Important notes

1. When writing an article, ask yourself who your audience is and what information they are looking for.
Avoid using superficial writing to convey information. Search Google on the topic to check what the top-
ranked articles are about. Then try to write a better one.

2. Write informative articles, but keep them simple and easy to understand. Provide examples, pictures,
charts and videos. Use headings. Avoid long and complex sentences.

Article structure and requirements

1. Article title: "Difference between A and B" (where A and B are the compared subjects. Use the topic
name for the article title, but make sure to add necessary commas, hyphens, articles and apostrophes to
make titles grammatically correct. Capitalize the first letters of the subjects being compared.

Incorrect: Difference between computer programmer and software engineer

Correct: Difference between a Computer Programmer and a Software Engineer (Note articles and
capitalization of subjects. Also note that we don't capitalize "b" in "between".)

2. Article length: This can vary depending on the subject, but generally it is between 500 and 800
words.

3. Key phrases

2.1 If the terms can be compared:

Key phrase Usage

what's the difference between A and B Use it once in the text
A vs B Use it once in the heading
* Replace A and B with your compared terms.

2.2 If the terms are the same and, therefore, cannot be compared:

Key phrase Usage

A vs B Use it once in the text
* Replace A and B with your compared terms.

See the articles below for examples of correct uses of key phrases.

Make sure to add necessary commas, hyphens, articles and apostrophes to make key phrases
grammatically correct.

Incorrect: So then what's the difference between cat and dog?

Correct: So then what's the difference between a cat and a dog? (note articles)

4. Definitions
Before comparing, it may be useful to define each term. Definitions should be easy to understand and
accompanied with pictures and examples, when necessary. If you are unsure if you should include
pictures or examples, you should include them.

5. Images

Find at least one image per article. If you are comparing objects that can be illustrated (for example, a
dog and a cat) then include a picture of each. Sometimes it's not clear what the picture is showing. So it's
usually a good idea to caption the image (see example below). If the illustration is abstract and means
nothing in particular (like happy smiling people as an example of joy or happiness), then you don't need
to add a caption (caption "Happy smiling people" would look silly, wouldnt it?)

Where possible, images should be available for reuse with modification. For details please check section
3.3 of our "Help" page.

6. Comparison chart
Use the heading "Comparison chart". Draw a two-column table (or a three-column table in case you are
comparing 3 things) and briefly summarize the comparisons you've just made. You may want to put the
comparison chart at the end of the article, but it should usually go before the video (if you have
included one).

Example:

Term A Term B
big small
costs more than $1000 usually not more than
$200
has 6 wheels has only 4 wheels

There is no need for a comparison chart if A and B are the same thing and cannot be compared. For
example, if you are comparing a groundhog and a woodchuck, there would not be a need for a
comparison chart as they are the same animal.

To draw a table, you need to use the "Table" button in the menu of our built-in text editor.

Tip: If you cannot put your cursor after the table at the end of the text, use a source code window to do
this (look for the "Source code" button in the editor menu).

7. Video

Look for relevant videos on YouTube. A video can be comparing the subjects in your article or just
providing some interesting details about the compared subjects. Watch the video (really, watch it until
the end; no need to add useless or irrelevant clips this will be checked) and if you find it helpful for the
reader, insert this video into the article using the "Insert/edit video" button in the text editor menu. Use
"Video" as a heading as shown in the example below. Always introduce the video to the reader (e.g. "The
video below explains how to measure heart rate and blood pressure.")

Adding a video to the article is not mandatory, but desirable, as videos provide a different approach to
conveying information and some people find a video more entertaining than simply reading an article.

8. References
List the sources of information that you've used in your research in the "References" section on the
article editing page.

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Thank you for your attentive reading. Please refer to this document from time to time as the structure
may change or you may want a refresher. Now, let's have a look at two examples.

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Difference between a Computer Programmer and a Software Engineer

Contrary to popular belief, a computer programmer and a software engineer are actually NOT
interchangeable. Many may argue that they both do the same tasks such as coding, decoding and
designing, but their job descriptions are in fact different. It may be not much of a difference, but that
difference will have a huge impact in regards to employment.

Definitions

(In this case you are okay not to add a caption, because it's just a picture of a man working on a
computer, which readers will understand to represent a software engineer or a computer programmer

A computer programmer writes/codes the computer software. A programmer can also be referred to as
a developer, coder or software engineer, depending on their specialty.

A programmer is a person who writes, tests, debugs and maintains detailed instructions which are called
applications or computer programs. These programs will then be executed by a computer . Not only
does a programmer design programs to be run by the computer, but a programmer can also work to
solve problems with the computer itself. Simply put, a programmer is capable of coding programs and
based on their specialty can be classified as a developer, software engineer, coder, web developer,
programmer analyst, computer scientist or software analyst.

A programmer, depending on their specialty, can have a salary ranging from $31,148 - $76,270.
A software engineer also codes as part of their job, but their main role is software engineering, which
includes the design, development, maintenance and testing of different software. The scope of their
responsibilities also includes the evaluation and troubleshooting of a coded software, and of course of
other systems that may need software programming.

