Frequently Asked Questions About Comments
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Frequently Asked Questions About Comments


You are solely responsible for your comments and by using NYTimes.com you agree to our Terms of Use.

Why do you moderate readers' comments?

Our goal is to provide substantive commentary for a general readership. By screening submissions, we have created a space where readers can exchange intelligent and informed commentary that enhances the quality of our news and information.

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderating decisions are subjective. We will make them as carefully and consistently as we can. Because of the volume of reader comments, we cannot review individual moderation decisions with readers and generally cannot alter a comment once it is posted.

What kind of comments are you looking for?

We value thoughtful comments representing a range of views that make their point quickly and politely. We make an effort to protect discussions from repeated comments – either by the same reader or different readers.

We follow the same standards for taste as the daily newspaper. A few things we won't tolerate: personal attacks, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity (including expletives and letters followed by dashes), commercial promotion, impersonations, incoherence and SHOUTING.

Do you edit comments?

No. Comments are either approved or they're not. We reserve the right to edit a comment that is quoted or excerpted in an article or in the "Comment of the Moment" blog feature. In those cases, we may fix spelling and punctuation.

When and where will my comment be displayed?

Comments are typically posted faster during business hours. Moderation can be less frequent in the evening and on weekends. All comments are published to a comments page, which is linked to from the main article or blog post. We reserve the right to display comments in a variety of ways, including within the text of articles or in advertisements.

Should I use my real name when making a comment?

Yes, definitely. Please fill in the name field with your real name or initials. We have found that people who use their names carry on more engaging, respectful conversations. However, we recommend against using your full e-mail address on security grounds.

A reminder: Once your comment is published, it can be found in search results on Web sites like Google and Yahoo. A New York Times reporter may occasionally use the e-mail address you have listed in our Member Center for a follow-up interview. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.

What about criticism of The Times?

We welcome strong opinions and criticism of our work, but we don't want comments to become bogged down with discussions of our policies, and we will moderate accordingly.

Should I post new information about a breaking news story? What if I see an error in a blog post or article? What is the best way to suggest a correction?

Increasingly, our readers across the globe contribute valuable information and clarifications as news is breaking. Keep it coming!

We appreciate it when readers and people quoted in articles or blog posts point out errors of fact or emphasis and will investigate all assertions. But these suggestions should be sent by e-mail. Many of our blogs provide specific e-mail addresses for feedback and corrections. To avoid distracting other readers, we won't publish comments that suggest a correction. Instead, corrections will be made in a blog post or at the top of an article, and also can be found on the main Corrections page.

To send a message about news coverage, e-mail nytnews@nytimes.com or call toll-free at 1-888-NYT-NEWS (1-888-698-6397). Comments on editorials may be e-mailed to letters@nytimes.com or faxed to (212) 556-3622. Readers dissatisfied with a response or concerned about the paper's journalistic integrity may reach the public editor at public@nytimes.com or (212) 556-7652.

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