User:Amgine/SG Details-D

d

Abbreviation for died, no dot. Likewise b for born.

dashes

Beware sentences - such as this one - which use dashes to set off a parenthetical clause; it is preferable to use parentheses, commas (for a dependent clause), or a semi-colon. Where used, use sparingly and never more than once in a single sentence. Use the hyphen, preferred, or n-dash (–), with leading and trailing spaces; Wikinews is not paper and does not need to be chary of whitespace which improves readability.

Do not use the em-dash (—). Almost no keyboard natively supports the em-dash; editing articles should be easy and should use the simplest punctuation options available on every keyboard. For the same reason, prefer the hyphen to the en-dash. Most browsers and fonts use the exact same character for both anyway, so make it easier on yourself.

See also: hyphens

Dates

Dates and time for Wikinews are described in the style guide.

decimate

Literally means to kill one in every 10. Clichéd and over used, may be used to indicate heavy casualties but not, for example, a domestic industry or jobs. Use very sparingly.

definitely

Over-used nearly to the state of cliché, it means without question, doubtless. Avoid except in direct quotes.

déjà vu

Acute and grave accents, but not italicized.

dénouement or denouement

With or without acute accent, but consistently throughout the article.

Depression

Capitalization is the Depression for the 1930s economic recession.

desert

A barren environment, something which is deserved, or the verb for leaving one's post or duties. Not at all like dessert in most cases.

dessert

A sweet confection served as the final course of a meal. Generally not at all like desert.

different from, differ from

Never different or differ than, different or differ to.

dilemma

Not a difficulty or problems generally, but to have only and exactly two options, both of which are problematic.

dual, duel

dual refers to two of something, while duel refers to conflict between two.

due to

"Caused by" not "because of".

dwarf, dwarfs

For the plural, prefer dwarfs not dwarves. Avoid politically correct circumlocutions such as "vertically challenged."