In the mid-1960s, software engineers referred to themselves as computer programmers or software

developers. While these terms may mean almost the same thing, a specialty in this field may mean that
a person can be more of an engineer if they design, plans and analyzes the needs of a software program
and tests it in the end. That being said, a software engineer will be the one who gives out instructions to
programmers, who will then in turn write the codes.

A software engineer can have a salary ranging from $54,300 - $121,697.

Computer Programmer vs Software Engineer

Whats the difference between a computer programmer and a software engineer? The main differences
would be their specializations and salaries. A computer programmer in the U.S. can earn as much as
$31,148 - $76,270, while a software engineer can earn $54,300 - $121,697. However, salaries vary
depending on your location.

The term programmer can also be referred to as a software developer, web developer, applications
developer or software engineer. While software engineers can also be called programmers, they
specialize in designing and planning how programs will function. In addition, they are also responsible
for testing the software to ensure quality. This means that all software engineers are also programmers,
but, not all programmers are software engineers, as programmers simply write codes for the software to
run smoothly instead of designing the systems that run the code.

Comparison Chart
Computer Programmer Software Engineer
Usually paid less (will depend on location) Usually paid more (will depend on location)
Writes codes for a software/program Plans/Designs a code for a software/program
May have different specializations Specialized in planning and designing programs

Video
You can refer to the video below for more information on the career of software engineering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt79JcPfZQA

References

http://blog.udacity.com/2014/08/the-difference-between-programming-and.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_programming

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_engineer#Employment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_engineering

http://softwaredevelopmentdegreelink.com/Software-Engineer-vs-Programmer#formPage_1
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Software_Engineer/Salary

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Computer_Programmer/Salary/9fadb9f1/Entry-Level

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EXAMPLE #2

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Difference between a Mass murderer and a Serial killer

While mass murderers and serial killers are both groups of people known for murdering a number of
victims, there is a difference between them. This article will explain that difference.

Definitions

Image caption: American serial killer Ted Bundy

A serial killer is a criminal who kills two or more people over a longer span of time, and often in different
locations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines a serial killer as an individual who murders two or
more people in different events, at different locations. Additionally, there will be a significant amount of
time between each murder, often called a cooling-off period. There is also a psychological component
to a serial killer: serial killings can be done out of thrill, anger, sexual desire or personal enjoyment..

One example is Ted Bundy, one of the most infamous serial killers in history, who is pictured above.
Bundy killed between 30 and36 women between 1974 and 1978. He fits the criteria of a serial killer
because he killed more than two people, and there was a significant amount of time between each
murder.
 Image caption: Jared Lee Loughner a mass murderer who killed 6 and injured 13 people.

A mass murderer is a criminal who kills many people at the same time or over a very short period of
time, either in one location or multiple locations with little distance between them. The Federal Bureau
of Investigation defines mass murder as the murder of four or more people during a single event. There
will be little time between these murders, or in other words, there will not be a cooling-off period.
There is also a psychological component to a mass murder: it can be seen as a release of tension, or a
blowing up. While mass murders are done for reasons similar to serial killings, mass murders do not
have the long-term planning and focus that serial killings do.

An example of a mass murderer is Jared Lee Loughner, who pictured above. Loughner killed 6 people
during the 2011 Tuscon shooting. Loughner fits the criteria of a mass murderer because he killed
multiple people in one event, over a very short span of time.

Serial Killer vs Mass Murderer

What's the difference between a serial killer and a mass murderer, then? The main differences are
whether or not there is a cooling-off period, the distances between people are killed (whether it is the
same area or spread out), and the motivating factors behind each crime.

Serial killers and mass murderers are, of course, both murderers, but a serial killer kills a number of
people over a much longer period of time. Ted Bundy, for example, would sometimes go a month or
longer after murdering someone before committing another murder. A mass murderer, on the other
hand, kills a number of people in a very short span of time. Jared Lee Loughner killed 6 people in a single
event, and was apprehended during that time. Another way to understand this distinction is to consider
the following: if Loughner escaped and later killed others, he would be classified as a serial killer.

Additionally, mass murder is associated with a string of killings that occur in a single place during a single
event, whereas serial killings refer to a string of killings occurring in different places with cooling-off
periods in between. Ted Bundy killed victims in Oregon, Utah, California and Florida, among others,
while Jared Lee Loughner killed victims only in Arizona. If Loughner had killed in Arizona and then later
killed in another U.S. state, he would fit criteria for a serial killer.
Regarding psychological motives, mass murder is usually done to draw some sort of media attention to
the mass murderer or a specific cause. , oSerial killers, on the other hand, do not often kill for media
attention. Attention-seeking is a motive of some serial killers, but not to the same extent as a mass
murderer.

Comparison chart
Serial Killer Mass Murderer
Kills a number of victims Kills a number of victims over
over a longer period of a shorter period of time. Does
time. Has a cooling-off not have a cooling-off
period. period.
Kills in more than one Kills in a single location or
location, or during more during a single event.
than one event.
Media attention not usually Media attention often a
a motive. motive.

Video
The video below is an interview with a retired FBI agent, explaining some of the differences between a
serial killer and a mass murderer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y45q5TcZZvs

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Lee_Loughner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_murder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bundy

http://mentalfloss.com/article/19608/serial-killer-vs-mass-murderer-whats-difference