##**Please** adapt these for the situation at hand, and don't just post them blindly. --- **Please read the [comment editing help](http://biology.stackexchange.com/editing-help#comment-formatting) page for a list of shortcuts you can use in comments (some of which I use below). Things like `[help]`, `[tour]`, `[edit]`, and shortcuts to other SE sites are very useful.** This is organized into three sections: **Questions**, **Answers**, and **Useful Links**. --- #Questions ##**Welcome/explain how site works** > Welcome to the Biology Stack Exchange. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask). Please ensure your post is [formatted correctly](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/formatting) as well. `Welcome to the Biology Stack Exchange. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask). Please ensure your post is [formatted correctly](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/formatting) as well.` --- ## **Too broad discussion/tutorial request questions** This takes the previous comment and changes the first sentence a bit. > This is not a forum or tutorial service; it is a Q&A site where *specific* questions relating to biology get *specific* answers. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask). Please ensure your post is [formatted correctly](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/formatting) as well. `This is not a forum or tutorial service; it is a Q&A site where *specific* questions relating to biology get *specific* answers. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask). Please ensure your post is [formatted correctly](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/formatting) as well.` --- ## General comment asking OP to actually *think* about their question. Useful for absolute garbage/unintelligible questions, and elsewhere as well. > Here's a hint on asking questions: Put yourself in the mind of another person - someone you might ask the question to. Then, carefully re-read the question and ask yourself *"Do I understand what is being asked? Is there any other information that might be necessary to answer it? Is it grammatically well-formed, spelled correctly, and punctuated - in English? Does it fit with the rules of this site as defined in the [help]?"* If the answer to one or more of those questions is *No*, then you need to work on your post some more. Please click the [edit] link to alter your question. `Here's a hint on asking questions: Put yourself in the mind of another person - someone you might ask the question to. Then, carefully re-read the question and ask yourself *"Do I understand what is being asked? Is there any other information that might be necessary to answer it? Is it grammatically well-formed, spelled correctly, and punctuated - in English? Does it fit with the rules of this site as defined in the [help]?"* If the answer to one or more of those questions is *No*, then you need to work on your post some more. Please click the [edit] link to alter your question.` --- ##**Homework/easily researched questions** This takes the standard close reason and adds a bit to it. Feel free to modify it. The last sentence especially doesn't *always* need to be included. I only use it when someone claims their question isn't homework, just something they're interested in. > **Homework questions** and **questions that show little or no prior research effort** are off-topic on Biology **unless you have shown your attempt at an answer**. For more information see our [homework policy](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/homework). "*Homework*" is interpreted to mean any academic or other assignment, test preparation, or task given in relation to a class, educational setting, or self-learning. `**Homework questions** and **questions that show little or no prior research effort** are off-topic on Biology **unless you have shown your attempt at an answer**. For more information see our [homework policy](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/homework). "*Homework*" is interpreted to mean any academic or other assignment, test preparation, or task given in relation to a class, educational setting, or self-learning.` or, you can use just the standard close text, which includes the homework policy link: > **Homework questions** are off-topic on Biology **unless you have shown your attempt at an answer**. For more information see our [homework policy](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/homework). `**Homework questions** are off-topic on Biology **unless you have shown your attempt at an answer**. For more information see our [homework policy](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/homework).` --- ##**Medical Questions** > **Personal medical questions and health advice** are off-topic on Biology. We cannot safely answer questions for your specific situation and you should **always consult a doctor for medical advice**. `**Personal medical questions and health advice** are off-topic on Biology. We cannot safely answer questions for your specific situation and you should **always consult a doctor for medical advice**.` --- ##**Bioinformatics questions not about biology** > Questions regarding analytical methods, such as those related to bioinformatics or biological simulation, that do not ask **explicitly** about the *underlying biology* are considered off-topic. Please [edit] your question to address only your question relating to about biology or delete this question and visit another Stack Exchange site such as [so] for programming, [stats.se] for statistics, [ai.se] for AI, [su] for general computing, etc. You may also find [Biostars](http://biostars.org) helpful. `Questions regarding analytical methods, such as those related to bioinformatics or biological simulation, that do not ask **explicitly** about the *underlying biology* are considered off-topic. Please [edit] your question to address only your question relating to about biology or delete this question and visit another Stack Exchange site such as [so] for programming, [stats.se] for statistics, [ai.se] for AI, [su] for general computing, etc. You may also find [Biostars](http://biostars.org) helpful.` --- ##**Do some thinking yourself** The first sentence doesn't necessarily need to be included, and should be altered to fit the question being asked. Basically, just try to communicate that this is not a tutorial site. > Unfortunately, this is not a tutorial site to explain every aspect of a given paper, concept, or idea. I strongly suggest you take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask). `Unfortunately, this is not a tutorial site to explain every aspect of a given paper, concept, or idea. I strongly suggest you take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask).` You can also use this: > This is a Q&A site where *specific* questions relating to biology get *specific* answers. