Writing & StyleStyle guide

Avoiding Nested Include Files

Avoiding Nested Include Files records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.

Quick answer

Do not embed Microsoft Learn include files inside other include files; keep include content self-contained and use includes as supplemental content rather than an article’s only content.

Key details

Core Issuenested include files
RegisterMicrosoft Learn technical documentation

Important caveats

Scope Boundary

This page isolates the no-nested-includes requirement. The separate block-include guide covers when larger reusable sections should use block includes.

Further guidance

Content

Do not embed Microsoft Learn include files inside other include files; keep include content self-contained and use includes as supplemental content rather than an article’s only content.

Purpose

Keep Microsoft Learn source readable, accessible, reusable, and predictable while following current contributor-platform conventions.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Markdown reference for Microsoft Learn — Contributor guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Current Microsoft Learn contributor reference for Markdown authoring, including headings/navigation, conceptual images and icons, includes, lists/checklists, nonlocalized strings, alerts, comments, tables, and other Learn extensions.

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