Wikipedia:Peer review/Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe/archive1

Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe

This peer review discussion has been closed.
Article on the wife of Edgar Allan Poe. I'm hoping to apply for Good Article status on this soon. Certainly not a very lengthy article, but Virginia lived a very short life. I want to confirm if this is broad enough, and that all the information is relevant (i.e. the Appearance section in particular). If a hand can be lent in copy editing or in improving the lede, I would be much obliged. Also, I am referring to the article's subject as "Virginia" throughout and her husband as either "Edgar" or "Poe". I am most implied to use "Poe", hoping it is understood. Any comments on that? Thanks! --Midnightdreary (talk) 19:25, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Ruhrfisch comments: I think this article is basically at GA status already (with a few tweaks) and is pretty close to FA status. Nicely done. I took the liberty of copyediting the lead paragraphs and have some suggestions:

• Per WP:LEAD everything in the lead should be in the article and vice versa, so I added a sentence on her appearance.
• I looked at Fanny Imlay, a FA on a woman who died young best know for her association with a literary family as a model for the lead tweaks I made. Also following this, I think it is useful to put dates and/or her age into the article for context each time there is a new section. For example, it is not clear from the start when the scandal took place, or how old she was when she wrote the poem quoted.
• The article is generally well-written, but could use a copyedit - I especially noticed many places where pronouns were unclear - For example in the sentence She often invited Osgood to visit them at home, imagining that she had a "restraining" effect on her husband, who had made a promise to "give up the use of stimulants" and was never drunk in her presence.[39] - the first she is Virginia, the second she seems to be Osgood, but the her of "her presence" is less clear (assume it is also Osgood). Have you asked at WP:LOCE for a copyedit?
• I think the appearance section is fine.
• On my computer at least, the family tree grey boxes are smaller than the text. The boxes either need to be made bigger or possbly removed (not sure what the purpose of the different shades of grey is).
• Using Virginia and Edgar or Poe seems fine to me - there is at least one place where he is called "Edgar Poe" which made me check the family tree to make sure there was not another one (as opposed to Edgar Allen Poe). I think a little variety between Edgar and Poe helps the article (as opposed to always one or the other).

The only real problems I see with this article would all be addressed in a good copyedit - hope this helps and nice job. Ruhrfisch _><>°^° 15:20, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for the review... some very helpful comments. I don't call him Edgar Allan Poe very often because, well, his name is Edgar Poe, not Edgar Allan Poe. I had difficulty with the graphic but I'll have to give it another check (by the way, the box shades are meant to show the direct line from Edgar and Virginia up to their common ancestry). I haven't put through a LOCE request because I just don't have the patience. I'll go back through myself and see what I can catch (and I'll definitely keep a better eye on the pronoun uses). Again, thanks! --Midnightdreary (talk) 22:34, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

I am just used to hearing him described as Edgar Allan Poe (sorry to have used the wrong name above). Ruhrfisch _><>°^° 00:49, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

No need to apologize... I'm not offended (nor is he, I would presume). His modern common name and the way he called himself just happen to be different. I'm not pushing an agenda, it's just how I tend to say it... it may make more sense in this context to use Edgar Allan Poe, to avoid the same head-scratching you experienced! --Midnightdreary (talk) 04:29, 17 March 2008 (UTC)