<p><em>A compendium of comments I've found useful. Feel free to add more. The suggested replies to Answers <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/a/6312/22228">have been moved here</a>.</em></p>
<h1>Questions</h1>
<p><strong>Self-study</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Is this a question from a course or textbook? If so, please add the <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/self-study" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;self-study&#39;" aria-label="show questions tagged &#39;self-study&#39;" rel="tag" aria-labelledby="tag-self-study-tooltip-container">self-study</a> tag &amp; read its <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/tags/self-study/info">wiki</a>.</p>
<pre><code>Is this a question from a course or textbook? If so, 
please add the [tag:self-study] tag &amp; read its 
[wiki](https://stats.stackexchange.com/tags/self-study/info).
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>Please add the <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/self-study" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;self-study&#39;" aria-label="show questions tagged &#39;self-study&#39;" rel="tag" aria-labelledby="tag-self-study-tooltip-container">self-study</a> tag &amp; read <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/tags/self-study/info">its wiki</a>.</p>
<pre><code>Please add the [tag:self-study] tag &amp; read its 
[wiki](https://stats.stackexchange.com/tags/self-study/info). 
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>Please add the <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/self-study" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;self-study&#39;" aria-label="show questions tagged &#39;self-study&#39;" rel="tag" aria-labelledby="tag-self-study-tooltip-container">self-study</a> tag &amp; read <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/tags/self-study/info">its wiki</a>. Then tell us what you understand thus far, what you've tried &amp; where you're stuck. We'll provide hints to help you get unstuck. Please make these changes as just posting your homework &amp; hoping someone will do it for you is grounds for closing.</p>
<pre><code>Please add the [tag:self-study] tag &amp; read its 
[wiki](https://stats.stackexchange.com/tags/self-study/info). Then tell us what you understand thus far, what 
you've tried &amp; where you're stuck. We'll provide hints to 
help you get unstuck. Please make these changes as just 
posting your homework &amp; hoping someone will do it for you 
is grounds for closing.
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>Please type your question as text, do not just post a photograph or screenshot (see <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/a/3176/">here</a>). When you re-type the question, add the <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/self-study" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;self-study&#39;" aria-label="show questions tagged &#39;self-study&#39;" rel="tag" aria-labelledby="tag-self-study-tooltip-container">self-study</a> tag &amp; read <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/tags/self-study/info">its wiki</a>. Then tell us what you understand thus far, what you've tried &amp; where you're stuck. We'll provide hints to help you get unstuck. Please make these changes as just posting your homework &amp; hoping someone will do it for you is grounds for closing.</p>
<pre><code>Please type your question as text, do not just post a 
photograph or screenshot (see [here](https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/a/3176/)). 
When you retype the question, add the [tag:self-study] tag 
&amp; read [its wiki](https://stats.stackexchange.com/tags/self-study/info). 
Then tell us what you understand thus far, what you've 
tried &amp; where you're stuck. We'll provide hints to help 
you get unstuck. Please make these changes as just 
posting your homework &amp; hoping someone will do it for you 
is grounds for closing.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Reproducible examples</strong></p>
<p><em>(Link is specifically for R-related questions)</em></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Please add a <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/q/5963269/">reproducible example</a> for people to work with.</p>
<pre><code>Please add a [reproducible example](https://stackoverflow.com/q/5963269/) 
for people to work with. 
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>I'm voting to close this question as <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic">off-topic</a> because it is about how to use R without a reproducible example.</p>
<pre><code>I'm voting to close this question as 
[off-topic](https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) 
because it is about how to use R without a reproducible 
example. 
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><em>(For coding questions other than R)</em></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Please add a <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/help/mcve">reproducible example</a> for people to work with.</p>
<pre><code>Please add a [reproducible example](https://stackoverflow.com/help/mcve) 
for people to work with. 
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>I'm voting to close this question as <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic">off-topic</a> because it is about how to use  without a reproducible example.</p>
<pre><code>I'm voting to close this question as 
[off-topic](https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) 
because it is about how to use &lt;!--REPLACE_ME--&gt; without a 
reproducible example. 
