Draft of style guidelines

tutorial/faq.md

@@ -35,12 +35,6 @@ Then you can use this syntax in documentation:
 ```
 Be sure the file understands the namespace with `xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"` in the root element.
 
-## In the changelog, which order do the PHP versions go?
-Newest PHP versions go above the older ones.
-
-## In the changelog, a change happened in two PHP versions. How do I enter this?
-Multiple versions are separated by a comma, with the lesser version first. Example: `<entry>5.2.11, 5.3.1</entry>`
-
 ## When adding a note, should I add a title?
 Typically titles are useful for notes, but it's not required. Syntax as follows:
 ```

tutorial/style.md

@@ -1,8 +1,61 @@
 # Style guidelines
 
-TODO:
-- UTF-8
-- whitespaces
-- formal style
-- common mistakes and conventions specific to php manual (https://wiki.php.net/doc/howto/styleguide)
-- something else?
+## Technical requirements
+- All files **must** be encoded using UTF-8 (without BOM)
+- Use only Unix line endings
+
+## Line lenghts
+Please keep every line in XML file 80 characters long. This is loose requirement and 100 is probably acceptable as
+maximum length. This allow to keep *diffs* simple and useful for translators, so follow this rule carefully.
+
+## Whitespaces
+Indent every block level with one space. Do not use tabs. Only examples are using four spaces as indentation level,
+accordingly to [PEAR Coding Standards](http://pear.php.net/manual/en/standards.php).
+
+## Punctuation
+Punctuation in the PHP Manual follows regular grammatical rules. When writing flowing sentences, such as in function
+descriptions, normal punctuation should be used. Lists, titles, and sentence fragments should not be punctuated with
+a period. Sentences need not have two spaces between them. Commas and apostrophes should be used appropriately.
+
+## Personalization
+The PHP Manual is a technical document, and should be written so. The use of “you” is rampant in the manual,
+and presents an unprofessional image.  The only exceptions to the personalization rule are: the PHP Tutorial and FAQs.
+
+Example:
+```
+INCORRECT: You can use the optional second parameter to specify tags which should not be stripped.
+CORRECT: The optional second parameter may be used to specify tags which should not be stripped.
+```
+
+## Chronology
+- When referring to a specific version of PHP, "since" should not be used. "As of" should be used in this case.
+- In changelogs, newest PHP versions go above the older ones.
+- If changelog entry applies to few PHP versions, separate them by a comma, with the lesser version first.
+Example: `<entry>5.2.11, 5.3.1</entry>`
+
+## General Grammar
+The PHP Manual should be written with particular attention to general English grammar. Contractions should be used
+appropriately. Special attention should be applied to sentence construction when using prepositions (ie, sentences
+should not end in prepositions).
+
+## PHP Manual Terms
+Various non-english, technical terms are used throughout the PHP Manual, without clear indication of their appropriate
+spelling. The following list clears up this issue:
+
+Appropriate Use          | Inappropriate Use(s)
+-------------------------|--------------------------------------------
+any way                  | anyway, anyways
+appendices               | appendixes
+built-in                 | built in, builtin
+command line             | commandline, CLI
+email                    | e-mail
+example.com              | php.net, google.com
+extension                | module
+Linux                    | linux, *n*x, *nix, *nux, etc
+PHP 5                    | PHP5, PHP-5
+PHP 4.3.0                | PHP 4.3, PHP 4.3.0RC2, PHP 5.0.0BETA, PHP 4.3.0PL1
+superglobals             | super globals, autoglobals
+web server               | webserver
+the foo page (as a link) | click here, go here
+Unix                     | UNIX (it's a registered trademark)
+Windows                  | windows (when referring to Microsoft Windows)