Disambiguation Comment: Difference between revisions

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The '''disambiguation comments''' are fields in the database used to help distinguish identically named artists, labels and other entities. They are visible in the pages for the entities, and also appear in the search results next to their names.
'''Disambiguation comments''' are used to distinguish identically or similarly named artists, labels and other entities. They are visible on entity pages, as well as in search results.


Disambiguation comments should be written in English if possible and kept fairly short. A few words are usually enough for someone reading it to recognize the entity they're looking for. The comment fields should not be used to store general background information: that kind of information should go in the [[Annotation|annotation]] instead. The text inside the comment field is not part of the title, and thus should be entered following the same capitalization guidelines as [[Style/Titles#Extra_title_information|extra title information]].
They should be in English and kept short. A few words are usually enough to disambiguate the entity. Follow the same capitalization guidelines as for [[Style/Titles#Extra_title_information|extra title information]], as these comments are not part of the name.


You will be prompted to enter a disambiguation comment any time you try to add a new artist or label that shares its name with an existing one, but you'll not be prompted to enter a disambiguation comment for the "old" one, nor for works, recordings, releases and release groups. To enhance the search results, you should ideally provide a disambiguation comment for all the identically named entities, by navigating to their pages and editing them.
You will be prompted to enter a disambiguation comment when you create an artist, label or place* that shares its name with an existing one. You will ''not'' be prompted to enter a disambiguation comment for the existing entity of the same name. It is ideal to add a disambiguation comment to the existing entities as well, or there may still be confusion for other editors.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>if the places are in the same area, or the area isn't set.
Some types of entities (such as recordings, releases, release groups and works) are usually very easily distinguished by their artist data, type and other info that is generally shown everywhere for them. As such, there's generally no need to add a disambiguation comment such as the recording / work artist name, the release barcode, or the release group type. For these types, only add disambiguations when they add something to the existing data. Some examples of potentially useful disambiguation comments are "1999 revision" for a work, "red vinyl" for a release, or "mono"/"stereo"/"5.1 surround" for a recording.


== Examples ==
== Examples ==
* [[artist:593abf14-4292-4d62-b365-79c7674cd1a5|Randy Jackson]] has the disambiguation comment "brother of Michael and Janet."
* [[artist:593abf14-4292-4d62-b365-79c7674cd1a5|Randy Jackson]] has the disambiguation comment "brother of Michael and Janet"
* [[artist:39828c81-cc39-4e8a-8e00-f0874c657d47|Randy Jackson]] has the disambiguation comment "former bassist with Journey and American Idol Judge"
* [[artist:39828c81-cc39-4e8a-8e00-f0874c657d47|Randy Jackson]] has the disambiguation comment "former bassist with Journey and American Idol Judge"
* The album [[ReleaseGroup:9b8af98f-8214-32ee-9b05-96b8c557f7f0|Weezer]] has the disambiguation comment "Red Album"
* The album [[ReleaseGroup:9b8af98f-8214-32ee-9b05-96b8c557f7f0|Weezer]] has the disambiguation comment "Red Album"
* The album [[ReleaseGroup:923d5ba6-7eee-3bce-bcb2-c913b2bd69d4|Weezer]] has the disambiguation comment "Green Album"
* The album [[ReleaseGroup:923d5ba6-7eee-3bce-bcb2-c913b2bd69d4|Weezer]] has the disambiguation comment "Green Album"

== When not to disambiguate ==
Disambiguation comment fields should not be used to store general background information: that should go in the [[Annotation|annotation]].

Some types of entities (such as recordings, releases, release groups and works) are usually easily distinguished by their artist data, type and other information. Only add disambiguations when they add something not already displayed in the general interface or in search results.

Examples of usually '''not-useful''' disambiguation comments, where the bracketed information is already displayed elsewhere:

* [release] (barcode)
* [release group] (album/EP/single)
* [recording] (by artist)

Examples of usually '''useful''' disambiguation comments:

* [work] (1999 revision)
* [release] (red vinyl)
* [recording] (mono/stereo/5.1 surround)


[[Category:Terminology]] [[Category:WikiDocs Page]]
[[Category:Terminology]] [[Category:WikiDocs Page]]

Latest revision as of 10:29, 9 November 2023

Disambiguation comments are used to distinguish identically or similarly named artists, labels and other entities. They are visible on entity pages, as well as in search results.

They should be in English and kept short. A few words are usually enough to disambiguate the entity. Follow the same capitalization guidelines as for extra title information, as these comments are not part of the name.

You will be prompted to enter a disambiguation comment when you create an artist, label or place* that shares its name with an existing one. You will not be prompted to enter a disambiguation comment for the existing entity of the same name. It is ideal to add a disambiguation comment to the existing entities as well, or there may still be confusion for other editors.

*if the places are in the same area, or the area isn't set.

Examples

  • Randy Jackson has the disambiguation comment "brother of Michael and Janet"
  • Randy Jackson has the disambiguation comment "former bassist with Journey and American Idol Judge"
  • The album Weezer has the disambiguation comment "Red Album"
  • The album Weezer has the disambiguation comment "Green Album"

When not to disambiguate

Disambiguation comment fields should not be used to store general background information: that should go in the annotation.

Some types of entities (such as recordings, releases, release groups and works) are usually easily distinguished by their artist data, type and other information. Only add disambiguations when they add something not already displayed in the general interface or in search results.

Examples of usually not-useful disambiguation comments, where the bracketed information is already displayed elsewhere:

  • [release] (barcode)
  • [release group] (album/EP/single)
  • [recording] (by artist)

Examples of usually useful disambiguation comments:

  • [work] (1999 revision)
  • [release] (red vinyl)
  • [recording] (mono/stereo/5.1 surround)
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