Vault:Style Guide

STYLE GUIDE

The Vault Editorial Style Guide

This guide establishes the writing, structure and formatting standards used throughout The Vault. All articles should aim for accuracy, neutrality and clear separation between reported claims, evidence and interpretation.

The Vault Style Guide

The Vault is an encyclopaedic archive documenting paranormal phenomena, unexplained events, folklore, investigations, researchers and cultural influences.

Articles should be written in a neutral, research-focused style. The Vault does not attempt to prove or disprove paranormal claims; instead, it documents:

• Reported experiences
• Historical accounts
• Available evidence
• Investigations
• Explanations and criticism
• Cultural impact

The goal is to provide a balanced reference resource covering subjects from cryptids and UFO phenomena to parapsychology, ghosts and hauntings, folklore and Forteana.

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Core Principles

Neutrality

Articles must distinguish clearly between:

• Claims — what witnesses, researchers or traditions report
• Evidence — material or documented information relating to those claims
• Interpretations — explanations offered by researchers, sceptics or believers

Avoid presenting unverified claims as established fact.

Preferred:

Witnesses reported seeing a large unidentified creature in the area.

Avoid:

A creature lives in the forest and has been seen by witnesses.

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Evidence Language

Use careful wording when discussing uncertain information.

Recommended phrases:

• "is reported to have..."
• "allegedly..."
• "according to witnesses..."
• "researchers have suggested..."
• "no verified evidence has confirmed..."

Avoid:

• "proves"
• "disproves"
• "definitely exists"
• "definitely fake"

unless referring to established facts.

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Article Structure

Articles should follow the appropriate structure depending on the subject type.

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1. Cryptid Articles

Examples:

• Bigfoot
• Loch Ness Monster
• Mothman

Recommended structure:

{{CryptidInfobox}}

Introduction

== Description ==

== History ==

== Reported Encounters ==

== Evidence ==

== Investigations ==

== Alternative Explanations ==

== In Popular Culture ==

{{VaultAssessment}}

{{VaultEvidence}}

== See also ==

== References ==

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CryptidInfobox

Used for creatures and entities.

Required fields:

• Name
• Classification
• Region
• Status

Recommended fields:

• Alternative names
• First reported date
• Image

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VaultAssessment

Used to summarise the current understanding of the subject.

It should answer:

"Where does the subject currently stand?"

Example:

{{VaultAssessment
|category=Cryptid
|status=Unconfirmed
|evidence=Eyewitness reports and alleged physical evidence
|research=Investigated by cryptozoologists and researchers
|assessment=No verified evidence has confirmed the existence of the creature.
}}

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VaultEvidence

Used where evidence is a major part of the subject.

It summarises:

• Physical evidence
• Reports
• Investigations
• Alternative explanations

Example:

{{VaultEvidence
|level=2
|label=Low
|physical=No verified specimen exists
|reports=Thousands of reported sightings
|investigation=Extensively investigated by researchers
|explanation=Misidentification and hoaxes remain possible
}}

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1. Person Articles

Examples:

• Authors
• Researchers
• Investigators
• Witnesses
• Organisations

Examples:

• Stephen King
• J. B. Rhine
• Charles Honorton

Recommended structure:

{{PersonInfobox}}

Introduction

== Early Life ==

== Career ==

== Paranormal Connections ==

== Research / Works ==

== Influence ==

{{VaultProfileAssessment}}

== See also ==

== References ==

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VaultProfileAssessment

Used for people and organisations.

It does not assess whether a person is "paranormal".

It explains their relevance to The Vault.

Example:

{{VaultProfileAssessment
|category=Author / Cultural Figure
|relevance=High
|connection=Supernatural fiction and paranormal themes
|assessment=The subject has significantly influenced public interest in paranormal concepts.
}}

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1. Location Articles

Examples:

• Haunted buildings
• UFO locations
• Mystery sites

Recommended structure:

{{LocationInfobox}}

Introduction

== History ==

== Reported Phenomena ==

== Notable Cases ==

== Investigations ==

== Explanations ==

{{VaultLocationAssessment}}

== See also ==

== References ==

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VaultLocationAssessment

Used for places associated with unexplained events.

Example:

{{VaultLocationAssessment
|type=Haunted Location
|reports=Reports of apparitions and unexplained activity
|investigation=Investigated by researchers and paranormal groups
|history=The location has a long association with ghost folklore
|assessment=The site remains culturally significant, although evidence remains unverified.
}}

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1. Case Articles

Examples:

• UFO sightings
• Individual hauntings
• Paranormal investigations

Recommended structure:

{{CaseInfobox}}

Introduction

== Background ==

== Witness Accounts ==

== Investigation ==

== Evidence ==

== Explanations ==

== Legacy ==

{{VaultAssessment}}

{{VaultEvidence}}

== References ==

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Images

Images should be clearly identified.

Acceptable captions:

Illustration based on eyewitness descriptions

Historical photograph of the location

Avoid:

Photograph of the creature

unless the image is genuinely accepted as such.

AI-generated images must always be labelled as:

AI-generated illustration

They should never be presented as evidence.

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Internal Linking

Only link terms relevant to The Vault.

Good examples:

[[Cryptozoology]]
[[Parapsychology]]
[[UFO phenomena]]
[[Ghosts and Hauntings]]
[[Patterson–Gimlin film]]

Avoid excessive linking of ordinary words.

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Categories

Every article should belong to appropriate categories.

Examples:

Cryptid:

[[Category:Cryptids]]
[[Category:Cryptozoology]]

Person:

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Researchers]]

Location:

[[Category:Haunted Locations]]
[[Category:Places]]

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References

All factual claims should be supported where possible.

Use:

<ref>{{cite web
|title=
|url=
|website=
|date=
}}</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

Sources should include:

• Academic publications
• Books from recognised publishers
• Historical records
• Reputable journalism
• Research organisations

Avoid relying solely on:

• Blogs
• Unsourced claims
• Social media posts
• Paranormal entertainment programmes

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Writing Style

The Vault uses British English.

Articles should be:

• Clear
• Informative
• Neutral
• Accessible

Avoid:

• Sensational language
• Mockery of beliefs
• Promotion of claims
• Dismissive language

The Vault documents mysteries. It does not manufacture them.

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