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I am a new user of tex.stackexchange.com and probably this could be a stupid question, but is there any information about how to pose good questions and make good answers? I think it could be useful for new users. If possible can you enumerate 2 or 3 topics to read for each case:

  1. How to pose good questions?
  2. How to make good answers?
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    You should look at our help site: tex.stackexchange.com/help/asking
    – nickpapior
    Commented Nov 13, 2013 at 9:55
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    Read the »Help« page entirely. Commented Nov 13, 2013 at 9:58
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    Always provide a minimal working example. If the problem is that (La)TeX produces an error, copy and paste the error into your question. If the problem is that the output isn't what's desired, describe the expected output compared to the actual output. Commented Nov 13, 2013 at 11:33
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    If I were you I would observe and learn from the pattern of Good Q & A for a few days on TeX.SX. Once in a while everyone fails to ask a good Q, but don't resist to ask or answer even stupid Questions. Over time it may turn Good. BTW for eg: see this User's Q & A tex.stackexchange.com/users/19356/?tab=questions to get some idea. Commented Nov 13, 2013 at 13:36
  • Your comments were a good help. I see that Help provides information about How to ask and How to write a answer. "Minimal working example" was also very useful. Revisions examples of questions could also be useful. An overall answer with all this information (and other relevant information) I think could be useful for beginners.
    – Emanuel
    Commented Nov 13, 2013 at 17:24
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    Allow me to show my first question: tex.stackexchange.com/questions/19142/… So don't be too shy, just jump on the wagon :) What a terrible question it was, at least i got the mwe thing correct :)
    – percusse
    Commented Nov 15, 2013 at 10:16
  • @percusse: I'm trying to. :) At least my post was useful for me to understand that stupid questions are allowed, duplicates are not.
    – Emanuel
    Commented Nov 18, 2013 at 12:16
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    More generally, see Eric Raymond's How To Ask Questions The Smart Way.
    – jub0bs
    Commented Nov 22, 2013 at 19:11

1 Answer 1

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Here is a collection of ideas, taken from comments and the FAQ for Stack Exchange sites:

Questions:

  • Search first

    We typically come to a Q&A to get an answer. Immediately. However, there is a bounty of knowledge already present on this site. Search for it using the best ninja skills you have possible. Only then post a question. For not-so-new users, the chat room is also a good place to hash out ideas about questions.

    Duplication is fine if it turns out that the problem can be approached from different angles. Your question (even though it is a duplicate) may be the landing place for others searching for similar solutions. Questions marked as a duplicate will have their duplicate targets clearly listed:

    enter image description here

  • Include a minimal working example (MWE) so that the actual problem can be replicated by the community.

    Since we're not sitting next to you and a post is the only way you can communicate the problem, a MWE is like a picture... and worth a thousand words. Remember to keep it minimal. How do you know when something is minimal or not? Remove stuff until the problem is not reproducible.

  • Write a descriptive (yet short) title

    A title saying "How do I fix this error" doesn't help any future visitors who search this site. Like any search engine, question titles are included in the search results, together with snippets of text/code:

    enter image description here

    So, while "How do I fix this error" may mean something to you at the time of posting the question, you should...

  • ...have the bigger picture in mind - the community.

    The community is here to help you, so try to put yourself in their shoes when you post. Can they readily reproduce my problem? Have I given clear instruction as to what I'm after? Do I have an XY problem?

  • Include references and pictures

    A reference to a different question will show that you've done some research or tried other avenues (perhaps you'd like to ask a follow-up question). Pictures of the output (expected or actual) give most members an immediate take on what's going on. Again, a picture is worth more than a bunch of sentences. We have guidelines on how to include images in posts - new users should follow the same procedure but remove the preceding ! (markdown inserted to denote a picture). Janitors will be able to rectify this and fully embed the image.

  • Mark your code properly

    There's an FAQ on how to mark your code using markdown. It improves readability.

  • Tag like a boss

    We have many house-keepers in this community, all of whom try to keep up with ordering things on this site. Tags are important for that. And, as you may have noticed, searching based on tags (using [<tag>]) can help narrow your searching to find what you're looking for.

  • Be specific

    Think of the answer you require when formatting the question. As a reference, see How to ask a specific question without in the risk of "too localized"?.

Other/related references:


Answers:

  • Search first

    Yes, some questions are duplicates. If they're found, flag a question or directly close it as a duplicate.

  • Don't post link-only answers.

    These are better-suited as a comment, since it defers reputation to the intended posts (not yourself). Sure, link to other posts that support or confirm some of your suggestions/usages, but keep in mind that your answer should add value to the community.

  • Code-only answers are not that awesome.

    New users sometimes have a lacking ability to interpret code-only answers. It helps if there are explanatory discussions around why certain things were done.

Other/related references:

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  • Very useful answer based on links and your experience. Hope this could help new users in organizing their ideas of how to make a good question (or answer). Further reducing the noise about duplicated questions, editing and improving the interaction between beginners and experts in tex.
    – Emanuel
    Commented Nov 13, 2013 at 19:30

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