Re: [PATCH v2 1/2] user-manual: general quoting improvements (p1)
- From
- Daniel <mjucde@o2.pl>
- Date
- Jan 23, 2010, 19:52 UTC
- Message-ID
- <251dfe4a.62d52a63.4b5b5381.c5497@o2.pl>
- In-Reply-To
- <1264205935-19203-2-git-send-email-felipe.contreras@gmail.com>
Show 44 quoted lines
> This standarizes the way quotes are handled following semantic rules, > that make the final text easier to read. > > Here are the general rules: > > * A command (something that the user must type), goes in backticks. So > that the final text appears in monospaced text. e.g. `git clone > <repo>` > > * A common concept (or git lingo), also goes in backticks. So that it > appears uniquely different from the rest of the text. e.g. `HEAD` > > * An example (something that can be easily replaced), goes into > typewriter quotes. The final text is not formatted further, so they > still appear as typewriter quotes. e.g. "linux-2.6" > > * A text that can be confused with normal text also goes into > typewriter quotes. e.g. "path/to/file" "A" > > * Text that needs to be emphasized goes in single typewriter quotes. So > that it's not confused as normal text. e.g. we often just use the > term 'branch'. > > * Something that needs proper quotation goes into proper double quotes. > So that it gets a dramatic effect, as in sombody is using his four > quoting fingers. e.g. ``the index'' > > * Something that needs strong emphasis so that the reader can't > possibly miss it goes enclosed in asterisks. e.g. *not* tracking > > These rules are not automatic, which one to use depends on the context, > and often they can be used together. For example, consider this: > > The branch 'test' is short for '"refs/heads/test"' > > In this case we want to highligh 'test' and 'refs/heads/test' so they go > in single typewriter quotes, but also, we want to make clear the full > refname is not confused as multiple words, so it goes inside double > typewriter quotes. > > Also, sometimes a text can be both a command, and an example, but only > one quoting format must be chosen. > > Signed-off-by: Felipe Contreras <felipe.contreras@gmail.com>
Maybe [regardless of its meritorical corectness) this is worth putting in a separate file in Documentation/ so that people sending patches to documentation will at least have a chance to read quoting rules and not use quotes randomly.
-- Daniel