Wikipedia is one of the most visited sites on the planet that represents an immense and constant collection of human knowledge. What sets it apart is that it can be written and edited by anyone from anywhere around the world. It may seem creating a Wikipedia article is hectic work, because of its complex guidelines. But if you follow all the guidelines perfectly then it will become easy for you to create or edit an article on Wikipedia. If you are completely unfamiliar with Wikipedia and interested in getting involved, this article will help you to write and edit any Wikipedia article. Here in this article, we will provide beginner’s guide by which you can go through the basics of writing and editing on the platform.
Step 1: Create an Account
Although you can edit Wikipedia without logging in, registering for an account has so many advantages. Creating a Wikipedia account has so many advantages. Let’s have a look in to it: –
- If you create an account then you can build a reputation through your contributions.
- By creating an account on the Wikipedia platform, you can have more editing privileges. So, it is always better to create am account on Wikipedia.
- If you create an account on the Wikipedia platform then you can discuss with other editors on user talk pages to have better suggestions for the articles.
To create an account, you have to visit the official page of Wikipedia, and choose your preferred language before creating an account.
Step 2: Understand Wikipedia’s Guidelines
Understanding the Wikipedia’s guidelines is so much important. Connecting with Wikipedia is really necessary in this competitive age. If you really want to get popular and achieve success then you have to be on Wikipedia. So, it is always better to understand the guidelines of Wikipedia platform. Let’s have a clear idea on the Wikipedia guidelines: –
- Notability: – Wikipedia articles must cover notable subjects that is, the topic should have received significant coverage in reliable sources. The sources should be from any independent websites or media outlets. But you have to make sure that it should not align with any pages related to the brand.
- Data should be verifiable: – After verifying the notability, it is also important to verify all the data you are going to write for your content.
All the contents on the site must be verifiable with citations showing reliable sources.
- No new research: – Keep in mind that Wikipedia will not accept any new research or analysis that are not based on published material. So, be careful about it before writing any new contents on the Wikipedia.
Step 3: Start Small with Edits
If you are a beginner, it is most effective to begin with small edits before going for any big things. Always try to write a short description of your edit in the provided box, and click “Publish changes” when you are finished with the editing. You can start with small edits such as: –
- Fix spelling or grammar
- Add citations to your content.
- Update outdated information and add new contents.
Step 4: Cite Reliable Sources
Use reliable, secondary sources to back up your article. Cite them using Wikipedia’s citation system. Sources must be independent from their subject and should be widely accepted as credible. Use Wikipedia’s “Cite” tool to add citations on the content. Do not use blogs, personal websites, or social media as sources. When in doubt, refer to Wikipedia’s reliable sources guidelines.
Step 5: Create Your First Article
After you are comfortable with editing, you may start editing a new article. Here’s how you can write a new article: –
- Use the search bar to check if the topic already exists or not.
- Make sure the topic is notable or not. That means it should have received significant coverage in independent sources.
- Your writing should be well structured. It should have proper introduction, background, and references.
- New articles by new editors generally not considered to be fit according to the Wikipedia standards, so they must go through a review process before they can publish it in Wikipedia platform.
Step 6: Monitor and Maintain Your Article
After publishing the article, you have to keep monitoring and maintaining the article continuously. Because it can be edited by anyone anytime. Be prepared for discussions on the talk page, where users can discuss changes to the article.
Final Words: –
Writing and editing for Wikipedia can be a rewarding experience. With patience and practice for Wikipedia’s guidelines, anybody can become a valuable contributor. You can also take help from wiki writing service to have a better outcome.
