0
Alternates are another way to ask the question. If a question has a lot of alternates, it means that the question can be worded in many different ways.
An exception to this would be Catch-all questions, which are completely different.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
When one question is merged into another on WikiAnswers what happens to the alternates of the existing question?
When merging a question with alternates into another question, the alternates of the merged question are merged into the alternates of the primary question.
Which question on WikiAnswers has the most alternates?
Through 2010, there were "Catch All Questions" that had tens of thousands of alternates. But these were broken up and now exist as categories instead.As alternates are just rephrasings or misspellings of the same question, the number of alternates will be higher where there are1) many ways to phrase the question,2) many synonyms for the words in a question, and/or3) many ways to misspell the words in a question.Anything more than a few dozen will usually mean some of the alternates are there by mistake.However, due to the large number of askers, games questions can accumulate many alternates. To see two examples of how spelling contributes to the growth of alternates, see the two "Poptropica" in the related questions below.
What questions have no alternates?
Most new questions have no alternates. The status of a question changes frequently.
Why are only 100 First Tier alternates in a question allowed?
The first tier is alternates is meant to be for all of the different wordings of the question that have correct grammar and spelling. The second tier can contain an unlimited number of alternates that are variations of the alternates in the first tier.
Why are there alternates for questions on WikiAnswers?
Alternates are so that there is one answer for a question, regardless of the wording of which it is asked with. For example, the question 'What color is the sky' can also be asked as 'What is the sky's color'. It's the same question meaning, but with different wording. With alternates, all the different wordings are collected into one group, and a primary wording is chosen that is the same as all of the questions and has correct spelling/grammar. Then, when another user asks the question, no matter what wording they use, they will always arrive at the same answer.
What is the meaning of 'Edit alternates'?
It means to Move, Separate the Question or Move to Bad Spelling/Grammar Tier of the alternates of that question. An alternate is just another way of asking a question.Sometimes the alternates don't belong to the current question. Those should be either moved to another question, or split into a new question. The opposite of splitting is merging, and only supervisors can do that.Then there are the good and bad grammar tiers. If something is misspelled, uses poor grammar, makes no sense, or is a statement or a rant, then it belongs under bad grammar.Supervisors can also trash alternates in case they are truly undecipherable, cannot be answered, or violate the rules.
What can you do to get rid of the edit alternates?
Alternates on their own cannot be edited. If split, however, the previously alternate question can be edited as long as the question does not already exist (Supervisors can merge in this case). Therefore, there is no way to get rid of "edit alternates", as it is a feature that does not exist.
How does a Supervisor perform a Batch Split?
A supervisor looks at the 'edit alternates' option on the blue bar while viewing the question. There should show blank boxes on each alternate. Check as many as you want and select 'split'. Be sure to batch split alternates that need to be split, and select the 'split & merge' option for alternates that need to be split from the original question but need to be merged together. (note: all alternates checked while 'split & merging' will be merged together into a question, you can't pick and choose, so be sure that all the alternates selected go together)
What are poorly-worded computer questions?
This is a holding question for alternates that are poorly phrased, ambiguous, or outright incomprehensible. Please do not split the alternates out unless you are going to reword them into a sensible question.
What can I do if I am struggling to find alternates for the alternates mission in The Initiates Program?
If you are struggling to find alternates to sort during your alternates mission in TIP, please get in touch with your TIP Supervisor. The TIP Supervisor will lend you a hand by providing a question or two with bad alternates. Though it is best to try and find these yourself to show your ability to recognise questions with messy alternates.
What are Courtney's working questions?
This is a placeholder working question for working with alternates. Please do not delete. But feel free to categorize the alternates. If you wonder about the category, it is here because this is the easiest place to split them from for the majority of alternates.
What questions have alternates?
Almost all questions, except for ones that have very recently been asked, have alternates. Alternates are questions that are worded a little differently than the question you see, but they ask the very same thing. Alternates help avoid having a lot of questions that ask the same thing, yet whichever way the question is worded, people still get their answers.
