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<!DOCTYPE html>
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<title>Documentation style guide — Matplotlib 3.10.8 documentation</title>
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<section id="documentation-style-guide">
<h1>Documentation style guide<a class="headerlink" href="#documentation-style-guide" title="Link to this heading">#</a></h1>
<p>This guide contains best practices for the language and formatting of Matplotlib
documentation.</p>
<div class="admonition seealso">
<p class="admonition-title">See also</p>
<p>For more information about contributing, see the <a class="reference internal" href="document.html#documenting-matplotlib"><span class="std std-ref">Write documentation</span></a>
section.</p>
</div>
<section id="expository-language">
<h2>Expository language<a class="headerlink" href="#expository-language" title="Link to this heading">#</a></h2>
<p>For explanatory writing, the following guidelines are for clear and concise
language use.</p>
<section id="terminology">
<h3>Terminology<a class="headerlink" href="#terminology" title="Link to this heading">#</a></h3>
<p>There are several key terms in Matplotlib that are standards for
reliability and consistency in documentation. They are not interchangeable.</p>
<div class="pst-scrollable-table-container"><table class="table">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 15.0%" />
<col style="width: 15.0%" />
<col style="width: 35.0%" />
<col style="width: 35.0%" />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="row-odd"><th class="head"><p>Term</p></th>
<th class="head"><p>Description</p></th>
<th class="head"><p>Correct</p></th>
<th class="head"><p>Incorrect</p></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="row-even"><td><p><a class="reference internal" href="../api/_as_gen/matplotlib.figure.Figure.html#matplotlib.figure.Figure" title="matplotlib.figure.Figure"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Figure</span></code></a></p></td>
<td><p>Matplotlib working space
for programming.</p></td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p><em>For
Matplotlib
objects</em>:
Figure,
"The Figure
is the
working
space for
the visual.</p></li>
<li><p><em>Referring
to class</em>:
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/_as_gen/matplotlib.figure.Figure.html#matplotlib.figure.Figure" title="matplotlib.figure.Figure"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Figure</span></code></a>,
"Methods
within the
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/_as_gen/matplotlib.figure.Figure.html#matplotlib.figure.Figure" title="matplotlib.figure.Figure"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Figure</span></code></a>
provide the
visuals."</p></li>
<li><p><em>General
language</em>:
figure,
"Michelle
Kwan is a
famous
figure
skater."</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p>"The figure
is the
working
space for
visuals."</p></li>
<li><p>"Methods in
the figure
provide the
visuals."</p></li>
<li><p>"The
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/_as_gen/matplotlib.figure.Figure.html#matplotlib.figure.Figure" title="matplotlib.figure.Figure"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Figure</span></code></a>
Four
leglock is
a wrestling
move."</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-odd"><td><p><a class="reference internal" href="../api/_as_gen/matplotlib.axes.Axes.html#matplotlib.axes.Axes" title="matplotlib.axes.Axes"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Axes</span></code></a></p></td>
<td><p>Subplots within Figure.
Contains plot elements
and is responsible for
plotting and configuring
additional details.</p></td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p><em>For
Matplotlib
objects</em>:
Axes, "An
Axes is a
subplot
within the
Figure."</p></li>
<li><p><em>Referring
to class</em>:
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/_as_gen/matplotlib.axes.Axes.html#matplotlib.axes.Axes" title="matplotlib.axes.Axes"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Axes</span></code></a>,
"Each
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/_as_gen/matplotlib.axes.Axes.html#matplotlib.axes.Axes" title="matplotlib.axes.Axes"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Axes</span></code></a> is
specific to
one
Figure."</p></li>
<li><p><em>General
language</em>:
axes, "Both
loggers and
lumberjacks
use axes to
chop wood."
OR "There
are no
standard
names for
the
coordinates
in the
three
axes."
(Plural of
axis)</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p>"The axes
methods
transform
the data."</p></li>
<li><p>"Each
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/_as_gen/matplotlib.axes.Axes.html#matplotlib.axes.Axes" title="matplotlib.axes.Axes"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Axes</span></code></a> is
specific to
a Figure."</p></li>
<li><p>"The
musicians
on stage
call their
guitars
Axes."</p></li>
<li><p>"The point
where the
Axes meet
is the
origin of
the
coordinate
system."</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-even"><td><p><a class="reference internal" href="../api/artist_api.html#matplotlib.artist.Artist" title="matplotlib.artist.Artist"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Artist</span></code></a></p></td>
<td><p>Broad variety of
Matplotlib objects that
display visuals.</p></td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p><em>For
Matplotlib
objects</em>:
Artist,
"Artists
display
visuals and
are the
visible
elements
when
rendering a
Figure."</p></li>
<li><p><em>Referring
to class</em>:
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/artist_api.html#matplotlib.artist.Artist" title="matplotlib.artist.Artist"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Artist</span></code></a> ,
"Each
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/artist_api.html#matplotlib.artist.Artist" title="matplotlib.artist.Artist"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Artist</span></code></a>
has
respective
methods and
functions."</p></li>
<li><p><em>General
language</em>:
artist,
"The
artist in
the museum
is from
France."</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p>"Configure
the legend
artist with
its
respective
method."</p></li>
<li><p>"There is
an
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/artist_api.html#matplotlib.artist.Artist" title="matplotlib.artist.Artist"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Artist</span></code></a>
for that
visual in
the graph."</p></li>
<li><p>"Some
Artists
became
famous only
by
accident."</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-odd"><td><p><a class="reference internal" href="../api/axis_api.html#matplotlib.axis.Axis" title="matplotlib.axis.Axis"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Axis</span></code></a></p></td>
<td><p>Human-readable single
dimensional object
of reference marks
containing ticks, tick
labels, spines, and
edges.</p></td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p><em>For
Matplotlib
objects</em>:
Axis, "The
Axis for
the bar
chart is a
separate
Artist."