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask). `This is a Q&A site where *specific* questions relating to biology get *specific* answers. Please take the [tour] and carefully read through the [help] to learn more about the site, including [what is on-topic](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) and [what is not](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask), and how to [ask a good question](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask).` --- ##**Unclear what you're asking** > Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the [How to Ask](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask) page for help clarifying this question. `Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the [How to Ask](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask) page for help clarifying this question.` --- ##**Text posted as an image** > **PLEASE DO NOT POST TEXT AS IMAGES**. Copy and paste the text into your question. Images are not searchable, and can not be interpreted by screen readers for those with visual impairments. Use the [edit] link to modify your question. See [this](http://meta.stackoverflow.com/a/285557/1426065) for more information. `**PLEASE DO NOT POST TEXT AS IMAGES**. Copy and paste the text into your question. Images are not searchable, and can not be interpreted by screen readers for those with visual impairments. Use the [edit] link to modify your question. See [this](http://meta.stackoverflow.com/a/285557/1426065) for more information.` --- ##**Miscellaneous comments under bad questions** > From the [help/dont-ask], *`If your motivation for asking the question is "I would like to participate in a discussion about ______", then you should not be asking here.`* ``From the [help/dont-ask], *`If your motivation for asking the question is “I would like to participate in a discussion about ______”, then you should not be asking here.`*`` > From the [help/dont-ask]: *``Your questions should be reasonably scoped. If you can imagine an entire book that answers your question, you’re asking too much.``* ``From the [help/dont-ask]: *`Your questions should be reasonably scoped. If you can imagine an entire book that answers your question, you’re asking too much.`*`` --- #Answers ##**Please accept an answer** This does not need to be posted by the author of the answer, and if possible shouldn't be to avoid being perceived as a reputation hog. > If this answer [addressed your problem](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/someone-answers), please consider [accepting it](http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5234/how-does-accepting-an-answer-work) by clicking on the check mark/tick to the left of the answer, turning it green. This marks the question as resolved to your satisfaction, and awards [reputation](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) both to you and the person who answered. Once you have >= 15 reputation points, you may also upvote the answer if you wish. There is no obligation to do either. `If this answer [addressed your problem](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/someone-answers), please consider [accepting it](http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5234/how-does-accepting-an-answer-work) by clicking on the check mark/tick to the left of the answer, turning it green. This marks the question as resolved to your satisfaction, and awards [reputation](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) both to you and the person who answered. Once you have >= 15 reputation points, you may also upvote the answer if you wish. There is no obligation to do either.` --- ##**Answers that are really comments** In addition to posting this comment, please also flag the answer as "**Not an answer**" or "**Very low quality**". > This should be a comment, not an answer. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post. You can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient [reputation](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you'll be able to [comment](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment) on all posts. See [here](http://meta.stackexchange.com/q/214173) to learn about this limit and what you should do to earn this privilege. Comments posted as answers are subject to removal, or you can delete it yourself. `This should be a comment, not an answer. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post. You can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient [reputation](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you'll be able to [comment](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment) on all posts. See [here](http://meta.stackexchange.com/q/214173) to learn about this limit and what you should do to earn this privilege. Comments posted as answers are subject to removal, or you can delete it yourself.` --- ##**Answer needs references** > Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please [edit] to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted. `Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please [edit] to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.` --- ##**Very short answers** > We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed. `We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.` --- ##**Don't answer lousy questions** > From [How do I write a good answer?](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer) in the [help], *``Answer well-asked questions. Not all questions can or should be answered here.``* ``From [How do I write a good answer?](http://biology.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer) in the [help], *`Answer well-asked questions. Not all questions can or should be answered here.`*`` --- ##**Link-only answers** > Link-only answers are generally not acceptable on Stack Exchange sites. The link may change or become unreachable in the future, and without a summary of what the link contains this answer would be useless. Please summarize what is in the link (**don't** just copy and paste) and use the link solely for reference. If you remove the link and the answer cannot stand on its own, it is not a good answer. `Link-only answers are generally not acceptable on Stack Exchange sites. The link may change or become unreachable in the future, and without a summary of what the link contains this answer would be useless. Please summarize what is in the link (**don't** just copy and paste) and use the link solely for reference. If you remove the link and the answer cannot stand on its own, it is not a good answer.` --- #**Useful links** > [Understanding Evolution](http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_01) from the University of California, Berkeley. `[Understanding Evolution](http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_01) from the University of California, Berkeley.` > American Association of Physical Anthropologists' statement on [Biological Aspects of Race](http://physanth.org/about/position-statements/biological-aspects-race/). `American Association of Physical Anthropologists' statement on [Biological Aspects of Race](http://physanth.org/about/position-statements/biological-aspects-race/).` --- If you have additional comments or links you'd like to share, please edit this answer.