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{{pullbox|Writing an article|Learn how you can create an article.|3=|4=To experiment, you can use the shared [[Wikipedia:Sandbox|sandbox]] – or if you're logged in, [[Special:MyPage/sandbox|your personal sandbox]] (add '''{{Tlc|[[Template:My sandbox|My Sandbox|replace with your user name]]}}''' on your user page for future easy access) or [[Special:MyPage|your user page]].<br/><br/> To create an article, you can try the [[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article Wizard]]; or, for a super simple explanation, see '''[[Wikipedia:Simple guide to creating your first article|this]]'''.}}
{{short description|Overview of the guidelines, requirements, suggestions for the newbie editor}}
{{nutshell|New articles should follow some guidelines: the topic should be [[WP:N|notable]] (i.e. it should have some detailed coverage in [[WP:Reliable sources|good references]] from [[Wikipedia:Third-party sources|independent sources]]). Wikipedia is an [[encyclopedia]] – [[Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not|not something else]]. Please respect [[WP:Copyright|copyright]] law and [[WP:Biographies of living persons|avoid defamatory content]]. Feel free to [[WP:be bold|be bold]] and create the article with a [[WP:Ignore all rules|limited knowledge of norms]] here, but other editors might [[Wikipedia:Deletion process|choose to delete it]] if it's not seen as belonging.}}
{{Shortcut|WP:YFA|WP:FIRST|WP:1ST}}
{{Redirect2|WP:1ST|WP:FIRST|other uses|Wikipedia:1st (disambiguation)}}
{{pullbox|Writing an article|Learn how you can create a Wikipedia article.}}
{{wikipedia article creation}}
{{nutshell|
{{merge-from|Starting an article}}
* The topic of the article must be [[WP:N|notable]]: it must have [[WP:SIGCOV|in-depth coverage]] in [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] that are [[Wikipedia:Independent sources|independent]] of the topic.
'''Welcome to Wikipedia!'''
* If you are [[WP:COI|connected to the topic]], don't write about it. Find another topic instead.

* Make sure there isn't already an article about the topic.
This is a guide to starting your first encyclopedia article. We will explain some of the DOs and DON'Ts, then show you how to create an article. When you're ready to start writing, consider using the [[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article Wizard]] to help you create the article – it will walk you through these steps. Here are some tips that may help you along the way:
* The article you write must include [[WP:INLINECITE|citations]] to the sources you used.

* Use your own words to write the article; don't [[WP:COPYRIGHT|copy from sources]] word-for-word.|shortcut1=WP:YFA|shortcut2=H:YFA}}
# ''Wikipedia covers certain kinds of subjects and not others''. If the topic is likely to be suitable for an encyclopedia, go ahead; if you're unsure, or the article is about you or something you are closely connected to, you can ask questions [[WP:Teahouse|here]]. <!--You can ask on the same page if unsure.-->
{{If mobile | |{{Quote box
# You can only create a new article directly once you've [[WP:SIGNUP|registered an account]] – you need only choose a username and password. If you don't want to register for an account, registered and unregistered users alike may submit their article for review and publishing by others at the [[WP:AfC|Articles for Creation]] project.
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# Before starting, try editing existing articles to get a feel for writing and for using Wikipedia's mark-up language – we recommend that you first take a tour through the [[Wikipedia:Tutorial|Wikipedia tutorial]] or review [[Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia|contributing to Wikipedia]] to learn editing basics . Also [[Special:Search|search Wikipedia first]] in case an article ''already exists'' on the subject, perhaps under a different title. If the article already exists, feel free to make any constructive edits to improve it.
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#'''Gather references''' both to use as source(s) of the information you will include and to demonstrate the '''[[WP:N|notability]]''' of your article's subject matter. References to blogs, personal websites, [[Facebook]] and [[YouTube]] are unsuitable – we need [[WP:IRS|reliable sources]]. There are many places to find reliable sources, including your local library, but if internet-based sources are to be used, start with [http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=wp books] and [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=a#hl=en&safe=off&gl=us&tbs=ar:1&tbm=nws&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22your+search+here%22&oq=%22your+search+here%22&gs_l=serp.3...13840.16191.2.16495.2.2.0.0.0.0.75.150.2.2.0...0.0...1c.gI5pLKtnlBw&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=eaf35048cd590c78&biw=1550&bih=1201 news archive] searches rather than a simple web search. Extra care should be taken to make sure that articles on '''[[WP:BLP|living persons]]''' have reliable sources – articles about living people without reliable sources may be deleted, especially if they include negative or controversial content.
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#'''Consider requesting feedback.''' You can request feedback on articles you would like to create in a number of places, including the [[Wikipedia:Talk page|talk page]] of a related [[Wikipedia:WikiProject|WikiProject]] or the [[WP:TEAHOUSE|Teahouse]].
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#'''Consider creating the article first in your user space.''' As a registered user, you have your own [[WP:USER|user space]]. You can start the new article there, on a [[WP:SUBP|subpage]]; you can get it in shape, take your time, ask other editors to help work on it, and only move it into the [[WP:MAINSPACE|"live" part of Wikipedia]] once it is ready to go. To create your own subpage, see [[Wikipedia:Subpages#How_to_create_user_subpages|here]]. When the new article is "ready for prime time", you can [[Help:Moving_a_page|move]] it into the main article space. (Notes. The [[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article Wizard]] has an option to create these kinds of draft pages. Even in user space, unacceptable articles (see below) are liable to be nominated for deletion.)
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:''Remember that if the article is not acceptable, it will be [[WP:CSD|deleted quickly]]. Wikipedia has a [[WP:NPP|new pages patrol]] division where people check new articles shortly after creation.''
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:*'''Articles that do not meet [[WP:N|notability guidelines]] and do not cite [[WP:RS|reliable published sources]] are likely to be deleted.'''
| title = <span style="color:white;font-size:large;">New here?</span>
:*'''Do not create''' pages about '''[[Wikipedia:Autobiography|yourself]]''', your '''[[Wikipedia:FAQ/Organizations|company]]''', your '''[[WP:COI|band]]''' or your '''[[WP:COI|friends]]''', nor pages that '''[[WP:Spam|advertise]]''', are '''[[WP:OR|personal essays]]''' or other articles you would [[WP:NOT|not find in an encyclopedia]].
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:*'''Be careful''' about the following: '''[[WP:Plagiarism|copying things]]''', '''controversial''' material, extremely '''short articles''', and '''local-interest articles'''.
| quote = Creating an article is <strong>one of the more difficult tasks</strong> on Wikipedia, and you'll have a higher chance of success if you [[Special:Homepage|<strong>help out with other tasks</strong>]] first to learn more about how Wikipedia works. You can always come back to create an article later; there is [[Wikipedia:There is no deadline|no rush]]!

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==Search for an existing article==
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Wikipedia already has {{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles. Before creating an article, try to make sure there is not already an article on the same topic, perhaps under a slightly different name. [[Help:Searching|Search]] for the article, and review Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Article titles|article titling policy]] before creating your first article. If an article on your topic already exists, but you think people might look for it under some different name or spelling, learn how to [[Wikipedia:Redirect|create ''redirects'' to alternative titles]]; adding needed redirects is a good way to help Wikipedia. Also, remember to check the article's [[Special:Log/delete|deletion log]] in order to avoid creating an article that has already been deleted. (In some cases, the topic may be suitable even if deleted in the past; the past deletion may have been because it was a copyright violation, did not explain the importance of the topic, or on other grounds addressed to the writing rather that the topic's suitability.)

If a search does not find the topic, consider broadening your search to find existing articles that might include the subject of your article. For example, if you want to write an article about a band member, you might search for the band and then add information about your subject as a [[Help:Section|section]] within that broader article.
{{-}}

==Gathering references==
{{IncGuide}}Gather sources for the information you will be writing about. To be worthy of inclusion in an encyclopedia, a subject must be sufficiently [[WP:N|notable]], and that notability must be [[WP:V|verifiable]] through [[WP:REF|citations]] to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]].

As noted, the sources you use must be <u>reliable</u>; that is, they must be sources that exercise some form of editorial control and have some reputation for fact checking and accuracy. Print sources (and web-based versions of those sources) tend to be the most reliable, though some web-only sources may also be reliable. Examples might include (but are not limited to) books published by major publishing houses, newspapers, magazines, peer-reviewed scholarly journals, websites of any of the above, and other websites that meet the same requirements as a reputable print-based source.

In general, sources with '''no''' editorial control are not reliable. These include (but are not limited to) books published by vanity presses, self-published 'zines', blogs, web forums, usenet discussions, [[Bulletin board system|BBS]]es, fan sites, vanity websites that permit the creation of self-promotional articles, and other similar venues. If anyone at all can post information without anyone else checking that information, it is probably not reliable.

To put it simply, if there are reliable sources (such as newspapers, journals, or books) with extensive information published over an extended period about a subject, then that subject is notable and you must cite such sources as part of the process of creating (or expanding) the Wikipedia article. If you cannot find such ''reliable sources'' that provide extensive and comprehensive information about your proposed subject, then the subject is not notable or verifiable and almost certainly will be deleted. So your first job is to '''go find references''' to cite.

There are many places to find reliable sources, including your local library, but if internet-based sources are to be used, start with [http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=wp books] and [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=a#hl=en&safe=off&gl=us&tbs=ar:1&tbm=nws&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22your+search+here%22&oq=%22your+search+here%22&gs_l=serp.3...13840.16191.2.16495.2.2.0.0.0.0.75.150.2.2.0...0.0...1c.gI5pLKtnlBw&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=eaf35048cd590c78&biw=1550&bih=1201 news archive] searches rather than a web search.

Once you have references for your article, you can learn to place the references into the article by reading [[Wikipedia:Referencing for beginners]] and [[Wikipedia:Citing sources]]. Do not worry too much about formatting citations properly. It would be great if you did that, but the main thing is to '''get references into the article''', even if they are not perfectly formatted.

==Things to avoid==
{{Main|Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not|Wikipedia:Avoiding common mistakes}}

; Articles about yourself, your friends, your website, a band you're in, your teacher, a word you made up, or a story you wrote : If you ''are'' worthy of inclusion in the encyclopedia, let someone else add an article for you. Putting your friends in an encyclopedia may seem like a nice surprise or an amusing joke, but articles like this are likely to be [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion|removed]]. In this process, feelings may be hurt and you may be [[Wikipedia: Blocking Policy|blocked]] from editing if you repeatedly make attempts to re-create the article. These things can be avoided by a little forethought on your part. The article may remain if you have enough humility to make it neutral and you really are notable, but even then it's best to submit a draft for approval and [[WP:CONSENSUS|consensus]] of the community instead of just posting it up, since unconscious biases may still exist of which you may not be aware.
; Non-notable topics : People frequently add pages to Wikipedia without considering [[Wikipedia:Notability|whether the topic is really notable enough]] to go into an encyclopedia. Because Wikipedia does not have the space limitations of paper-based encyclopedias, our [[WP:Notability|notability]] policies and guidelines allow a wide range of articles – however, they do not allow ''every'' topic to be included. A particularly common special case of this is pages about people, companies, or groups of people, that do not substantiate the notability or importance of their subject with reliable sources, so we have decided that such pages may be speedily deleted under our [[WP:SPEEDY]] policy. This can offend – so ''please'' consider whether your chosen topic is notable enough for Wikipedia, and then substantiate the notability or importance of your subject by citing those reliable sources in the process of creating your article. [[WP:NOT|Wikipedia is not]] a directory of everything in existence.
; Advertising : Please do not [[Wikipedia:spam|try to promote your product or business]]. Please do not insert external links to your commercial website unless a neutral party would judge that the link truly belongs in the article; we do have articles about products like [[Kleenex]] or [[Sharpie (marker)|Sharpie]]s, or notable businesses such as [[McDonald's]], but if you are writing about a product or business be sure you write from a [[Wikipedia:Neutral point of view|neutral point of view]], that you have no [[WP:COI|conflict of interest]], and that you are able to find references in [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] that are independent from the subject you are writing about.
; Personal essays or original research : Wikipedia surveys ''existing'' human knowledge; it is not a place to publish new work. Do not write articles that present your own [[Wikipedia:No original research|original theories, opinions, or insights,]] ''even if'' you can support them by reference to accepted work. A common mistake is to present a novel synthesis of ideas in an article. Remember, just because both Fact A and Fact B are true does not mean that A caused B, or vice-versa ([[fallacies]]). If the synthesis or causation is true, locate and cite [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] that report the connection.
; A single sentence or only a website link: Articles need to have real content of their own.
; Attacks on a person or organization : Material that violates our [[WP:BLP|biographies of living persons]] policy or is intended to threaten, defame, or harass its subject or another entity is not permitted. Unsourced negative information, especially in articles about living people, is quickly removed, and [[WP:Attack page|attack pages]] may be deleted immediately.
;''See also:''
*[[Wikipedia:List of bad article ideas|List of bad article ideas]]

