Basic Wikipedia Editing Rules for Dummies

Most Internet users have read at least a few (or a few hundred) Wikipedia pages. Since its inception in 2001, the free encyclopedia has hosted over 50 million entries in more than 300 languages and is presently accessed by over 1.5 billion devices each month by the year 2020, according to the latest analysis. But although Wikipedia isn’t the only site of its type, it is the most well-known — an information superhighway covering everything from famous people to science and technology.

Creating a Wikipedia article about yourself is as easy as creating an account on the site and adding some content. But it is highly discouraged by Wikipedia community since it is regarded as a violation of Conflict of Interest Policy of Wikipedia. So, the best alternative is to select and hire a professional Wikipedia article creation service provider preferably based in US.  

Before you start utilizing the benefits of the online encyclopedia, make sure you know some basics things. Apart from serving as an encyclopedia, Wikipedia offers a collaborative platform where you need to work collaboratively. The user community on Wikipedia formulated guidelines that were followed by every contributor. However, none of the guidelines are rigid that way.

We’ve compiled a list of seven Basic Wikipedia editing rules for dummies 

  1. Wikipedia is not a medium for public promotion or advertising of goods or services.

To cite a few examples, Wikipedia is neither a platform for promoting goods nor a place for individual views to be circulated. It is not a website for personal communication, a freely licensed media repository or a censored newspaper either. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia, not a repository of press releases. Ensure your website has up-to-date, accurate information. It is important to know that not every item you want to include on your website will be displayed there.

  1. Wikipedia adheres to an organization-wide code of ethics regarding possible conflicts of interest.

When it comes to conflicts of interest, there are numerous regulations that must be followed. The first essential thing to remember is that organizations are highly discouraged from editing their own sites. Instead, individuals should collaborate with certified and experienced Wikipedia editors in order to add or remove information.

  1. It is not possible for you to claim ownership of your Wikipedia article.

It is impossible for any piece of material (including articles at Wikipedia) to be “owned” in the digital world. Once you have created or updated an article, you have no control over whether or not others will modify it, and you have no way to predict if they will do so. Similarly, unless there is an overriding reason to reverse their changes, you should refrain from doing so. An article talk page is the best place to start addressing a dispute in a calm and considerate manner. It will not be possible to make the adjustments you desire.

  1. Find out what “notability” means according to Wikipedia.

There is a test called the notability test, which Wikipedia editors use to determine whether a topic deserves a stand-alone entry. It is imperative to use Wikipedia to find verifiable information. The subject of an article should not be given its own Wikipedia article if no independent sources can be found for the topic. 

The concept of notability has been formed on the basis of this basic criterion, which serves to prevent topics from being added without due consideration. Articles and lists should include relevant and “worthy of attention” topics. For your material to be included in Wikipedia, it must be noteworthy. If anything is noteworthy, it will be determined through third-party reports. The first step is to gather a list of sources, from which you can determine what content you can really reference.

  1. Make certain that your sources are dependable and trustworthy.

It is important to have articles on Wikipedia based on reliable published sources that represent a substantial minority and a majority of viewpoints. A subject will not be covered on Wikipedia if no reliable sources exist for that subject.

  1. Keep an eye out for copyrights.

Wikipedia users’ intellectual property rights are protected by very strict copyright laws regarding the use of images and other materials. A second editor will delete your material if you copy and paste it into the text box from your own website (or from another website). The wording in corporate communications is carefully crafted so the information won’t repeat. Every word has been reviewed extensively before being used. In order to be successful, you should produce unique content derived from reputable third parties.

  1. Check to see that there is no ‘conflict’ with another editor going on.

Even if you disagree with your Wikipedians, you should show respect to them. Avoid personal attacks and maintain the civility of Wikipedia. Consider coming to a consensus instead of interrupting Wikipedia. Be trustworthy and assume that others are trustworthy. There are 6396,937 additional English Wikipedia articles that can be edited and debated. It is important not to escalate disagreements on the relevant discussion pages.