Notice: This Article Requires Additional Verification

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This article has been flagged due to verification concerns. While the topic might have merit, the claims presented lack citations that live up to our standards, or rely on sources that are questionable or unverifiable by our standards. Articles must meet the Moderator Guidelines and Mission statement; factual accuracy and systemic relevance are required for inclusion here!

Why This Article Is In Question

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Articles in this wiki are required to:

• Provide verifiable & credible evidence to substantiate claims.
• Avoid relying on anecdotal, unsourced, or suspicious citations that lack legitimacy.
• Make sure that all claims are backed by reliable documentation or reporting from reputable sources.

Examples of issues that trigger this notice:

• A topic that heavily relies on forum posts, personal blogs, or other unverifiable sources.
• Unsupported claims with no evidence or citations to back them up.
• Citations to disreputable sources, like non-expert blogs or sites known for spreading misinformation.

How You Can Improve This Article

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To address verification concerns:

• Replace or supplement weak citations with credible, verifiable sources.
• Make sure that claims are backed by reputable reporting or independent documentation.
• Provide additional evidence to demonstrate systemic relevance and factual accuracy. For example:
  • Avoid: Claims based entirely on personal anecdotes or hearsay without supporting documentation.
  • Include: Corporate policies, internal communications, receipts, repair logs, verifiable video evidence, or credible investigative reports.

If you believe this notice has been placed in error, or once the article has been updated to address these concerns, please visit the #appeals channel on our Discord server: Join here.