==And be careful about...==
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|title = Copyright
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|quote = As a general rule, '''do not copy-paste text from other websites'''. <small>(There are a few limited exceptions, and a few words as part of a properly [[WP:CITE|cited]] and clearly attributed quotation is OK.)</small>
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|source = – ''[[Wikipedia:Copy-paste]]''
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{{Wikipedia article creation}}}}
; Copying things. Do not violate copyrights
'''Welcome to Wikipedia!''' Creating a new article is one of many ways to contribute to the [[WP:ENC|encyclopedia]], but can be difficult for new editors. Please take the time to read through this guide. Also consider looking at our [[Help:Introduction|introductory tutorials]] or [[Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia|contributing to Wikipedia]] to learn the basics about editing. Working on existing articles is a great way to learn Wikipedia's protocols and [[Wikipedia:Simplified Manual of Style|style conventions]]; see the [[Wikipedia:Task Center|Task Center]] or [[Special:Homepage|your homepage]] for articles that need your assistance and tasks you can help out with.
: Never copy and paste text into a Wikipedia article unless it is a relatively short quotation, placed in quotation marks, and cited using an [[Wikipedia:Cite sources|inline citation]]. Even material that you are ''sure'' is in the [[Wikipedia:public domain|public domain]] must be attributed to the source, or the result, while not a copyright violation, is [[WP:PLAGIARISM|plagiarism]]. Also note that most web pages '''are not''' in the public domain and most song [[lyrics]] '''are not''' either. In fact, most things published after 1923, and almost everything written since [[January 1]], [[1978]] are automatically under [[copyright]] ''even if they have no copyright notice or © symbol.'' If you think what you are contributing is in the public domain, ''say where you got it,'' either in the article or on the discussion page, and on the discussion page give the reason why you think it is in the public domain (e.g. "It was published in 1895..."). For more information, see [[Wikipedia:Copyrights]] (which includes instructions for verifying permission to copy previously published text) and [[WP:NFC#Text|our non-free content guidelines for text]]. Finally, please note that superficial modification of material, such as minor rewording, is insufficient to avoid plagiarism and copyright violations. See [[Wikipedia:Close paraphrasing]].


Once you are familiar with the [[Help:Getting started|basics of Wikipedia editing]], this page will guide you through the process of creating '''your first article'''! Specifically, you will learn how to:
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*<strong>Determine</strong> whether Wikipedia should have a new article on the given subject
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*<strong>Identify and use</strong> reliable sources to support assertions in the article
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*<strong>Create</strong> a draft of the article
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*<strong>Submit</strong> the draft for publication into the encyclopedia itself
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|title = Good sources
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1. have a reputation for reliability: they are [[WP:RS|reliable sources]]<br>
2. are independent of the subject<br>
3. are [[WP:V|verifiable]] by other editors
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; Good research and citing your sources
: Articles written out of thin air may be better than nothing, but they are hard to [[Wikipedia:Verifiability|verify]], which is an important part of building a trusted reference work. Please research with the [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources|best sources available]] and [[Wikipedia:Cite sources|cite them]] properly. Doing this, along with not copying text, will help avoid any possibility of [[plagiarism]]. We welcome ''good'' short articles, called "[[Wikipedia:stub|stubs]]", that can serve as launching pads from which others can take off – stubs can be relatively short, a few sentences, but should provide some useful information. If you do not have enough material to write a good stub, you probably should not create an article. At the end of a stub, you should include a "stub template" like this: <nowiki>{{stub}}</nowiki>. (Other Wikipedians will appreciate it if you use a more specific stub template, like <nowiki>{{art-stub}}</nowiki>. See the [[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Stub_sorting/Stub_types|list of stub types]] for a list of all specific stub templates.) Stubs help track articles that need expansion.


==The basics==
; Articles about [[WP:BLP|living persons]]
{{Further|Wikipedia:Simplified ruleset|Wikipedia:Reliable sources|Wikipedia:Verifiability|Wikipedia:Citing sources|Help:Find sources}}
: Articles written about living persons must be referenced so that they can be [[WP:V|verified]]. Biographies about living subjects that lack sources may be deleted.


All new articles start by researching a topic using <strong>high-quality, published sources</strong>. Even an expert on a topic cannot directly use their knowledge; published sources are needed. High-quality sources include <strong>books</strong> by reputable publishers, <strong>respected newspapers</strong>, peer-reviewed scientific and <strong>academic journals</strong>, and other sources with a <strong>reputation for fact-checking and accuracy</strong>. This may include some high-quality websites, but excludes personal and company websites, [[WP:BLOG|blogs]], [[WP:SOCIAL|social media]], and any site where [[Wikipedia:User-generated content|the public can contribute]], like forums and even [[WP:WINARS|Wikipedia itself]].
; Advocacy and controversial material
: Please do not write articles that advocate one particular viewpoint on politics, religion, or anything else. Understand what we mean by a [[Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view|neutral point of view]] before tackling this sort of topic.


We <em>summarize</em> such high-quality, published sources in Wikipedia articles. That is all we do! Please make sure that everything you write on Wikipedia is based on such sources, and be sure to include [[WP:INLINECITE|inline citations]] along with the content you write. While [[Wikipedia:Primary sources|primary sources]] can be used, they should be used sparingly and carefully, usually only to support basic facts. Primary sources do not contribute to establishing notability.
; Articles that contain different definitions of the topic
: Articles are primarily about what something '''is''', ''not'' any term(s). If the article is [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not a dictionary|just about a word or phrase]] and especially if there are very different ways that a term is used, it usually belongs in [[Wiktionary:Main Page|Wiktionary]]. Instead, try to write a good short first paragraph that [[WP:GOODDEF|defines]] one ''subject'' as well as some more material to go with it.


==Before you start writing==
; Organization
{{anchor|Are you closely connected to the article topic?}}
: Make sure there are incoming links to the new article from other Wikipedia articles (click "What links here" in the toolbox) and that the new article is included in at least one appropriate category (see [[help:category]]). Otherwise it will be difficult for readers to find the article.
===Are you connected to the article topic?===
{{See|Wikipedia:Plain and simple conflict of interest guide|Wikipedia:Paid-contribution disclosure}}


If you have a personal or professional relationship with what you want to write about, it is best if you do not create the new article yourself. Editing with a [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest|conflict of interest]], regardless of whether you feel you can do so neutrally, gives the appearance of bias and undermines public confidence in Wikipedia. If you create an article despite your conflict of interest, you should [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest|disclose your relationship]] and make sure that it is reviewed by another editor. If you have a ''financial'' conflict of interest in the topic (for example if you have been paid to edit it) you ''must'' make the required [[Wikipedia:Paid-contribution disclosure|paid-contribution disclosure]] and abide by the community's [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest#Paid editing|restrictions on paid editing]].
; Local-interest articles
: These are articles about places like schools, or streets that are of interest to a relatively small number of people such as alumni or people who live nearby. ''There is no consensus'' about such articles, but some will challenge them if they include nothing that shows how the place is special and different from tens of thousands of similar places. Photographs add interest. Try to give [[Wikipedia:Places of local interest|local-interest articles]] local colour. [[Wikipedia:Third-party sources|Third-party sources]] are the only way to prove that the subject you are writing about is [[WP:N|notable]].


===Search for an existing article===
; Breaking news events
<!-- This section uses: (add end-comment delim here to test in section-edit mode):
: While Wikipedia accepts articles about notable recent events, articles about breaking news events with no enduring notability are [[WP:NOTNEWS|not appropriate for our project]]. Consider writing such articles on our sister project [[Wikinews]]. See [[Wikipedia:Notability (events)]] for further information.
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{{Further|Help:Searching}}


The English Wikipedia already has {{Round|{{#expr:{{formatnum:{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}|R}}/1000000}}|1}} million articles. Before creating a new one, try to make sure there is not already an article (or a Draft in development) on the same topic, perhaps under a different spelling, or even a different name.
;Editing on the wrong page
:If you're trying to create a new page, you'll start with a completely empty edit box. If you see text in the editing box that is filled with words you didn't write (for example, the contents of this page), you're accidentally editing a pre-existing page. Don't save your changes. See [[#How to create a page]] below, and start over.


