20
votes
UNDELETED: Deleting a highly upvoted but questionably correct answer (the one with the subjunctive)
So I’ve looked over the guidance I can find about incorrect answers and what to do about them (especially if they’ve been accepted or have attracted a lot of votes) on the main meta. The consensus ...
- 1,352
16
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
For the most part, the first-time posters who submit one-word answers followed by a little filler to meet the minimum character count are not interested in anything more than participating in a quiz-...
- 161k
15
votes
UNDELETED: Deleting a highly upvoted but questionably correct answer (the one with the subjunctive)
I understand that it is disturbing when a dubious answer far outscores a careful and authoritative answer. However, a number of factors suggest to me that the present case is not an especially hard ...
- 161k
13
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
tl;dr: Leaving these lying around just encourages others to follow their bad example. We don't want that to happen. Deleting is good for the site.
SLAs are NARAs
We used to have “Not A Real ...
tchristMod
- 134k
12
votes
Are there any topics that are off limits in answers/comments?
If something is irrelevant to an answer, it should be edited out. If something is only relevant as an example, but the example is too inflammatory or distracting, it should be changed. The fact that ...
- 26.5k
11
votes
How bad is it to answer a question that might be unsuitable for the site?
The main reason this is bad that I know of is that it may prevent the automatic deletion of low-quality questions. This makes the site have more low-quality questions that show up in search results ...
- 80.3k
9
votes
Accepted
Can I answer with translated proverbs or expressions?
Bear in mind that you are answering on the website "English Language and Usage". An Indian proverb is not part of the English language; a literal translation is not part of English usage (unless of ...
- 35.1k
9
votes
Protocol when a comment provides a reasonable answer
People leave partial answers in comments for various reasons. Regardless, if you see useful information or partial answers in the comments, you can use that to write a detailed answer yourself.
It'd ...
NVZMod
- 22.6k
9
votes
Accepted
Can a newly constructed word answer a single word request?
A question asking for people to coin a word is out of scope for this site. A coinage in an answer might be in scope, depending on how well-reasoned it is.
If the answer is a coinage which follows ...
- 28.4k
9
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
Sven Yargs points out that the problem is with poorly supported but otherwise correct answers; tchrist advocates deletion of single-line answers (SLAs) because they are not real answers. MετάEd ...
- 38.4k
7
votes
Are answers that only cite personal experience acceptable for questions about dialects?
As my flagging of a comment instigated @sumelic question, I'll share my thought.
Questions on pronunciation are quite interesting, particularly for non-natives as myself, as resources are very ...
- 4,096
7
votes
How to handle old questions with answers stuck in a comment?
I do answer a question in a comment if I think the question is marginal and worthy of closing. I consider this a kindness and an expediency. Kindness because I'm giving the benefit of my knowledge, ...
- 151k
7
votes
What's the best way to address an antisemitic slur suggested as an answer over a year ago?
I would certainly take "Shylock" these days to refer to the unsavoury aspects of loan-sharkiness rather than be anything to do with religion.
I'm aware that British attitudes to language differ ...
Andrew LeachMod
- 101k
7
votes
Accepted
Is it good to migrate questions which are on-topic and have answers?
My reasoning for not migrating is as you have stated.
Mods are advised against migrating questions that are on topic where they currently are and have positively received answers. (Moderators can see ...
- 29.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Six votes recommending deletion, but not deleted
It's because it had a net positive score at the time that six recommends were racked up.
There's a notice on it. Eventually if the user doesn't return pretty soon and fix it up, it will probably be ...
tchristMod
- 134k
6
votes
Accepted
Qualitative 'boundaries' for what it means to answer in comments
"We expect answers to be substantial, and backed up by references. [⬅️ This therefore is not an answer. :-]"
—tchrist♦
By this, I suppose what tchrist means that because his comment does not ...
5
votes
How bad is it to answer a question that might be unsuitable for the site?
TL;DR: It totally depends. Only answer bad questions when you provide a good answer. Otherwise, keep it in the comments.
What would have been a great thing
If however you do see something ...
- 5,427
5
votes
Accepted
Protocol when a comment provides a reasonable answer
I will not speak for others but some of why people do it is addressed in Why Do Some People Answer in Comments on the main Meta Stack Exchange (S.E.) Website. The matter is also addressed in a similar ...
- 4,531
5
votes
Can I answer with translated proverbs or expressions?
My advice would be always check if the saying exists in English as well.
It seems that "Words are like arrows, once loosed you cannot call them back" is a well-quoted saying in English and is wrongly ...
- 45.1k
5
votes
Lack of context with this template
It is a four word answer: “Fume is another possibility.” Kudos for properly crediting the work of another author that you relied on when you wrote it. All it lacks is the comprehensive explanation and/...
- 28.4k
5
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
Once a post has gone to moderation, the resolution is moderator’s choice. Deletion is a perfectly reasonable choice when the post does not belong on the site. Deletion leaves the site clean while also ...
- 28.4k
5
votes
Is scolding other users in the comments section worthy of a flag?
Regarding the titular question, the code of conduct forbids "subtle putdowns", "unfriendly language", "Name calling", "personal attacks" (which "includes terms that feel personal even when they're ...
- 4,531
4
votes
What's the best way to address an antisemitic slur suggested as an answer over a year ago?
It must not have been an “anti-semitic slur” for Joe Biden, and I had never heard of it being considered that either.
That said, it’s still a way to portray someone as a brutal loanshark unrelated ...
tchristMod
- 134k
4
votes
What's the best way to address an antisemitic slur suggested as an answer over a year ago?
There are two issues here. The linguistic/cognitive nature of the fact and then how this site deal with such things.
There's no doubt it is an anti-semitic pejorative. It has only ever been used to ...
- 70.8k
4
votes
How do deal with answers to a "try to guess" question
You are certainly not alone in your thinking; many people feel that rewarding a poorly-framed question with a thoughtful and detailed answer is not only futile, but in fact is actively detrimental to ...
- 59.3k
4
votes
UNDELETED: Deleting a highly upvoted but questionably correct answer (the one with the subjunctive)
I am disturbed by this deletion. The answer may not have been a good one (although the number of upvotes clearly disputes that)—but, in all other cases, whether an answer (or question) is good is ...
- 37.9k
4
votes
About closed questions
Welcome to the website. You might want to take some time examining our help center. Click the question mark icon on the upper right-hand side of the screen and you can find it. In it there are a few ...
- 4,531
3
votes
Lack of context with this template
It's not that your answer lacks explanation per se, but that some people argue that your answer should consist of mainly your own words to make it an expert answer, which I agree with, but in my ...
NVZMod
- 22.6k
3
votes
Are answers that only cite personal experience acceptable for questions about dialects?
If the question is specifically asking about dialect differences, then I think these kinds of answers are acceptable. (They aren't for pretty much all the other kinds of questions.)
Answers that cite ...
- 5,705
3
votes
UNDELETED: Deleting a highly upvoted but questionably correct answer (the one with the subjunctive)
For users who do not have 10K rep and cannot see the deleted answer, here it is. And, yes, I had already downvoted it.
When in doubt, always use the subjunctive mood:
If I were you...
It will make ...
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible