Your First Wiki

So are you ready to write a wiki of your own? We're excited to see you do some big things for the Brilliant library! Here are some guidelines to help you write the wiki:

Every wiki should have a brief introduction. This is usually a few sentences that define the concept and explain its purpose or applications. The best introductions use two paragraphs: the first to give a beginner's definition of the subject and the second to develop its relevance to other topics. For more help, watch our two minute tutorial on writing an intro.

Once your introduction is finished, determine three or four detailed headers that will give some structure to the wiki. Making sure the headers are detailed will help you and other writers fill out the body of the wiki. For instance, a header like "The Hard Boiled Egg Analogy" gives other writers a great idea about how to write content rather than a header like "Explanation" or "Definition."

You should keep your content organized, write simply but interestingly, and adhere to grammar rules. Great content uses images to explain, and great Brilliant content goes above and beyond with accurate detail.

This heading is used for formally defining or explaining the concept and sometimes uses a definition or a theorem box. The first header should continue expanding on the basic definition from the introductory paragraphs, referencing the mathematics or the science of how something was discovered, how it works, and why it's useful.

Place the definition of the wiki's subject here (if it needs one).

Subsequent headings are used to provide examples of the concept in action or how it is used in relevant subdomains. It's important to show off some significant results that the concept helps us achieve. Start with an easy example and then move onto something more motivating and powerful. For more help on adding an example, watch our one minute tutorial.

Place an example that uses the concept as previously defined to help the reader discover its use and relevance to mathematical or scientific understanding. Keep in mind, we want to understand how the topic of this wiki helps us solve problems.

Additional examples should illuminate other aspects of the subject and should not be a replicated case of a previous example.

The content under later headings seek to develop advanced properties, a deeper understanding, or how the subject of this wiki can be applied to other topics.

Keep in mind that a wiki is not required to have three headers. You may add and remove headers to form the best structure for your writing.