<div class="YFA-search">
==Are you closely connected to the article topic?==
<div class="YFA-search-top">'''Search for articles (or drafts) that already exist:'''</div>
<div class="YFA-search-box">
<inputbox>
type=search
searchbuttonlabel=Search
namespaces=Main**,Draft**
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<div class="YFA-search-footer">
'''Note:''' Articles are in "Main" space, and drafts are in "Draft" space.
</div>
</div>
{{clear}}


If you're sure that there is no article or draft available for your topic, then there is just one big task to do before you start writing your first article: you have to <strong>gather sources about the topic</strong> in order to <strong>establish its notability</strong>.
Wikipedia is the encyclopedia that anyone can edit, but there are special guidelines for editors who are paid or sponsored. These guidelines are intended to prevent biased articles, and maintain the public's trust that content in Wikipedia is impartial and has been added in good faith. (See Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest|conflict of interest (COI)]] guideline.)
{{anchor|Gathering references and establishing notability}}<!-- Previous title of section -->


===Gather sources===
The official guidelines are that editors '''must be volunteers.''' That means Wikipedia discourages editing articles about individuals, companies, organizations, products/services, or political causes that pay you directly or indirectly. This includes in-house PR departments and marketing departments, other company employees, [[public relations]] firms and publicists, social media consultants, and [[online reputation management]] consultants. However, Wikipedia recognizes the large volume of good faith contributions by people who have some affiliation to the articles they work on.
{{Further|Help:Find sources}}
As described above in [[#The basics|§&nbsp;The basics]], Wikipedia articles are written based on published sources. If you need some help finding sources, see [[WP:Finding sources|this helpful guide]].


For some common sources, you may find [[WP:RSP|these assessments]] by the Wikipedia community helpful. Please note these assessments certainly do not list all possible sources: if a source is not listed, that only means it has not met the criteria for listing. If a source meets the [[WP:RS|reliable source]] criteria, you are welcome to use it. If you have questions, please do ask at the [[WP:Teahouse|Teahouse]].
Here are some ground rules. If you break these rules, your edits are likely to be reverted, and the article(s) and your other edits may get extra scrutiny from other Wikipedia editors. Your account may also be blocked.


=== Notability – should this topic have an article? ===
{| class="wikitable"
{{IncGuide}}
|-
{{Main|Wikipedia:Notability}}
! Things to avoid !! Things to be careful about !! Great ways to contribute


Your topic must be '''[[WP:N|notable]]''', <em>as Wikipedia uses the term</em>, in order to warrant an article. Wikipedia has articles on many topics, but not <em>every</em> topic. Notability is tricky to define, but in a nutshell, if there are multiple published [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] about a topic, then it may be notable. A topic is not notable if there aren't sufficient reliable sources about it. ('''Important:''' unreliable ones like [[WP:BLOG|blogs]], [[WP:SOCIALMEDIA|social media]], and [[WP:UGC|websites anyone can edit]] don't count!). The [[WP:GNG|General notability guideline]] gives more details on how to tell if a topic is notable or not. If you're not sure if your topic is notable, ask for help at the [[WP:TEA|Teahouse]].
|-
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* Don't add promotional language
* Don't remove negative/critical text from an article
* Don't make a "group" account for multiple people to share
* Don't neglect to disclose your affiliation on the article's talk page
| width="30%" valign="top" |
* Maintain a neutral, objective tone in any content you add or edit
* Cite secondary sources (e.g., a major media article) for any new statements you add – even if you are confident a statement is true (e.g., it is about your work), only say it if it has been restated already in a secondary source.
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* Make minor edits/corrections to articles (e.g., typos, fixing links, adding references to new secondary sources)
* If you are biased, suggest new article text or edits on the ''[[Help:Using_talk_pages|article talk page]]'' (not on the main article page).
* Disclose your relationship to the client/topic.
* Edit using personal accounts.
* Recruit help: Seek out a sponsor (volunteer editor) who has worked on similar articles, or submit ideas for article topics via [[WP:RA|Requested articles]].
|}


A notable topic is one that has reliable sources that each meet <strong>all three</strong> of the following criteria:
Note that this has to do only with conflict of interest. Editors are encouraged to write on topics related to their expertise: e.g., a NASA staffperson might write about planets, or an academic researcher might write about their field. Also, [http://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedian_in_Residence Wikipedian-in-residence] or other interns who are paid, hosted or otherwise sponsored by a scientific or cultural institution can upload content and write articles in partnership with curators, indirectly providing positive branding for their host.
*<strong>Secondary</strong>. A [[WP:secondary|secondary source]] provides thought and reflection based on primary sources, generally at least one step removed from a topic. It contains ''analysis, evaluation, interpretation, or synthesis'' of the facts, evidence, concepts, and ideas taken from [[WP:primary|primary sources]].
*<strong>Independent</strong> of the subject. This means that nobody involved in writing or publishing the source has a financial or other connection to the subject. A source is <strong>not</strong> [[WP:IS|independent]] of the subject if <strong>any</strong> of the following are true:
**if the subject paid for it, including all forms of [[sponsored content]],
**if the content within the source originates from the subject, including most [[Wikipedia:Interviews|interviews]] and all [[press releases]], even if published by a third-party (sometimes called "[[churnalism]]"), or
**it was [[WP:SPS|published by the subject itself]], on behalf of the subject, or by someone related to the subject.
*<strong>Significant coverage</strong>. The sources must discuss your subject [[WP:SIGCOV|in depth]], in multiple paragraphs. A mention in one or two sentences or the appearance of your subject in a table or list is not enough to help establish notability. The special notability guideline for businesses has [[WP:CORPDEPTH|lots of good examples]] of what is considered significant.


[[File:Emblem-important-red.svg|upright=0.1|frameless|link=|alt=Round exclamation point icon|If your topic is not notable, stop here and find a new one.]] If you discover the topic is not notable, stop here. Non-notable topics do not qualify for a separate article. Consider expanding a relevant existing article related to the topic or select a new topic. If you are stuck, ask for guidance at the [[WP:Teahouse|Teahouse]].
==How to create a page==
Only [[Special:UserLogin|logged in]] users can create an article. If you have written an article but have no account you can submit your article for review and publishing at [[WP:AFC|Articles for Creation]].


===Title for your new article===
===Look at similar articles ===
{{See also|Help:Introduction to the Manual of Style}}
In the search box below, type the title of your article, then click Go. If the Search page reports "You may create the page" followed by the article name in red, then you can click the red article name to start editing your article.


