How to make a good answer?
It is already difficult to have the answer to a question. But knowing how to write a clear answer for your interlocutor is just as complex. We would like to thank you for your contribution; if you are on this page, it is because you wish to help our community progress by contributing your part. On this page, you will find all our advice for crafting a good answer.
Complete an answer
Answering is good, but contributing to completing an existing answer is even better! Before writing something, check if the question already has an answer, at least partially. By adding a comment, you can help the author of the answer clarify their work. We are a community! Also, people viewing the question and answer will have all the information in one place and will not be overwhelmed by a flood of different answers.
Vote
If you are viewing a question, it means you know a little about the topic. Do not hesitate to give a positive vote (
Similarly, you can vote positively or negatively on a question, allowing visitors to know if the question is useful to the community. Questions that score too low will be cleaned up by moderators.
PS: The system allows you to stay humble. You cannot vote for your own questions or answers. Furthermore, you can only vote once per question/answer.
Write an answer
Start by carefully reading the question: what is the author looking for? When writing, keep in mind to be precise, organized, and above all, complete. Any answer that guides the asker in the right direction is useful, but try to mention the limitations, assumptions, or simplifications in your answer.
Care for your text
Take the time to construct full sentences, avoid abbreviations, and do not overuse formatting (bold text, colors, italics...). Use paragraphs and bullet points if necessary. Add images to your text if you wish.
Avoid spelling mistakes. We are not on a site specializing in the English language, so moderators are lenient. But to support the credibility of your statements, efforts in grammar, conjugation, and spelling are recommended.
An answer that is too abstract or poorly written will generally be voted down by the community. Make sure to gain popularity through your teaching skills!
Avoid external links
Links to external resources (another website, PDF...) are not forbidden, but discouraged. Time passes, and as in some relationships, sometimes links break. If you choose to add an external link to your answer, specify why you are adding this link and what the user will find there. This way, in a few years, if the link is broken, the visitor will still have the essence of the answer in front of them.
The external link should be a supplement to your answer; it should not direct the asker to the answer.
Be polite and courteous
A community can only form between individuals who mutually respect each other. Starting an answer with 'Hello' is not complicated and helps establish a climate of trust.
Every question is useful as it stems from a personal inquiry. If you think it has already been asked, courteously redirect the asker to the question you identified. Consider voting the question down (
As on all pages of this site, we are all here to learn, not to mock or belittle others. Respect these few rules, and together let's make eBiologie a center of help for all those with biological questions!