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Help:Getting started

Wikipedia Help desk
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mahadi504 (talk | contribs) at 10:13, 27 May 2022 (Wikipedia is the best ❤️). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This page is about help in general. For the software feature for newly registered users, see Wikipedia:GettingStarted.
"WP:WELCOME" redirects here. For the Welcoming committee, see Wikipedia:Welcoming committee.

As a new editor, also known as a contributor, you may feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer size and scope of Wikipedia. Don't worry if you don't understand everything at first, as it is acceptable to use common sense as you go about editing. We encourage you to be bold in a fair and accurate manner, with a straightforward, just-the-facts style.

The contributing to Wikipedia page is an article that provides information, links, videos and other resources on the basics needed to edit Wikipedia. The five pillars is a popular summary of the most pertinent Wikipedia principles. The community portal is a central location to find collaborations, tasks, and news about Wikipedia. If you somehow do get stuck, there are volunteers available to answer your questions; see asking for help for more information.

A video that articulates the diversity and enthusiasm of the Wikipedia Community by editors like you. (4:10 min)
Note: You can use the sandbox to experiment with page editing.

Overview tutorials

  • Introduction: our main tutorial to the core principles of how to edit contained in thirteen short modules (as listed below).
  • The Wikipedia Adventure: a module guided tour with fun, interactive learning, and practice.
  • Your first article: an article that discusses some of the dos and don'ts, then shows you how to create an article. Note: The ability to create articles directly in mainspace is restricted to autoconfirmed users, though non-confirmed users and non-registered users can submit a proposed article through the Articles for Creation process, where it will be reviewed and considered for publication.

Topic-specific introductions

  • Introduction to navigating Wikipedia: a seven-part guide to navigating Wikipedia: Introduction; Namespaces; Searching pages; Page histories; Redirects and shortcuts; Useful links; and Summary.

Protocols and conventions

Editing with Source editor

  • Introduction to editing: a six-part guide to editing: Editing pages; Formatting; Links and wikilinks; Saving your changes; Creating new articles; and Summary.
  • Introduction to referencing: a five-part introduction to referencing: Verifiability; Inline citations; RefToolbar; Reliable sources; and Summary.
  • Introduction to uploading images: a four-part guide on uploading images: Introduction; Uploading images; Using an image; and Summary.
  • Introduction to tables: a four-part guide to putting tables in pages: Introduction to tables; Editing tables; Expanding tables; and Summary.
  • Introduction to talk pages: a six-part guide to using talk pages: Talk pages; User talk pages; Layout; Examples; Drawing attention; and Summary.

Editing with VisualEditor

Training for student assignments

These self-guided trainings help users involved with student assignments to learn the basics of Wikipedia.

  • Training for students: students start here! A four-part, 57-page training intended for students doing assignments on Wikipedia, with more detailed introductions to core Wikipedia policies, editing basics, and more specific editing advice for students. Chapters: Welcome (4 pages); The Core (14 pages); Editing (24 pages); and Advanced and background (15 pages).
  • Training for educators: educators start here! A five-part, 97-page training for professors and other educators who want to run Wikipedia assignments for class, with introductions to core Wikipedia policies, editing basics, and an overview of best practices for designing and implementing Wikipedia assignments.

Guides

Quick guides

Overview articles

Books and videos

  • The Missing Manual: a comprehensive how-to book that explains everything about contributing for novice to expert editors.
  • Wikipedia instructional material : a listing of screencasts, videos, and books.
  • The Bookshelf: (external link) a vast collection of high-quality, freely licensed, user-generated informational material about Wikipedia.

Specialised tutorials

Help resources and assistance

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Instructional videos on using Wikipedia.
Find this page confusing? Just use this link to ask for help on your talk page; a volunteer will visit you there shortly!

Wikipedia is the best platform

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