It's a good idea to look at several existing Wikipedia articles on subjects similar to yours to see how such articles are formatted. The quality of our existing articles varies and lower quality articles should not be used as a model. The [[Help:Talk pages|Talk page]] of the article may have a [[WP:ASSESS|quality rating]] in the shaded box at the top. If an article has been assessed as '''B'''-class, or as a '''Good Article''' or '''Featured Article''', it is safe to use as an organizational template for your article. You can also consult Wikipedia's [[MOS:ORDER|Manual of Style]] for guidance on how to structure an article.
<div style="border: 2px solid #fc0; width:70%; background: #fe9; margin:0; padding: 1em; text-align:center">
<div style="border: 2px solid #fd6; background: #fff; margin:1em 1ex 1ex 1ex; padding: 1em; text-align:center">
{| cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" border="0"
| align="right" |'''''Is it new?'''''<br/><small>Type, then click "Go (try title)"</small>
| align="left" |
<inputbox>
type=search
width=45
buttonlabel=Go (try title)
searchbuttonlabel=Search
</inputbox>
|}
</div>
</div>


==Writing your draft ==
There may or may not be an article with the same title as the one you wish to create.
{{Further|Wikipedia:Writing better articles}}


Once you've verified that there [[#Search for an existing article|§&nbsp;isn't already an article out there]] about your topic, [[#Gather sources|§&nbsp;gathered your sources]], and [[#Notability – should this topic have an article?|§&nbsp;established notability]], you're ready to start writing!
If there is no article with the exact title, this does not necessarily mean such an article does not exist. As mentioned above, a search can help reveal this.


===What editing tool to use===
====Resolving clashes====
[[File:En.wp Vector 2022 Light Mode action tabs Edit circled plus language selector for context.png|thumb|218px|Edit tab in desktop view|link=]]
{{main|Wikipedia:Disambiguation}}
[[File:Wikipedia mobile version toolbar iOS edit pencil circled.png|thumb|218px|Edit pencil in mobile view|link=]]


{{Further|Help:Introduction|Help:Wikitext|Help:VisualEditor }}
Sometimes there is already an article under your chosen title, but on a different topic. In this case, the titles must be distinguished from one another. The process of distinguishing identical or similar titles with distinct meanings is called "disambiguation". This can be confusing for newcomers: if necessary, create your page as a [[help:userspace draft|userspace draft]], then ask at the [[WP:New contributors' help page|new contributors' help page]] or [[WP:HD|help desk]] for help on sorting out the disambiguation.
Wikipedia provides [[Help:Editing#Edit screen(s)|various editing tools]], and you have a choice of what tool best suits your needs:
[[File:Vector 2022 edit interface selector, light mode, source editor selected.png|thumb|Editing interface selector|link=]]


* [[Help:Introduction to editing with Wiki Markup/1|Source editor]] – edits the [[Help:Wikitext|wikitext]] of the article, which uses some special characters, like adding &#91;&#91;brackets&#93;&#93; to create a link to another page, or asterisks to make bullet points.
There are three main ways disambiguation is done, depending on how many topics there are and whether there's one which is much more important than the rest:
* [[Help:Introduction to editing with VisualEditor/1|Visual Editor]] – a tool similar to a word processor, for editing articles without the need to understand any special codes or [[Markup language|markup]].
* '''Disambiguation page'''. For example, when you enter the word ''"[[Salsa]]"'', you will be brought to a page known as a [[WP:DAB|disambiguation page]] that will list all the subjects named ''"Salsa"'', including [[Salsa (sauce)]], [[Salsa music]], and several other meanings of the word Salsa. Please only create disambiguation pages for existing article clashes, not for prospective articles.
* '''Primary usage'''. In some cases, the title by itself will be used for the most common meaning of the term (the "primary usage"), and all other uses will be found on a disambiguation page. For example, when you enter [[Mouse]], you will be brought to the article about the animal. All other uses, such as [[Mouse (computing)]], are listed on the disambiguation page.
* '''Just two topics'''. Or in some cases, if there are only two meanings of a title, the plain title will be used for one meaning (the more common one), and a message on the top of that page, known as a [[WP:HATNOTE|hatnote]], will be used to direct readers to the other. For example, if you enter [[Avocado]], you will be brought to the article about the plant. A hatnote will direct you to a town called [[Avocado, California]].


[[WP:Visual Editor|Visual Editor]] is the default. To switch your default editing interface, select an option from the "Editing mode" menu in [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-editing|your preferences]].
===Entering references===
The very first thing you should write in your article is a list of the source(s) for your information. For now, just enter them like this (and they will automatically turn into links):
:(1) http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/books/12vonnegut.html
:(2) http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/space/space_shuttle.html
Later, you'll [[Wikipedia:Tutorial/Citing_sources|learn how to format them]] to appear as footnotes.


Users of [[Help:Mobile access|mobile devices]] are automatically redirected to the [[Help:Mobile access#Official mobile version|official mobile version]] of Wikipedia at [https://en.m.wikipedia.org '''en.m.wikipedia.org'''.] If you don't want to use the mobile version, tap the [[Help:Mobile access#Desktop access|Desktop]] link at the bottom of any page to switch to the desktop version at {{nowrap|[https://en.wikipedia.org '''en.wikipedia.org'''.]}}
If you know that it will take you a few edits to list references properly, put the template '''<code>{{tl|newpage}}</code>''' on top of the page to signify to other editors that you are working on it. Even better is to create your article in a [[WP:User page|subpage]] of your user page, take as long as you need to make it a good article, then move it to the main article space. You can create your personal sandbox for article development by clicking [[Special:MyPage/Sandbox|this link]]. However, even in user space articles on unacceptable topics are liable to be nominated for deletion.
{{anchor|Create your draft}}


===Categorizing===
===Where to start writing===
{{Further|Wikipedia:Drafts|Wikipedia:About the sandbox}}
Every article should be in one or more Wikipedia categories. Often the easiest way to find relevant categories is to think of a similar topic that has an article and visit it to see the categories it is placed in. Otherwise, you may go to [[:Category:Articles]] and click on any relevant subcategories, then keep following relevant subcategory links as far as you can. Follow all relevant subcategory chains, and add a category declaration, written <nowiki>[[Category:your category]]</nowiki>, at the bottom of your article for each relevant category that has no relevant subcategories of its own.


Where will you develop your draft? You have several options:
===Final step===
* in "[[WP:Drafts|Draftspace]]"{{snd}}this is a special area of Wikipedia dedicated to creating new articles, and is a good choice because other editors can find your draft here and help out.
After you have entered your article, click Show preview to check for errors, then click Save page.
* in [[WP:About the sandbox|your sandbox]]{{snd}}this is a page you can always easily find, {{if mobile|by tapping the user icon in the top right corner to show the menu linking your sandbox|by clicking 'Sandbox' at the top of any page at Wikipedia}}. Downside: you can only create one article at a time there, and it's not so easy for other editors to find.
* in a [[WP:USERSUBPAGE|user subpage]]. You can find more information about subpages [[WP:SUBPAGE|here]].


The easiest way is with the Article Wizard, which will create your article in Draft space and guide you through the steps of creating a draft.<div class="center">{{clickable button|Wikipedia:article wizard|Create your draft with the Article Wizard!|class=mw-ui-progressive}}</div>
==And then what?==
Now that you have created the page, there are still several things you can do.