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>Welcome to CV, . Offering a minimal reproducible example would help immensely.  Until then, all we know is that you are having trouble with your script.  Without the example, every possibility is on the table, ranging from bugs in the code, to a misunderstanding of what it does, to a coding error or erroneous data.</p>
<pre><code> Welcome to CV, &lt;USER&gt;. Offering a minimal reproducible        
 example 
 would help immensely.  Until then, all we know is that you               
 are having trouble with your script.  Without the example, 
 every possibility is on the table, ranging from bugs in the        
 code, to a misunderstanding of what it does, to a coding 
 error or 
 erroneous data.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Ambiguous code / statistical question</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Questions solely about how software works are <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic">off-topic</a> here, but you may have a real statistical question buried here. You may want to edit your question to clarify the underlying statistical issue. You may find that when you understand the statistical concepts involved, the software-specific elements are self-evident or at least easy to get from the documentation.</p>
<pre><code>Questions solely about how software works are
[off-topic](https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) 
here, but you may have a real statistical question buried 
here. You may want to edit your question to clarify the 
underlying statistical issue. You may find that when you 
understand the statistical concepts involved, the 
software-specific elements are self-evident or at least 
easy to get from the documentation.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>No need to sign off/give thanks etc</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Welcome to CV. Note that your username, identicon, &amp; a link to your user page are automatically added to every post you make, so there is no need to sign your posts. In fact, we prefer you don't.</p>
<pre><code>Welcome to CV. Note that your username, identicon, &amp; a 
link to your user page are automatically added to every 
post you make, so there is no need to sign 
your posts. In fact, we prefer you don't. 
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>On this site there's no need to say &quot;thank you&quot; at the end of your post - it might seem rude at first, but it's part of
<a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/behavior">the philosophy of this site</a> to &quot;Ask questions, get answers, no distractions&quot;, and it means future readers of your question don't need to read through the pleasantries.</p>
<pre><code>On this site there's no need to say &quot;thank you&quot; at the end 
of your post - it might seem rude at first, but it's part 
of 
[the philosophy of this site](https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/behavior) 
to &quot;Ask questions, get answers, no distractions&quot;, and it 
means future readers of your question don't need to read 
through the pleasantries.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>New information in comments</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Please do not give new information only in comments. Edit your question to add the new information. We want posts to be self-contained: comments can be deleted, and anyhow, information in comments is not well organized. Also, many people do not read comments.</p>
<pre><code> Please do not give new information only in comments. Edit 
 your question to add the new information. We want posts to 
 be self-contained: comments can be deleted, and anyhow, 
 information in comments is not well organized. Also, many 
 people do not read comments. 
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Demands fast answer</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Please don't say your question is urgent or ask people to answer quickly.  Remember that you are asking strangers to volunteer their time to help you for free.  People will respond at the rate that is comfortable for them.</p>
<pre><code>Please don't say your question is urgent or ask people to 
answer quickly. Remember that you are asking strangers to 
volunteer their time to help you for free.  People will 
respond at the rate that is comfortable for them.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Critical information for question behind link</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Please paste in whatever context is necessary to understand &amp; answer your question. We want this thread to remain valuable even if the link goes dead.</p>
<pre><code>Please paste in whatever context is necessary to 
understand &amp; answer your question. We want this thread to 
remain valuable even if the link goes dead.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Too broad</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Questions in the SE system are supposed to be narrow &amp; concrete such that they can be given a definitively correct, factual answer in at most a few paragraphs. This isn't a site for discussions or opinions.</p>
<pre><code>Questions in the SE system are supposed to be narrow &amp; 
concrete such that they can be given a definitively 
correct, factual answer in at  most a few paragraphs. 
This isn't a site for discussions or opinions.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Refer to textbook</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>This question is very broad, and I believe you would profit from reading an introductory level textbook. We have a helpful list of <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/q/170/1352">free statistical textbooks.</a> If afterwards you still have more specific questions, then please do ask them here. If you already <em>have</em> read such a textbook, please edit your question to make it more specific. Thank you!</p>
<pre><code>This question is very broad, and I believe you would 
profit from reading an introductory level textbook. We 
have a helpful list of
[free statistical textbooks.](https://stats.stackexchange.com/q/170/). 
If afterwards you still have more specific questions, then 
please do ask them here. If you already *have* read such a 
textbook, please edit your question to make it more 
specific. Thank you!
