View source for Wikipedia:Article checklist

==Checklist for New Article Creation==

This checklist has been prepared primarily to help new editors write articles.  Not all the points in the checklist below apply to all articles. The "Check" column is for those who want to print the list and tick off as they work on their article.

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Check !!Task !! How-to Link/s !! Comments
|-
| ||Apply {{tl|in use}} or {{tl|under construction}} templates, if appropriate||  ||These make it clear that an article is being worked on and help prevent misunderstandings with other editors. Remove the template when edits are complete.
|-
| ||Meet '''Naming Conventions'''||[[WP:NC]] || These help keep Wikipedia article titles consistent
|-
| ||Meet '''Style Guidelines'''|| [[WP:MOS]]; [[WP:MOSNUM]]|| Comprehensive style guide; Numbers style guide
|-
| ||Meet '''Neutral Point of View''' requirement|| [[WP:NPOV]]|| Articles must have a neutral POV, representing  fairly the main views published by reliable sources
|-
| ||Check specific '''Wikipedia Project''' style guidelines, if applicable  || [[WP:PROJ]] Example: [[MOS:FILM]]|| These are guidelines prepared by project groups for specific types of articles, such as the Film Project style guideline
|-
| ||Ensure '''Redirects''' are in place, as appropriate|| [[WP:R]]  || 
|-
| ||Ensure '''Disambiguations''' are in place, as appropriate|| [[WP:D]]  ||Also [[MOS:DP]] for further information 
|-
| ||Add appropriate '''Infobox''' || [[WP:INFO]] || Infoboxes provide a summary of the subject of the article. They are commonly used for people, films, books, albums, countries, cities... 
|-
| ||Add Notes/'''References'''/Further reading, as needed || [[WP:CITE]]; [[WP:CIT]] || CITE is general guide; CIT contains templates
|-
| ||Add '''Exernal Links''', as appropriate || [[WP:EL]] ||
|-
| ||Add link to Main article, as appropriate ||<!-- This is a SUMMARY. Please don't add new information or details here, but instead at the main article [[Schindler's Ark]]! --> 
{{main|Schindler's Ark}} 
|| For example, in the article on [[Thomas Keneally]], a link is made from the section on ''[[Schindler's Ark]]'' to the article on the novel
|-
| ||Add '''''See alsos''''', if appropriate || [[See also]] || Article containing links to managing "See alsos" in Wiki
|-
| ||Create '''WikiLinks''', as appropriate, and check them ||[[Help:Contents/Links]]; [[WP:LINK]] || Article containing links to managing "Links" in Wiki; Check wikilinks by previewing before saving (but don't forget then to save!)
|-
| || Make sure it is '''not an orphan''' ||[[WP:Orphan]] || An orphan is an article which has no articles linking to it. Links to articles make them more accessible/findable. Click "What links here" in the left hand column to check.
|-
| ||Add '''Persondata''', if biography || [[WP:PDATA]] ||  
|-
| ||Add '''DEFAULTSORT''' instruction || [[WP:CAT]] || This ensures that articles are filed/sorted/listed accurately eg that people are listed under their last name, that articles such as "the", "a" and "an" are ignored in filing/sorting
|-
| ||Add appropriate '''Categories''' || [[WP:CAT]] and [[WP:Categorization]] || All articles in Wikipedia must have categories. They work like subject headings in a library catalogue and help users find articles on like subjects
|-
| ||Add Stub Tag/Categories, if appropriate || [[WP:Stub]] ||
|-
| ||Add '''Image''', if available || [[WP:IMAGE]] ||
|-
| ||'''Rate''' article on Discussion Page, in Project Banner if appropriate || [[WP:ASSESS]] ||Normal editors can rate their own articles as Stub, Start or B 
|-
| ||Add '''Project Banners''' to Discussion Page, if appropriate ||  ||
|-
|||Add {{tl|talkpage}} to Discussion Page || [[WP:TP]]  ||
|-
| ||Check for '''typos''' - and again! || ||
|}

==Other useful sources for creating and editing articles==

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Source !! How-to Link/s !! Comments
|-
| Help Contents Page|| [[WP:HELP]] ||
|-
| Glossary|| [[WP:G]] ||
|}


[[Category:Wikipedia essays]]