===Keep making improvements===
===How to create content===
{{Further|Help:Editing|WP:Neutral point of view|WP:Verifiability}}
[[WP:FINISH|Wikipedia is not finished]]. Generally, an article is nowhere near being completed the moment it is created. There is a long way to go. In fact, it may take you several edits just to get it started.


Writing a Wikipedia article:
If you have so much interest in the article you just created, you may learn more about it in the future, and accordingly have more to add. This may be later today, tomorrow, or several months from now. Any time – go ahead.
*Summarize the most important things your sources say.
**Don't [[WP:COPYRIGHT|copy/paste]] wording from your sources; instead, [[WP:FOLLOWSOURCE|summarize the ideas in the source]] using your own words. Summarization is more than just [[WP:CLOP|changing a few words around]] here and there.
**Only add information [[WP:V|supported by your sources]]. Don't add from [[WP:NOR|your own knowledge]] or expertise.
*Make sure you [[WP:DUE|show all major viewpoints]] fairly. Do not cover [[WP:FRINGE|fringe]] views or those held only by a tiny minority.
*Don't [[WP:NPOV|take sides]] or use [[WP:PROMO|promotional language]].
*Write in a [[WP:TONE|professional tone]]; avoid [[MOS:PUFFERY|loaded]] language.
*Add [[WP:CITE|citations]] as you go. This is much easier than writing first and trying to remember later where you found each piece of information.
*You don't have to write the article all at once! Save your progress frequently, with an appropriate [[WP:EDITSUMMARY|edit summary]]. The {{mw button|Publish}} button saves your progress.
*You can [[Help:Pictures|add images]], [[Help:Template|templates]] like a an [[Help:Infobox|infobox]] at the top, or a [[Wikipedia:Stub|stub]] at the bottom, and [[Help:Categories|categories]] to your article.


===Improve formatting===
=== Citing sources ===
{{Further|Wikipedia:Citing sources|Help:Find sources|Help:Referencing for beginners|Help:Introduction to referencing with VisualEditor}}
To format your article correctly (and expand it, and possibly even make it [[Wikipedia:Featured articles|featured]]!), see
[[File:VisualEditor tool reference-ltr.png|frameless|border|275px|right|alt=Abstract graphic depicting referencing]]
Sources are the published books, academic articles, reputable magazines and newspapers, and other locations where you find the information you will be writing about. You will need to find sources before you start writing, because all content in articles at Wikipedia must be <strong>[[WP:V|verifiable]]</strong>—that is, backed up by <strong>[[WP:RS|reliable sources]]</strong>.


The best way to demonstrate verifiability, is by creating a [[WP:CITE|citation]] to a reliable source that you found, and [[WP:INLINECITE|embedding it in-line]] as you write your article.
*[[Wikipedia:Tutorial]] to learn how to format your article
*[[Wikipedia:Writing better articles]]
*[[Wikipedia:The perfect article]]
*[[Wikipedia:Lead section]]


The best sources tend to have some form of editorial oversight and a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. Some websites are reliable; many are not. If you're not sure about the reliability of a website, you can [[WP:RSP|read what editors think about them]]. It's okay to use [[WP:NONENG|non-English sources]], [[WP:OFFLINE|offline sources]], and subscription-only or [[Wikipedia:PAYWALL| fee-based sources]], as long as they are reliable.
Others can freely contribute to the article when it has been saved. The creator does not have special rights to control the later content. See [[Wikipedia:Ownership of articles]].


===Dos and don'ts===
Also, before you get frustrated or offended about the way others modify or remove your contributions, see [[Wikipedia:Don't be ashamed]].
{{Main|Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not|Wikipedia:Avoiding common mistakes}}


Here are some "Do"s and "Don't"s, to highlight some of the most important points about writing your first article:
===Avoid orphans===
{| class="wikitable"
An [[WP:Orphan|orphaned article]] is an article that has few or no other articles linking to it. The main problem with an orphan is that it'll be unknown to others, and may get fewer readers if it is not de-orphaned.
|+ {{sronly|Dos and don't}}
|-
! scope="col" style="width:58%" | Great ways to contribute
! scope="col" style="width:42%" | {{vanchor|Things to avoid|text=Things to avoid}}
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
* <strong>Do</strong> make sure that the topic you write about is <strong>[[WP:N|notable]]</strong>; articles about non-notable topics get deleted.
* <strong>Do</strong> include <strong>[[WP:CITE|citations]]</strong> to <strong>[[Wikipedia:Independent sources|independent]]</strong>, <strong>[[WP:RS|reliable]]</strong> sources for all assertions of fact.
* <strong>Do</strong> add content that has a <strong>[[WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]]</strong>, and <strong>[[WP:DUE WEIGHT|fairly represents the majority]]</strong> of the sources.
* <strong>Do</strong> exercise caution when editing articles about <strong>[[Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons|living people]]</strong>. Negative or critical content must be impeccably sourced to <strong>[[WP:BLPSOURCES|highly reliable sources]]</strong>.
* <strong>Do</strong> ask for help at the <strong>[[Wikipedia:Teahouse|Teahouse]]</strong>, the <strong>[[Wikipedia:Help desk|Help desk]]</strong>, or check [[Help:Directory|these help links]].
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
* <strong>Don't</strong> engage in <strong>[[Wikipedia:No original research|original research]]</strong> or personal essays.
* <strong>Don't</strong> copy <strong>[[Wikipedia:Copyrights|copyrighted material]]</strong> into articles.
* <strong>Don't</strong> speculate about <strong>[[WP:NOTCRYSTAL|events in the future]]</strong>.
* <strong>Don't</strong> write an article only to define a word; Wikipedia is <strong>[[WP:NOTDICT|not a dictionary]]</strong>. Try [[Wiktionary]] instead.
* <strong>Don't</strong> write an article if you have a <strong>[[WP:COI|conflict of interest]]</strong> because of a personal or professional connection to the topic of the article.
|}


== Publish your draft ==
Most new articles are orphans from the moment they are created, but you can work to change that. This will involve editing one or more ''other'' articles. Try searching Wikipedia for other pages referring to the subject of your article, then turn those references into links by adding double brackets to either side: <nowiki>"[[" and "]]"</nowiki>. If another article has a word or phrase that has the same meaning as your new article, but not expressed in the same words as the title, you can link that word or phrase as follows: "<nowiki>[[title of your new article|word or phrase found in other article]]</nowiki>." Or in certain cases, you could create that word or phrase as a redirect to your new article.
When your draft is ready, you have two options for publishing it: you can do so directly yourself, or ask another editor to review it first. If you don't have an account, if your account is not yet [[Wikipedia:User access levels#Autoconfirmed and confirmed users|confirmed]], or if you have a [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest|conflict of interest]] with the article topic, you will have to ask for a review. Otherwise, the choice is up to you. In either case, you should take some time to double check that the draft is ready first.