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>Specifically for forecasting:</p>
<p>This question is very broad, and I believe you would profit from reading an introductory level textbook, e.g., the free online <a href="https://otexts.org/fpp2/" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Forecasting: Principles and Practice</em> by Hyndman &amp; Athanasopoulos</a>. If after reading this you still have more specific questions, then please do ask them here. If you already <em>have</em> read such a textbook, please edit your question to make it more specific. Thank you!</p>
<pre><code>This question is very broad, and I believe you would 
profit from reading an introductory level textbook, e.g., 
the free online 
[*Forecasting: Principles and Practice* by
Hyndman &amp; Athanasopoulos](https://otexts.org/fpp2/).
If after reading this you still have more specific 
questions, then please do ask them here. If you already 
*have* read such a textbook, please edit your question to 
make it more specific. Thank you!
</code></pre>
<p>(<a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/a/5148/">More reasoning behind this comment can be found in this Meta answer.</a>)</p>
</li>
<li><p>Specifically for neural networks:</p>
<p>This question is very broad, and I believe you would profit from
reading an introductory level textbook. We have a helpful list of
<a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/q/226911/">textbooks and courses</a> about neural networks. If afterwards you still have more specific questions, then please do ask
them here. If you already <em>have</em> read such a textbook, please edit
your question to make it more specific. Thank you!</p>
<pre><code>This question is very broad, and I believe you would 
profit from reading an introductory level textbook. We 
have a helpful list of 
[textbooks and courses](https://stats.stackexchange.com/q/226911/) 
about neural networks. If afterwards you still have more 
specific questions, then please do ask them here. If you 
already *have* read such a textbook, please
edit your question to make it more specific. Thank you!
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Has been discussed extensively before</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Similar questions have been discussed multiple times before. Please <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/search">search the site</a>, noting the <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/searching">tips</a> on advanced search options, and tell us what you found and why it didn’t meet your needs. This demonstrates that you’ve taken the time to try to help yourself, it saves us from reiterating obvious answers, and above all, it helps you get a more specific and relevant answer!</p>
<pre><code>Similar questions have been discussed multiple times 
before. Please 
[search the site](https://stats.stackexchange.com/search), 
noting the 
[tips](https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/searching) on 
advanced search options, and tell us what you found and 
why it didn’t meet your needs. This demonstrates that 
you’ve taken the time to try to help yourself, it
saves us from reiterating obvious answers, and above all, 
it helps you get a more specific and relevant answer! 
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Duplicate question</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>I think you will find the information you need in the linked thread. Please read it. If it isn't what you want or you still have a question afterwards, come back here &amp; edit your question to state what you learned &amp; what you still need to know. Then we can provide the information you need without just duplicating material elsewhere that already didn't help you.</p>
<pre><code>I think you will find the information you need in the 
linked thread. Please read it. If it isn't what you want or 
you still have a question afterwards, come back here &amp; 
edit your question to state what you learned &amp; what you 
still need to know. Then we can provide the information 
you need without just duplicating material elsewhere that 
already didn't help you.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Off-topic (only about software)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Questions that are only about software (e.g. error messages, code or packages, etc.) are generally off topic here.  If you have a substantive machine learning or statistical question, please edit to clarify.</p>
<pre><code>Questions that are only about software (e.g. error 
messages, code or packages, etc.) are generally off topic 
here. If you have a substantive machine learning or
statistical question, please edit to clarify.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Deleted and re-posted a closed question</strong></p>
<p>(Include link to deleted instance within the parentheses)</p>
<pre><code>  Please do not simply delete and repost [a closed question}(...). 
  Instead, please follow our guidance to edit and improve the closed 
  post. Any edit will automatically put it up for a vote on 
  reopening, and if enough voters agree that the post now is 
  acceptable, it will be reopened.
</code></pre>
<p><strong>Vandalism</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Please do not vandalize your question. When you posted on SE, you gave up exclusive ownership of the content under <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/licensing">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>. If there are no answers, you may delete your own question (see <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/what-to-do-instead-of-deleting-question">here</a>): just click the faint gray 'delete' at lower left (your account needs to be registered for this). Otherwise, the thread will remain according to SE's rules.</p>
<pre><code>Please do not vandalize your question. When you posted on 
SE, you gave up ownership of the content under
[CC BY-SA 4.0](https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/licensing). 
If there are no answers, you may delete your own question 
(see 
[here](https://stats.stackexchange.com/help/what-to-do-instead-of-deleting-question)
): just click the faint gray 'delete' at lower left (your 
account needs to be registered for this). Otherwise, the 
thread will remain according to SE's rules.
