Whether you've come to ask questions, or to generously share what you know, remember that we're all here to learn, together. Be welcoming and patient, especially with those who may not know everything you do. Oh, and bring your sense of humor. Just in case.

How do I ask a good question?

We'd love to hep you. To improve your chances of getting an answer, here are some tips:

Search and research

...and keep track of what you find. Even if don't find a useful answer elsewhere on the site, including links to related questions that haven't helped can help others in understanding how your question is different from the rest.

Write a title that summarizes the specific problem

The title is the first thing potential answerers will see, and if your title isn't interesting, they won't read the rest. So make it count:

• Pretend you're talking to a busy colleague and have to sum up your entire question in one sentence: what details can you include that will help someone identify and solve your problem? Include any unusual circumstances that make your question different from similar questions already on the site.
• We don't expect every title to be perfect, but title with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation are important! Remember, this is the first part of your question, others will see - you want to make a good impression. If you're not comfortable writing in English or Malay, ask a friend to proof-read it for you.
• If you're having trouble summarizing the problem, write the title last. Sometimes writing the rest of the question first can make it easier to describe the problem.

Proof-read before posting! Now that you're ready to ask your question, take a deep breath and read through it from start to finish. Pretend you're seeing it for the first time: does it make sense? Add any details you missed and read through it again. Now is a good time to make sure that your title still describes the problem!

Don't forget that if you are a registered user, you can edit your question to improve clarity and focus within the grace period of 3 hours.

In spite of all your efforts, you may find your questions poorly-received. Don't despair! Learning to ask a good question is a worth pursuit, and not one you'll master overnight.

Always be polite and have fun! It's fine to disagree and express concern, but please be civil. There's a real human being on the other end of the network connection, however misguided they may appear to be. We're here to learn from our peers, not yell at each other.