===Pre-publication checks===
One of the first things you want to do after creating a new article is to provide links to it so it will not be an orphan. You can do that right away, or if you find that exhausting, you can wait a while, provided that you keep the task in mind.
Take another look at your draft to see if it meets the criteria required for a Wikipedia article. Make sure that:


*The [[MOS:LEADSENTENCE|first sentence]] defines the article topic, and tells the reader who or what the subject is in plain English.
See [[Wikipedia:Drawing attention to new pages]] to learn how to get others to see your new articles.
*There are citations to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] in the article (most reviewers look for at least three sources).
**Some [[WP:MINREF|specific types]] of information <strong>require</strong> [[WP:INLINECITE|inline citations]], namely: [[WP:WHYCITE|direct quotations]], and any [[WP:BLPCT|contentious material]] about [[WP:BLP|living persons]] (negative, positive, or neutral).
*The article is written from a [[WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]].
*Any controversial claims about [[WP:BLP|living people]] are impeccably sourced.
<div class="autoconfirmed-show">


=== Publish directly ===
===Add to a disambiguation page===
{{main|Wikipedia:Drafts#Moving drafts to mainspace}}
If the term is ambiguous (meaning there are multiple pages using that or a similar title), see if there is a [[WP:DAB|disambiguation page]] for articles bearing that title. If so, add it to that page.
If you are sure your draft is ready, and you do <strong>not</strong> have a [[#Are you connected to the article topic?|§&nbsp;conflict of interest with the topic]], you can publish it directly by moving the page from the draft namespace to the main article namespace. To do so, follow the instructions in [[Help:How to move a page|how to move a page]].
</div>


==Still need help?==
===Ask for a review===
{{Further|Wikipedia:Articles for creation}}
*For a list of informative, instructional and supportive pages, see [[Help:Contents/Directory|Help directory]].
{{if autoconfirmed|Alternatively, if|If}} you think your article is ready{{if autoconfirmed| but would like another editor to check it}}, you can [[WP:AFCREVIEW|submit it for review]] by an experienced editor by clicking the {{mw button|Submit the draft for review!|progressive|line-height: 1em; margin-top:3px; padding: 0.5em 0.8em}} button at the top of your draft. If the button isn't there, you can instead add {{tlxs|submit}} to the top of the draft. A reviewer will then look at your draft and either publish it or give you feedback on how to improve it. You may continue to edit the page, even while waiting for a review. This may take some time (maybe weeks); please have patience, we are all volunteers.
*The best places to ask for assistance is at the [[WP:TH/Q|Teahouse]] and at the main [[WP:HD|Help desk]].
*For a list of the services and assistance that can be requested on Wikipedia, see [[Wikipedia:Requests|Request departments]].
*If you place '''<tt>{{Tlx|Help me}}</tt>''' (including the curly brackets) ''"then your question"'' on [[Special:Mytalk|your talk page]], a volunteer will assist you there!
*Alternately you can ask a question through the Wikipedia [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=wikipedia-en-help help channel] on IRC chat.


===Congratulations!===
===Read a traditional encyclopedia===
Congratulations, you've created your first article! We have some suggested next steps at [[Help:After your first article]], but do pat yourself on the back. Not many people have successfully created an article on Wikipedia!
Try to read traditional paper encyclopedia articles to get the layout, style, tone, and other elements of encyclopedic content. It is suggested that if you plan to write articles for an encyclopedia, you have some background knowledge in formal writing as well as about the topic at hand. A composition class in your high school or college is recommended before you start writing encyclopedia articles.


{{anchor|Still need help?}}
The [[World Book]] is a good place to start. The goal of Wikipedia is to create an up-to-the-moment encyclopedia on every notable subject imaginable. Pretend that your article will be published in a paper encyclopedia.
==Help is available!==
----
<!-- Not recommending asking mentors through the mentorship module. See [[Special:Permalink/1236591037#Regarding mentorship questions]] for reasoning. -->
{{Help navigation}}
* The best place to ask for assistance is at the [[WP:Teahouse|Teahouse]], which is dedicated to answering newer editors' questions.
[[Category:Wikipedia basic information|{{PAGENAME}}]]
* For a list of informative, instructional and supportive pages, see the [[Help:Contents/Directory|Help directory]]. More can be found at the [[Wikipedia:Request directory|request directory]].
[[Category:Wikipedia how-to|{{PAGENAME}}]]
* {{edit|Special:MyTalk|Click here to ask for help on your talk page|section=new|preload=Help:Contents/helpmepreload|preloadtitle=Help me!}}. A volunteer will visit you there shortly!
[[Category:Wikipedia article title help]]
* Alternately, you can ask a question via [[IRC]] chat at the {{Freenode|wikipedia-en-help}} channel.
* Via the <code>#help</code> channel at [[Wikipedia:Discord]].
* Wiki Education offers a [[wikiedudashboard:training|library of training modules]] for new Wikipedia editors and students.


{{Basic information|state=collapsed}}
[[af:Wikipedia:Hoe om ’n nuwe bladsy te skep]]
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[[be-x-old:Вікіпэдыя:Як стварыць новы артыкул]]
[[Category:Wikipedia how-to]]
[[bg:Уикипедия:Вашата първа статия]]
[[Category:Wikipedia page help]]
[[cbk-zam:Ayuda:Tu primer artículo]]
[[Category:Wikipedia tips]]
[[cy:Wicipedia:Eich erthygl gyntaf]]
[[Category:Wikipedia new articles]]
[[hr:Wikipedija:Kako stvoriti novu stranicu]]
[[Category:Wikipedia newcomers]]
[[he:ויקיפדיה:איך ליצור דף חדש]]
[[rue:Вікіпедія:Ваша перша статя]]
[[scn:Wikipedia:Comu accuminzari na pàggina]]
[[si:විකිපීඩියා:ඔබගේ පළමු ලිපිය]]
[[sv:Wikipedia:Skriv en ny artikel]]
[[th:วิกิพีเดีย:บทความแรกของคุณ]]
[[tr:Vikipedi:İlk maddeniz]]

Latest revision as of 21:07, 17 November 2024

Writing an article


New here?

Creating an article is one of the more difficult tasks on Wikipedia, and you'll have a higher chance of success if you help out with other tasks first to learn more about how Wikipedia works. You can always come back to create an article later; there is no rush!

Welcome to Wikipedia! Creating a new article is one of many ways to contribute to the encyclopedia, but can be difficult for new editors. Please take the time to read through this guide. Also consider looking at our introductory tutorials or contributing to Wikipedia to learn the basics about editing. Working on existing articles is a great way to learn Wikipedia's protocols and style conventions; see the Task Center or your homepage for articles that need your assistance and tasks you can help out with.

Once you are familiar with the basics of Wikipedia editing, this page will guide you through the process of creating your first article! Specifically, you will learn how to:

  • Determine whether Wikipedia should have a new article on the given subject
  • Identify and use reliable sources to support assertions in the article
  • Create a draft of the article
  • Submit the draft for publication into the encyclopedia itself

The basics

All new articles start by researching a topic using high-quality, published sources. Even an expert on a topic cannot directly use their knowledge; published sources are needed. High-quality sources include books by reputable publishers, respected newspapers, peer-reviewed scientific and academic journals, and other sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. This may include some high-quality websites, but excludes personal and company websites, blogs, social media, and any site where the public can contribute, like forums and even Wikipedia itself.

