I'm not a pedant. I don't demand impeccable grammar.

However, I do reserve the right to edit articles to make them as comprehensible as possible for every reader.

Beyond this, I do have some expectations:

• Sections should preferably be used with headings and/or sub-headings. If you are writing a longer piece this is important to help guide the reader through your article.
• Paragraphs should be appropriate for a blog. This means a reasonable length and based on subject-led governance. In other words, if you shift from one aspect of your section to another, start a new paragraph.
• Punctuation is important. Again, while I'm not pedantic, use a range of punctuation. Capital letters, full stops, commas, semi-colons, colons, parentheses (brackets) or dashes - all are helpful to structure your writing and guide the reader. And basic English demands the correct use of question marks and appropriate use of exclamation marks.
• Spelling is also important. There's nothing more distracting in an article than seeing the wrong word used. The difference between there, their and they're is important, but so is being able to spell words correctly. I write in English; my spelling is UK English; however, I'm not going to quibble about American English spelling... the blog might, though don't worry too much about this.

If English isn't your first language, some of this may be difficult. If you're not the most grammar-aware person, then it may also provide a challenge. This is why I will look at editing articles when I get the chance.

There are some aspects of style which I want to maintain across the blog:

• When using the name of the game - Diplomacy - please ensure that it is both in bold and italicised: Diplomacy.
• When using names of websites, zines, variants, etc, use bold.
• When using emphasis, use italics.
• Links don't need to be emphasised in any way but make sure they work.
• When quoting articles, use single 'quotations'; when quoting speech, and created speech, use "double quotations", and when using 'thoughts' quotations, use italics and 'single quotations'; eg So you're thinking, 'Hang on...'

When quoting other writers, please follow these guidelines:

1. Short Quotes (quotations that are cited in the main text).

• Keep the quotation within the normal layout of the text.
• "Use double quotations marks."
• Italicise the quote.
• Cite the author; title, publication (including issue ID, if appropriate; bold); citations in square brackets.
• Add a link to the publication name in the citation, if appropriate.

eg: "Any tactic based on deception is legitimate in Diplomacy." [Calhamer, Allan; Military Intelligence, The Dispatch #1 (1960)].

2. Long Quotes (quotations that are long enough to be set-out differently).

• Precede the quote with a colon:
• Start a new paragraph.
• "Use double quotations marks."
• Italicise the quote.
• Cite the author; title, publication (including issue ID, if appropriate; bold); citations in square brackets; set out the citation with a right alignment.
• Add a link to the citation, if appropriate.

eg:

"Over-the-board play shows that even alliances which are genuinely good for both parties are frequently questioned by the offeree. Frequently he 1) wants to know the exact variations visualized by the offerer and 2) wants to know what the alliance will do at very long range, that is, after they have knocked out their first Great Power target."

[Calhamer, Allan; On the Play of Postal Diplomacy, Graustark (Oct 1966).]

3. Quotations from a website.

Follow the above guidelines but, in the citation, add the name of the author; the title of the post, linked to the main thread (if from a forum), italicised; the name of the website.

eg: "I think there is a greater likelihood of play in ranked games being more protective." [Nibbler; no-rank games, Playdiplomacy.com Forum.]

I use Blogger, Gmail's blog platform. It has 'Labels' where a blog platform like Wordpress has both 'Categories' and 'Tags'.

On Across the Board, then, I want to separate labels into broad labels and narrow ones (categories and tags).

There are the equivalent of categories identified by CAPITALS. These are limited in number:

• INTRODUCTION (one post);
• DISCUSSION (anything about Diplomacy which isn't covered in other categories);
• STRATEGY (posts which focus on advice on playing the game);
• VARIANTS (Dip-style games, based on the rules of Diplomacy), and
• F2F (posts which also affect face-to-face play).

Most posts will fit into these. However, if a writer or contributor feels their post doesn't fit into one or more of these categories, let me know when sending the post to me, or (if a contributor) save your post and request a new category. New categories may be added at any time.

All posts need to have at least one category.

Other labels should be written in lower case (normal lettering). These should link to the focus of the post.

Common labels may include the names of the powers (eg 'England' if the post is about that power, mainly); names of specific spaces being discussed (eg 'English Channel' if writing about that space), or the stage of the game being referred to (eg 'Opening Strategy').

Writers should list the labels they want to apply to the post; I may add others. Contributors should add the labels when posting.

Are you a 'Writer' or a 'Contributor'? This depends on how often you're likely to contribute to the blog.

If you are likely to contribute regularly, you will be listed as a Contributor. This means you will be a regular writer on the blog, able to add articles fairly often. You'll be able to add articles to the blog as an 'author'.

If you are likely to contribute once, or anticipate writing only infrequently, you will be credited as a Writer. You will be able to send articles by email, which will be edited by me (or, in the future, some other editors) before being posted.

Contributors will have their name added to the end of the article; Writers will have their name added under the title.

Let me know which is most likely!