Content Style Guide - Substance

Writing styles enable constructive collaboration and improve the quality of content through consistency and readability.

Writing style

• Avoid loanwords.
• Avoid passive speech; be direct.
• Avoid slang, vernacular and idioms.
• Avoid addressing the reader at any point.
• Avoid judgement, opinion and irrational interpretation.
• Avoid reports of self-experience outside of experience-reports.

• Prefer using as few words as possible to make a point.
• Prefer marked, uncited recitation of original content: "..., reports suggest, ...," "..., has been reported," "Based on reports, it is likely that, ..., "
• Prefer short alternatives to long words.
• Prefer simple English: not all of our users are native speakers.
• Prefer concise and approachable speech.

General principles

• Neutrality: Do your best to remove all your subjective feelings and personal opinions on a subject when writing an article. Extensively consult dictionaries, thesauri, Google, Wikipedia, and similar PW substance pages to get an idea of how information should generally be formatted presented. Resist all urges to glorify or promote substance use and stick with the facts as derived from the scientific and anecdotal literature.
• Word economy: Do your best not to use any unnecessary space -- minimization is key. Avoid including unnecessarily long sentences and paragraphs. Assume the worst case, that the readers are looking up a substance they just found out about on their phone while at a party, festival, or rave. Focus on the vital information, and then re-read it to see if you can word it in a way that saves space or makes it easier to digest. Each bit of space used should have a clear reason for it.
• Readability: Readability is the ease with which a reader can understand a written text. Due to the nature of the modern attention span, the way the text is structured is vital. This mostly comes in the form of simple, concise sentences and properly spaced paragraphs. Nothing gets people to disengage faster than a wall of text in flowery language, especially while inebriated.

1. A typical paragraph should be roughly 4 simple sentences in length. Use 3 if they are more complex sentences with long dependent clauses (parts of a sentence that cannot stand alone). It is acceptable to sometimes use shorter paragraphs if they express a self-contained thought.
2. Minimize the use of dependent clauses or chains of independent clauses in a single sentence. Err on the side of sentence breaks, even if it may sound a little stuttery.

Example: "In various studies, X has been shown to cause Y effect in some users, and this effect has been linked to various psychiatric conditions, as well as other negative effects on bodily organs." → "Various studies have shown that X causes Y effect in some users. This effect has been linked to various psychiatric conditions as well as other negative effects on bodily organs"

Word choices

Select the bolded words when faced with a choice between the two options.

1. semisynthetic vs. semi-synthetic
2. naturally occurring vs. naturally-occuring
3. substance vs. drug (unless it is from a reference that explicitly uses the word 'drug')

Internal links

An internal link refers to a link to within a page that directs to another page found on the wiki. For example adding two brackets around a term like "serotonergic psychedelic" (serotonergic psychedelic) wIll link to the PsychonautWiki page on that entry.

• Make sure to keep internal links whole, so that does not include dangling letters or phrases. Example: <syntaxhighlight>serotonergic psychedelics <<use this format instead>> serotonergic psychedelics</syntaxhighlight>

Formatting conventions

Main page: Template:Substance Breakdown

Introduction template

Option one should be the default formatting for substances (one sentence). However, for substances with multiple effects of note that result in long sentences, please resort to the two sentence structure shown below.

1. X (also known as Y, and Z) is a (widely-used vs. obscure vs. blank) (novel vs. blank) (naturally occuring vs. semisynthetic vs. synthetic) (insert psychoactive class) substance of the (insert chemical class) chemical class that produces a, b, c effects when administered.
2. X (also known as Y, and Z) is a (widely-used vs. obscure vs. blank) (novel vs. blank) (naturally occuring vs. semisynthetic vs. synthetic) (insert psychoactive class) substance of the (insert chemical class(es)) chemical classes. It is known to produce a, b, c, d effects" when administered.
3. X (also known as Y, and Z) is a (widely-used vs. obscure vs. blank) (novel vs. blank) (naturally occuring vs. semisynthetic vs. synthetic) (insert psychoactive class) substance of the (insert chemical class(es)) chemical classes. It is (said/believed/thought/known/shown/demonstrated) to produce SubstanceP-like a, b, c, d effects when administered.

Examples:

1. Lysergic acid diethylamide (also known as LSD, LSD-25, Lysergide, L, and Acid) is a widely used semisynthetic psychedelic substance of the lysergamide chemical class that produces what are typically considered "classical psychedelic" effects when administered.
2. 3-MeO-PCP (also known as 3-MeO-PCP, and 3-MeO) is a novel synthetic dissociative substance of the arylcyclohexylamine chemical class. It is reported to produce dissociating, stimulating and hallucinogenic effects when administered.

Basic pharmacology/classification info

1. X is a member of the 3T-D family of substances, which include substances like 3T-P, 3T-O, and 3T-H. It is believed to produce its effects via dopamine reuptake inhibition, although this has yet to be scientifically confirmed.

Brief history

The compound was first synthesized in 1979 to investigate the structure-activity relationship of DZT derivatives. The activity of XXX in humans was not described until 1999 when a chemist using the pseudonym John Q. Beagle wrote that XXX was qualitatively similar to YYY with comparable potency.[5]

Unique/relevant aspects

Like other substances of its class, particularly DAF and XCA, it primarily [induces vs. produces] a state referred to as "mega fucked up", albeit the extent to which this occurs is highly dose-dependent and variable in effect. (Description of distinguishing properties compared to other substances?) Its most common routes of administration include oral, sublingual or nasal administration. (Remark on common RoAs if relevant)

Modern relevance

(In modern times vs. Today) XXX is rarely sold on the streets and almost exclusively distributed as a gray area research chemical by online vendors, where it is commonly used for recreational and entheogenic purposes.

Warning and HR disclaimer (esp. if RC)

Due to its potent X and Y effects, reported habit-forming properties as well as unknown toxicity profile, it is strongly recommended that one use proper harm reduction practices if choosing to use this substance.