Wikibooks:Avoid instruction creep
 | This page is a Wikibooks essay, not an official policy or guideline. Essays in the project namespace represent significant viewpoints, and anyone can participate in improving them. An essay in userspace need only represent that user's stance on the topic. |
Instruction creep is a wiki phenomenon that occurs when a community's written rules evolve into something other than what they are supposed to be: straightforward explanations of community norms. It is important that policies and guidelines do not themselves become a source of problems.
In particular:
- Ensure that every rule has a good reason.
- Keep explanations simple and to the point. Use essays to elaborate.
- Separate distinct points, to aid clarity and purpose.
- Leave room for Wikibookians to use common sense.
- Remove or modify any stated requirement which is found to lack community consensus.