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>XY Problem</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>It sounds to me like the problem you're trying to solve is <code>&lt;X&gt;</code>, and you're wondering if <code>&lt;Y&gt;</code> is a good way to go about it. Is that fair? Because if your real question is &quot;<code>&lt;X&gt;</code>?&quot; then I would suggest only asking about that. As it is written right now, the question appears to be an <a href="http://xyproblem.info/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">XY Problem</a>.</p>
<pre><code>It sounds to me like the problem you're trying to solve is 
`&lt;X&gt;`, and you're wondering if `&lt;Y&gt;` is a good way to go 
about it. Is that fair? Because if your real question
is &quot;`&lt;X&gt;`?&quot; then I would suggest only asking about that. As 
it is written right now, the question appears to be an 
[XY Problem](http://xyproblem.info/).
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cross posted question</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Please don't cross post on multiple SE sites. Cross posting is <a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/64068/">against SE policy</a> &amp; wastes a lot of people's time. Decide which site you want your question on &amp; only post there (or delete the copies elsewhere, as appropriate).</p>
<pre><code>Please don't cross post on multiple SE sites. Cross 
posting is 
[against SE policy](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/64068/) 
&amp; wastes a lot of people's time. Decide which site you 
want your question on &amp; only post there (or delete the 
copies elsewhere, as appropriate).
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Screenshot of equation, but not self-study</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Hi, there are blind and visually impaired users of this site who interact with it using screen readers. The screen readers can't handle the equation in your screenshot. Please edit the post to include the equation as TeX. If it helps, we have some <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/a/1605/155836">resources on using LaTeX on Cross Validated</a>.</p>
<pre><code>Hi, there are blind and visually impaired users of this 
site who interact with it using screen readers. The screen 
readers can't handle the equation in your screenshot. 
Please edit the post to include the equation as LaTeX. If 
it helps, we have some 
[resources on using LaTeX on Cross Validated](https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/a/1605/155836).
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Multiple closely related questions from same author</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>You have asked multiple very closely related questions. Please edit each of them to provide links to the others. This is so that people asking for clarifications or providing answers are aware of the context and do not duplicate efforts. Thank you!</p>
<pre><code>You have asked multiple very closely related questions.
Please edit each of them to provide links to the others.
This is so that people asking for clarifications or providing 
answers are aware of the context and do not duplicate efforts. 
Thank you!
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p>(The Answers section moved to a <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/a/6312/22228">new post</a>.)</p>
<p><strong>Reference request, &quot;Please do a search,&quot; etc.</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>In the years that this site has been active, variations on this question have been asked hundreds of times. There's a limit to how many questions can be linked as duplicates, but this should help you get started. If you feel these questions do not address your needs, <strong>please [edit] to explicitly state what you want to learn.</strong> But first, do a search.  <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5549/faq-best-practices-for-searching-cv">FAQ: Best Practices for Searching CV</a></p>
<pre><code>In the years that this site has been active, variations on this question have
been asked hundreds of times. There's a limit to how many questions can be linked 
as duplicates, but this should help you get started. If you feel these 
questions do not address your needs, **please [edit] to explicitly state what you
want to learn.** But first [search](https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/q/5549/).
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Asking for using MathJax</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p>Hi. Welcome to CV. This is a MathJax-enabled site. Please use this facility to typeset your mathematical expressions for better legibility. For a quick guide, check this Meta CV post: <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1604/instructions-on-how-to-use-latex-on-crossvalidated">Instructions on how to use LaTeX on CrossValidated</a>.</p>
<pre><code>Hi. Welcome to CV. This is a MathJax-enabled site. Please use this 
facility to typeset your mathematical expressions for better 
legibility. For a quick guide, check this Meta CV post: 
[Instructions on how to use LaTeX on CrossValidated](https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1604/instructions-on-how-to-use-latex-on-crossvalidated).
</code></pre>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Query (partly) based on ChatGPT</strong></p>
<p><sup> Courtesy to a brief <a href="https://chat.stackexchange.com/transcript/message/64563153#64563153">conversation</a> in Ten Fold</sup></p>
<pre><code>  It seems you have sought a response from ChatGPT and (partly) used 
  it to frame your post. Please note that ChatGPT and similar Large 
  Language Models are often highly unreliable in formulating 
  coherent statistical assertions. Apropos to that, it is a common 
  precedent here to abstain from using such to create a post, and 
  to tread with caution here. 
</code></pre>
