How to Write a Wikipedia Article
There are several key things to remember about writing a Wikipedia article. First, it is important to note that Wikipedia is not for announcing new things. It is for presenting existing human knowledge in an encyclopedic manner. This means that you may not do original research — such as combining conclusions from multiple sources into a novel synthesis — in an article.
It is a free online encyclopedia.
Unlike a traditional printed encyclopedia, Wikipedia is continually updated. Its articles are written by a community of volunteer contributors. Anyone may edit the site, including anonymous users. Articles are reviewed by other contributors to ensure that they meet quality standards. In addition, a team of editors monitors the site for vandalism and other problems.
Although Wikipedia’s policies are designed to avoid problems, disputes do arise. It is important to avoid creating factions that disrupt the consensus-based decision-making process. If you disagree with another editor, try to resolve the dispute through discussion. Avoid making threats to Wikipedia, its editors, or the Wikimedia Foundation.
Wikipedia aims to describe creative works in an encyclopedic manner, including their production, history, reception, and influence. This approach differs from many other reference sites, which provide summary-only information about works. This distinction is an essential part of Wikipedia’s value proposition. It allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them, and it promotes critical thinking skills.
It is a community-driven project.
Wikipedians often take their work seriously, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a sense of humor. They occasionally create pages that aren’t 100% serious, including ones that poke fun at the community or the project itself. Creating such pages can be helpful in building a sense of community.
Unlike other online encyclopedias, Wikipedia allows anyone to edit articles. This allows readers to correct errors and add new information. It also makes the site vulnerable to vandalism, but editors are encouraged to use a variety of software tools to quickly fix these problems.
The community’s efforts have made Wikipedia a valuable resource for research and education. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is not a substitute for formal scholarship or professional research. Wikipedia’s policies require that editors avoid personal battles in discussions and do not promote prejudice, hatred, or fear. Wikipedia does not support political activism or anarchy. Articles that contain controversial content should be placed in a separate category, and editors should follow the guidelines for such articles.
It is a non-profit organization.
Unlike many other websites, Wikipedia is not funded by advertising revenue. Instead, it receives donations from its readers around the world. These generous contributions make it possible for the site to remain free and independent.
Although editors can contribute anything they want, the content must conform to Wikipedia’s policies and be verifiable. Editors should not include their opinions, beliefs, or personal experiences in their articles. Also, the content should not be libelous or copyright-infringing. Wikipedia’s software allows for easy reversal of errors, and experienced editors patrol the site for bad edits.
In addition to helping the site remain free and independent, donations also allow the Foundation to devote engineering resources to ensure that users can access the website from any device, anywhere, in their preferred language. Donations also help Wikipedia to expand its content beyond English, as volunteers establish new language instances and create articles in them. They may translate from existing articles in the same language or create entirely new content.
It is a wiki.
When creating an article, avoid using slang and personal writing styles. This can make it difficult for people to read and understand. Instead, use formal English and wiki markup to create an article.
Wikipedia articles should be written for a general audience with a high level of literacy. While it may be tempting to present a topic in its most complicated and academic form, this approach can overwhelm and intimidate readers. It is also important to include an introductory section that can be understood by someone with no prior knowledge of the subject.
Articles on controversial topics should be neutral and factual. This is especially true for articles about living persons. Negative or inflammatory material, such as attacks against an individual, may be deleted quickly. Wikipedia is not the place for soapboxes or personal opinions. This type of content may be more appropriate for Wikinews. For more information, see WP:POLICIES. The