Editing Incubator escapee wiki:Merging (section)

== Merge proposal ==
I propose merging [[Foo]] into [[Bar]]. I think the content in Foo can easily be explained in the context of Bar, and a merge would not cause any article-size or [[WP:UNDUE|weighting]] problems in Bar.~~~~
</syntaxhighlight>

====Notify involved users (optional)====
You may optionally notify involved users (e.g. contributors to the source and destination pages), who might not be [[Help:Watching pages|watchlisting]] them. 
One way is to simply [[Wikipedia:Notifications#Notification messages|notify them]] directly from the merge discussion page:
: <code>{{tlx|ping|User1|User2|User3|...}}<nowiki> Message text. ~~~~</nowiki></code>

Alternatively, go to those users' talk pages and start a new section. Make sure to provide a link to the merge discussion.
You may use the following standard templates to leave a standard message:
: {{tlx|Mergenote|Foo|Talk:Bar#Merge proposal|subst=true}}

Please respect ''neutrality'' when making invitations to participate in the merge discussion. [[WP:Votestacking|Votestacking]], that is, canvassing support by selectively notifying editors who have a predetermined point of view or opinion, is inappropriate.

===Step 2: Tag the relevant pages===
'''These templates should ''not'' be [[H:SUBST|substituted]].'''

To propose a merge of two pages, place the following template at the top of each page or section:
: {{tlx|merge|OTHERPAGE|3=discuss=Talk:DESTINATIONPAGE#Merge proposal |4=date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} }}
If you know which page should be removed, use
: {{tlx|merge to|DESTINATIONPAGE|3=discuss=Talk:DESTINATIONPAGE#Merge proposal |4=date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} }}
on the source page, and
: {{tlx|merge from|SOURCEPAGE|3=discuss=Talk:DESTINATIONPAGE#Merge proposal |4=date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} }}
on the destination page.

If two pages are proposed to be merged into a third destination page that already exists, use
: {{tlx|merge|OTHERSOURCEPAGE|3=target=DESTINATIONPAGE|4=discuss=Talk:DESTINATIONPAGE#Merge proposal |5=date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} }}
on the source pages, and
: {{tlx|merge from|SOURCEPAGE1|SOURCEPAGE2|4=discuss=Talk:DESTINATIONPAGE#Merge proposal |5=date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} }}
on the destination page.

If two pages are proposed to be merged at a destination page that does not yet exist (destination does not have a talk page), use
: {{tlx|merge|OTHERSOURCEPAGE|3=target=DESTINATIONPAGE|4=discuss=Talk:SOURCEPAGE#Merge proposal |5=date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} }}
on each source page, choosing one of the source talk pages as the discussion location and ensuring the <code>discuss</code> parameter directs to this talk page on both source pages.

Please use the <code>discuss</code> parameter to direct '''to the same talk page'''. Otherwise, two separate discussions could take place.
If the <code>discuss</code> parameter is not specified, the "Discuss" links lead to the top of each article's Talk page.
In {{tl|merge to}}, {{tl|merge from}}), it always leads to the destination talk page, but it is still preferable to link to a specific section of the talk page.

==== In other namespaces ====
* Do not use the above templates to propose a ''category'' merge. This should be requested at [[WP:Categories for discussion]], which uses a separate {{tl|cfm}} template.
* For a merge of pages within "Wikipedia" namespace (titles with the "Wikipedia:" or "WP:" prefix), do not include this prefix in the parameter.
* When proposing a merge between two different namespaces, these templates won't work because of technical limitations.

===Step 3: Discuss the merge===
Make sure to follow [[Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines|standard talk page guidelines]], which includes [[Wikipedia:Civility|civility]] and [[Wikipedia:No personal attacks|staying focused on the content, not on the involved editors]], using [[Wikipedia:Indentation|threaded discussion formatting]], [[Wikipedia:Please do not bite the newcomers|not biting newcomers]], and being clear and concise.

In many cases, a hybrid discussion/straw poll is used, but remember that [[Wikipedia:Polling is not a substitute for discussion|''polling'' is not a substitute for ''discussion'']]. Example formatting:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">
* '''Merge''' – <insert reason for supporting merge here> ~~~~
* '''Don't merge''' – <insert reason for opposing merge here> ~~~~
</syntaxhighlight>

===Step 4: Determine consensus and close the merge discussion===
{{shortcut|WP:MERGECLOSE}}

During discussion, a [[Wikipedia:Consensus|rough consensus]] may emerge to proceed with the merge. '''Any user, including the user who first proposed the merge,''' may close the discussion and move forward with the merge if enough time (normally one week or more) has elapsed and there [[Wikipedia:Silence and consensus|has been no discussion]] or if there is unanimous consent to merge. Closing of merge discussions differs from [[Wikipedia:Requested moves/Closing instructions#Who can close requested moves|closing of requested move discussions]] in that closings of uncontroversial merge discussions by [[WP:NACINV|involved users]] are allowed. Admin tools are not needed unless page protection prohibits editing. 

In more unclear, controversial cases, the determination that a consensus to merge has or has not been achieved should be made by an editor who is neutral and not directly involved in the merge proposal or the discussion. The discussion can be posted at [[WP:Proposed mergers]] to get some help. If necessary, a request that an administrator, who is not [[Wikipedia:Administrators#Involved admins|involved]], close the discussion can be made at the [[Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Requests for closure|Requests for Closure]] noticeboard. If a consensus is formed against the merge shortly after it was performed, it can easily be reversed.{{Anchor|MergeReverse}}

To close a merge proposal discussion, the {{tl|Discussion top}} and {{tl|Discussion bottom}} templates are used in the following manner:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">