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32 changes: 16 additions & 16 deletions how-to-answer-a-question.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -5,37 +5,37 @@ Thank you for wanting to answer questions! This is how we grow as a community :)
1. Make sure the question follows the "how-to-ask-a-good-question" guide
2. Make sure your answer unblocks the user
3. Remember, this is living documentation!
4. Format your answers, like in the `how-to-ask-a-question` guide.

4. Format your answers, like in the `how-to-ask-a-question` guide.

# 1. Make sure the question follows the "how-to-ask-a-good-question" guide

If the question is poorly formatted and you know how to reformat it reformat it and ask them next time to format their code.
If the question is poorly formatted and you know how to reformat it, then go ahead and reformat it. Then, politely ask the person to format their code properly in future questions.

If the question is posted in the wrong place (like a theoretical question posted on stackoverflow) kindly let them know that it's in the wrong place.
If a question is posted in the wrong place, such as a theoretical question posted on Stack Overflow, please kindly inform the poster that it's in the wrong place.

If the question has already been asked and answered, answer with a link to the question that has already been asked and answered and ask if that solves the problem.
If a question has already been asked and answered, please provide a link to the original question and answer, and ask if that solves the problem.

If the problem has a poor title, doesn't make sense to others, etc, feel free to edit the question to what does if you can understand it. If not, you can answer saying "I don't quite understand what you're asking, could you reformat your question following the "how to ask a question" guide?
If a question has a poor title or doesn't make sense to others, feel free to edit it to something that you can understand. If you cannot understand it, you can answer by saying, "I don't quite understand what you're asking. Could you reformat your question following the 'how to ask a question' guide?"

If they used screenshots, feel free to ask them to copy-paste the code.
If the question includes screenshots, kindly ask them to provide the code in a copy-pasteable format.

Or, feel free to ignore it. This is a community run forum and no one is "entitled to" answers! Be nice, be respectful, and have fun. But if you do know how to help someone, a little "could you please refactor your question" can go a long way!
However, it's also okay to ignore it. This is a community-run forum, and no one is "entitled to" answers. Please remember to be respectful and nice to others. If you do know how to help someone, a little "could you please reformat your question" can go a long way!

### Don't feel obliged to help right away if they are not asking well-formatted questions. Make them ask a well-formatted question first before you answer!
### If someone is not asking a well-formatted question, don't feel obliged to help them right away. Encourage them to ask a well-formatted question first before answering

But don't be a jerk about it. If they just need a little formatting touch up, just touch up their question for them.
However, please remember to be respectful and polite when doing so. If their question just needs a little formatting touch-up, you can kindly touch up their question for them.

# 2. Make sure your answer unblocks them
# 2. Ensure your answer helps them

Often times, people will ask questions where the answer might be X, but they are trying to do Y. Try to anticipate what people are trying to do. Answer the question at face value, and then maybe give more information on where to go next.
Sometimes, people ask questions where they might be trying to do something different than what they're asking. In such cases, try to anticipate what they're trying to achieve. Answer the question at face value and then provide additional information on where to go next.

Often, giving a summary of your answer at the top with copy pasteable code, and then a "more information" is a best practice.
It's often helpful to provide a summary of your answer at the top along with copy-pasteable code. You can also add a "more information" section to your answer to provide additional details.

# 3. Remember this is living documentation!

Treat it as such. Go back and update answers if you find them!
Keep in mind that this documentation is dynamic!
Treat it as a living document and revisit your answers to update them as needed."

# 4. Format your answers, like in the `how-to-ask-a-question` guide.
# 4. Format your answers, like in the `how-to-ask-a-question` guide.

See that guide for more information.
See that guide for more information.