This guide focuses on annotations (aka tates), which are line-level notes about specific lyrics, and what make Genius unique.

The only real rule is to say something interesting and on topic, which comes down to choosing a lyric worth unpacking and then following a few basic guidelines.Choosing a Line• Many lines, especially easily understood ones, do not need annotations!
• Highlight the whole idea, which is almost always at least one full line
• You may need to adjust the referent after the tate has been made, which is especially useful for highlighting nonadjacent linesWriting an AnnotationFundamentals• Say something interesting — don't just summarize a lyric
• Stick to the line at hand
• Don't plagiarize
• Write in the same language as the songSay It Fast• Keep it quick!
• Cut right to the chase
• Avoid fluff words, especially "[Artist] is saying"
• Avoid fluff detailsStyle Tips• Keep a relaxed tone — write like a human
• Don't talk down to readers
• Be objective
• Use judgment when deciding how specific to be about a date
• Be evergreenFormatting• Italics, bold, and quote marks
• Punctuation
• SpellingLinking• Use markdown to write links
• Link to topic pages for topics that are mentioned in the lyric
• Cite your claims!
• But also don't use too many links
• Make it clear what you are linking to
• Nonessential linking tipsMedia• Video
• Tweets
• Images

No annotation is ever perfect. Every user may have their own style, and it's okay to make minor mistakes or even bend a rule from time to time as long as you are being interesting and on topic.