(plural,
Axis
objects)</p></li>
<li><p><em>Referring
to class</em>:
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/axis_api.html#matplotlib.axis.Axis" title="matplotlib.axis.Axis"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Axis</span></code></a>,
"The
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/axis_api.html#matplotlib.axis.Axis" title="matplotlib.axis.Axis"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Axis</span></code></a>
contains
respective
XAxis and
YAxis
objects."</p></li>
<li><p><em>General
language</em>:
axis,
"Rotation
around a
fixed axis
is a
special
case of
rotational
motion."</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p>"Plot the
graph onto
the axis."</p></li>
<li><p>"Each Axis
is usually
named after
the
coordinate
which is
measured
along it."</p></li>
<li><p>"In some
computer
graphics
contexts,
the
ordinate
<a class="reference internal" href="../api/axis_api.html#matplotlib.axis.Axis" title="matplotlib.axis.Axis"><code class="xref py py-class docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">Axis</span></code></a> may
be oriented
downwards."</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-even"><td><p>Axes interface</p></td>
<td><p>Usage pattern in which
one calls methods on
Axes and Figure (and
sometimes other Artist)
objects to configure the
plot.</p></td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p>Axes
interface</p></li>
<li><p>call
methods on
the Axes /
Figure
object</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p>explicit
interface</p></li>
<li><p>object
oriented</p></li>
<li><p>OO-style</p></li>
<li><p>OOP</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-odd"><td><p>pyplot interface</p></td>
<td><p>Usage pattern in which
one only calls <a class="reference internal" href="../api/pyplot_summary.html#module-matplotlib.pyplot" title="matplotlib.pyplot"><code class="xref py py-obj docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">pyplot</span></code></a>
functions to configure
the plot.</p></td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p><code class="docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">pyplot</span></code>
interface</p></li>
<li><p>call
<code class="docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">pyplot</span></code>
functions</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td><ul class="simple">
<li><p>implicit
interface</p></li>
<li><p>MATLAB like</p></li>
<li><p>Pyplot</p></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</section>
<section id="grammar">
<h3>Grammar<a class="headerlink" href="#grammar" title="Link to this heading">#</a></h3>
<section id="subject">
<h4>Subject<a class="headerlink" href="#subject" title="Link to this heading">#</a></h4>
<p>Use second-person imperative sentences for directed instructions specifying an
action. Second-person pronouns are for individual-specific contexts and
possessive reference.</p>
<div class="pst-scrollable-table-container"><table class="table" style="width: 100%">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 50.0%" />
<col style="width: 50.0%" />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="row-odd"><th class="head"><p>Correct</p></th>
<th class="head"><p>Incorrect</p></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="row-even"><td><p>Install Matplotlib from the source
directory using the Python <code class="docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">pip</span></code>
installer program. Depending on
your operating system, you may need
additional support.</p></td>
<td><p>You can install Matplotlib from the
source directory. You can find
additional support if you are
having trouble with your
installation.</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</section>
<section id="tense">
<h4>Tense<a class="headerlink" href="#tense" title="Link to this heading">#</a></h4>
<p>Use present simple tense for explanations. Avoid future tense and other modal
or auxiliary verbs when possible.</p>
<div class="pst-scrollable-table-container"><table class="table" style="width: 100%">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 50.0%" />
<col style="width: 50.0%" />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="row-odd"><th class="head"><p>Correct</p></th>
<th class="head"><p>Incorrect</p></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="row-even"><td><p>The fundamental ideas behind
Matplotlib for visualization
involve taking data and
transforming it through functions
and methods.</p></td>
<td><p>Matplotlib will take data and
transform it through functions and
methods. They can generate many
kinds of visuals. These will be the
fundamentals for using Matplotlib.</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</section>
<section id="voice">
<h4>Voice<a class="headerlink" href="#voice" title="Link to this heading">#</a></h4>
<p>Write in active sentences. Passive voice is best for situations or conditions
related to warning prompts.</p>
<div class="pst-scrollable-table-container"><table class="table" style="width: 100%">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 50.0%" />
<col style="width: 50.0%" />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="row-odd"><th class="head"><p>Correct</p></th>
<th class="head"><p>Incorrect</p></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="row-even"><td><p>The function <code class="docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">plot</span></code> generates the
graph.</p></td>
<td><p>The graph is generated by the
<code class="docutils literal notranslate"><span class="pre">plot</span></code> function.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-odd"><td><p>An error message is returned by the
function if there are no arguments.</p></td>
<td><p>You will see an error message from
the function if there are no
arguments.</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</section>
<section id="sentence-structure">