We summarize such high-quality, published sources in Wikipedia articles. That is all we do! Please make sure that everything you write on Wikipedia is based on such sources, and be sure to include inline citations along with the content you write. While primary sources can be used, they should be used sparingly and carefully, usually only to support basic facts. Primary sources do not contribute to establishing notability.

Before you start writing

Are you connected to the article topic?

If you have a personal or professional relationship with what you want to write about, it is best if you do not create the new article yourself. Editing with a conflict of interest, regardless of whether you feel you can do so neutrally, gives the appearance of bias and undermines public confidence in Wikipedia. If you create an article despite your conflict of interest, you should disclose your relationship and make sure that it is reviewed by another editor. If you have a financial conflict of interest in the topic (for example if you have been paid to edit it) you must make the required paid-contribution disclosure and abide by the community's restrictions on paid editing.

Search for an existing article

The English Wikipedia already has 6.9 million articles. Before creating a new one, try to make sure there is not already an article (or a Draft in development) on the same topic, perhaps under a different spelling, or even a different name.

If you're sure that there is no article or draft available for your topic, then there is just one big task to do before you start writing your first article: you have to gather sources about the topic in order to establish its notability.

Gather sources

As described above in § The basics, Wikipedia articles are written based on published sources. If you need some help finding sources, see this helpful guide.

For some common sources, you may find these assessments by the Wikipedia community helpful. Please note these assessments certainly do not list all possible sources: if a source is not listed, that only means it has not met the criteria for listing. If a source meets the reliable source criteria, you are welcome to use it. If you have questions, please do ask at the Teahouse.

Notability – should this topic have an article?

Your topic must be notable, as Wikipedia uses the term, in order to warrant an article. Wikipedia has articles on many topics, but not every topic. Notability is tricky to define, but in a nutshell, if there are multiple published reliable sources about a topic, then it may be notable. A topic is not notable if there aren't sufficient reliable sources about it. (Important: unreliable ones like blogs, social media, and websites anyone can edit don't count!). The General notability guideline gives more details on how to tell if a topic is notable or not. If you're not sure if your topic is notable, ask for help at the Teahouse.

A notable topic is one that has reliable sources that each meet all three of the following criteria:

  • Secondary. A secondary source provides thought and reflection based on primary sources, generally at least one step removed from a topic. It contains analysis, evaluation, interpretation, or synthesis of the facts, evidence, concepts, and ideas taken from primary sources.
  • Independent of the subject. This means that nobody involved in writing or publishing the source has a financial or other connection to the subject. A source is not independent of the subject if any of the following are true:
  • Significant coverage. The sources must discuss your subject in depth, in multiple paragraphs. A mention in one or two sentences or the appearance of your subject in a table or list is not enough to help establish notability. The special notability guideline for businesses has lots of good examples of what is considered significant.

Round exclamation point icon If you discover the topic is not notable, stop here. Non-notable topics do not qualify for a separate article. Consider expanding a relevant existing article related to the topic or select a new topic. If you are stuck, ask for guidance at the Teahouse.

Look at similar articles

It's a good idea to look at several existing Wikipedia articles on subjects similar to yours to see how such articles are formatted. The quality of our existing articles varies and lower quality articles should not be used as a model. The Talk page of the article may have a quality rating in the shaded box at the top. If an article has been assessed as B-class, or as a Good Article or Featured Article, it is safe to use as an organizational template for your article. You can also consult Wikipedia's Manual of Style for guidance on how to structure an article.

Writing your draft

Once you've verified that there § isn't already an article out there about your topic, § gathered your sources, and § established notability, you're ready to start writing!

What editing tool to use

Edit tab in desktop view
Edit pencil in mobile view

Wikipedia provides various editing tools, and you have a choice of what tool best suits your needs:

Editing interface selector
  • Source editor – edits the wikitext of the article, which uses some special characters, like adding [[brackets]] to create a link to another page, or asterisks to make bullet points.
  • Visual Editor – a tool similar to a word processor, for editing articles without the need to understand any special codes or markup.

Visual Editor is the default. To switch your default editing interface, select an option from the "Editing mode" menu in your preferences.

Users of mobile devices are automatically redirected to the official mobile version of Wikipedia at en.m.wikipedia.org. If you don't want to use the mobile version, tap the Desktop link at the bottom of any page to switch to the desktop version at en.wikipedia.org.

Where to start writing

Where will you develop your draft? You have several options:

  • in "Draftspace" – this is a special area of Wikipedia dedicated to creating new articles, and is a good choice because other editors can find your draft here and help out.
  • in your sandbox – this is a page you can always easily find, by clicking 'Sandbox' at the top of any page at Wikipediaby tapping the user icon in the top right corner to show the menu linking your sandbox. Downside: you can only create one article at a time there, and it's not so easy for other editors to find.
  • in a user subpage. You can find more information about subpages here.

The easiest way is with the Article Wizard, which will create your article in Draft space and guide you through the steps of creating a draft.

How to create content

Writing a Wikipedia article:

Citing sources

Abstract graphic depicting referencing

Sources are the published books, academic articles, reputable magazines and newspapers, and other locations where you find the information you will be writing about. You will need to find sources before you start writing, because all content in articles at Wikipedia must be verifiable—that is, backed up by reliable sources.

The best way to demonstrate verifiability, is by creating a citation to a reliable source that you found, and embedding it in-line as you write your article.

The best sources tend to have some form of editorial oversight and a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. Some websites are reliable; many are not. If you're not sure about the reliability of a website, you can read what editors think about them. It's okay to use non-English sources, offline sources, and subscription-only or fee-based sources, as long as they are reliable.

Dos and don'ts

Here are some "Do"s and "Don't"s, to highlight some of the most important points about writing your first article:

Dos and don't
Great ways to contribute Things to avoid

Publish your draft

When your draft is ready, you have two options for publishing it: you can do so directly yourself, or ask another editor to review it first. If you don't have an account, if your account is not yet confirmed, or if you have a conflict of interest with the article topic, you will have to ask for a review. Otherwise, the choice is up to you. In either case, you should take some time to double check that the draft is ready first.

Pre-publication checks

Take another look at your draft to see if it meets the criteria required for a Wikipedia article. Make sure that:

Publish directly

If you are sure your draft is ready, and you do not have a § conflict of interest with the topic, you can publish it directly by moving the page from the draft namespace to the main article namespace. To do so, follow the instructions in how to move a page.

Ask for a review

Alternatively, ifIf you think your article is ready but would like another editor to check it, you can submit it for review by an experienced editor by clicking the Submit the draft for review! button at the top of your draft. If the button isn't there, you can instead add {{subst:submit}} to the top of the draft. A reviewer will then look at your draft and either publish it or give you feedback on how to improve it. You may continue to edit the page, even while waiting for a review. This may take some time (maybe weeks); please have patience, we are all volunteers.

Congratulations!

Congratulations, you've created your first article! We have some suggested next steps at Help:After your first article, but do pat yourself on the back. Not many people have successfully created an article on Wikipedia!

Help is available!