User talk:SnapSnap

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Words and numbers

Sorry if I didn't explain clearly enough, it's difficult to explain clearly in an edit summary.

There is a small there is a readability cost when switching context from words to numerals. The brain has to process the slight ambiguity of 21 which could be TWO ONE, or TWENTY ONE (or 123 ONE TWO THREE versus ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY THREE). Think about how often dumb text to speech software gets this sort of thing wrong, your brain is smart enough to correct for it but it does add a tiny extra step that reduces readability. Try reading text out loud, you might start noticing these and other speedbumps.

The guidelines MOS:NUMERAL says numbers "may be expressed either in numerals or in words" I was trying to also explain why in a large prose section (not an equation or a formula) that it is better to use the words not the numbers. I hope I have been able to explain it a bit better and more clearly now. -- 109.78.195.161 (talk) 19:48, 14 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@109.78.195.161: Whatever one's brain can process is entirely subjective. Integers greater than nine are expressed in numerals all the time in plot summaries and it's never been an issue. If there were any major issues regarding the readability of numerals in large prose sections, I'm sure it would be covered by guidelines or policies. snapsnap ^(talk) 19:58, 14 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Guidelines say things can be done one way or the other. They rarely explain why they should be done one way or the other, I'm not trying to have an opinion I'm trying to present facts about readability that aren't subjective at all, I wish I could link to documents that backup these factual principles of readability, but unfortunately anecdotal explanation is the best I can manage to remember. (I'm not a fan of reading documentation and style guides, but I've read a fair few over the years. I've also learned a little about speech therapy and writing dialogue that has to be spoken out loud. Unfortunately I'm sorely lacking in the academic first principles and facts to better explain all this half remembered minutiae). I'm disappointed my explanation wasn't good enough to convince you, I really do believe that in a section full of words it is better to keep consistently using words not numerals, I think the guidelines imply this even if they don't state it outright. The guidelines do emphasize that numbers should be used in tables and infoboxes MOS:NUMNOTES "In tables and infoboxes, quantities are expressed in figures" and the Plot section is not a table or Infobox, it is a large prose section. The guidelines continue ... "but numbers within a table's explanatory text and comments follow the general rule." which seems to indicate that even within a table were there is space to do so the words are preferable over the numerals.

I hope you will take a moment to read the text of the plot section out loud. I hope you will consider if the guidelines allow either way to be used then maybe the Plot section is one of those times where it is better to use the words. I wish I could find a past discussion or part of style guide that better explains what I'm asking. Anyhow I hope you'll take a moment to ponder it further. Either way thanks for your time. -- 109.78.195.161 (talk) 20:53, 14 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@109.78.195.161: This is an issue that seems to extend beyond Wikipedia. Personally I've never had any readability issues, or experienced any sort of ambiguity, while reading numerals in plot summaries or other large prose sections. In fact, I believe numerals are preferable over words when referring to a person's age. But if you wish to restore the words in the Anora plot section, I won't edit-war with you over this. Not because I necessarily agree with your rationale, I just don't think that this is something worth edit-warring over. In the future, you should probably avoid using Wikipedia guidelines to justify an argument that isn't explicitly supported by said guideline. snapsnap ^(talk) 04:07, 15 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Cigarettes After Sex X's India Tour 2025

Hi Snap,

I'm new to the wikipedia and added the details of the CAS Indian Tour Details but it was removed by you. Can you please tell me the reason, so I can learn and contribute to wikipedia in the right way in future. Shah941 (talk) 09:24, 27 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Shah941: Hi. We don't include tour details (dates, venues, etc.) in artist articles. Usually concert tours have their own article, in the case of tours that have received significant coverage in multiple independent reliable sources (per WP:CONCERT). snapsnap ^(talk) 18:15, 27 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Playing the Angel

Hi, I saw your message, the album recording dates were added by website allmusic.com , here you are.

Playing the Angel - Depeche Mode | Album | AllMusic 95.237.168.126 (talk) 16:38, 29 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

American Playhouse -- "is" or "was"?

I'm curious as to why you reverted my edit on "American Playhouse," in which I changed the first sentence to the past tense. The series hasn't aired a new episode since 1993, and is clearly over. Jhlechner (talk) 20:19, 23 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Jhlechner: Per MOS:TVNOW (which I mentioned in my edit summary), references to TV shows are always in the present tense on Wikipedia, because the show still exists even if it's no longer airing new episodes. The only exception to this rule are lost television shows. snapsnap ^(talk) 22:32, 23 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Question: Which dash to use?

Hey @SnapSnap! I've noticed some of your edits to the pages I've made changes to, and to start, I really appreciate it! Thank you for having a great eye for detail and helping to clean things up! I've noticed that you (and others) are replacing en dashes with em dashes between page ranges in citations, but when I read MOS:RANGE it seemed to indicate that en dashes are preferred. But everyone keeps changing them. I just want to figure out what's right, so I don't cause work for other people. I feel like I must be missing something. Can you help? Thank you! :) 87Fan (talk) 21:27, 31 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@87Fan: Hi! Thank you for the kind words, and thank you for your work expanding Depeche Mode album articles. If you're referring to this edit, I actually replaced a hyphen (-) with an en dash (–); an em dash (—) is actually wider than an en dash. You're correct, en dashes are the correct punctuation mark to use for ranges of numbers and dates, so if anyone is using em dashes for ranges, they're wrong. snapsnap ^(talk) 23:49, 31 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Oh wow, there are 3 types!? I thought hyphens were en dashes. That's what I was missing. Thank you! I appreciate you! 87Fan (talk) 00:19, 1 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@87Fan: You're welcome! Glad I could help. snapsnap ^(talk) 02:18, 1 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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