How to Create a Wikipedia Article

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Create a Wikipedia article so you can share your knowledge with the world.

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Step 1: Have the right topic
Before you try to create an article, make sure you have an appropriate topic. Wikipedia wants unbiased, well-sourced information about subjects that are notable enough to appear in an encyclopedia. The site rejects articles that promote or publicize a business; advice -- legal, medical or otherwise; instructional material; travel guides; and news items.

Tip
Get ideas for topics by typing WP:RA in the search box; a list of articles requested by others will appear.

Step 2: Source your work
Make sure you get the information for your article from a credible, reliable source. Material in books and newspapers is generally considered reliable; the musings of bloggers are not. And don't bother writing about yourself; it's considered a conflict of interest.

Tip
Detailed instructions on the proper way to cite sources can be found by typing WP:CITE into the search box and hitting "Go."

Step 3: Conduct an internal search
Make sure Wikipedia hasn't already published an article on your exact subject by typing it into the site's internal search engine. Search as many variations of the topic name as you can think of, including common misspellings of relevant terms.

Tip
Click "Search" to find Wikipedia articles that just mention your subject.

Step 4: Google it
Search the topic on Google to see if it finds any Wikipedia articles on your subject. Google sometimes picks up postings that Wikipedia's own search engine misses.

Step 5: Sign up
Become a registered user to submit an article without first gaining the site's approval. Having an account also means you can create a user profile, receive messages from other users, request notification for changes made to articles, and, of course, get credit for the articles you write. Click on "create an account" at the top right of any page.

Tip
If you'd prefer not to register, submit a proposal through Wikipedia's Articles for Creation, an online review process that provides feedback on your idea. Type WP:AFC in a Search box and hit "Go."

Step 6: Practice writing
Practice writing an article by composing a draft in the Sandbox, where you can familiarize yourself with the site's editing tools. Get there by typing WP:SB in the Search box and hitting, "Go." Click "Help" in the toolbox to the left of any page for guidance.

Step 7: Enter the article
Type your subject in a Search box and hit "Go." You've already determined that no page with that title exists. Click on your highlighted search entry. You'll be redirected to a blank page where you can begin writing your article.

Tip
Wikipedia editors may request more sources from you after reviewing your article.

Step 8: Publish!
When your article is finished, hit "Show Preview" to proofread your work and see how it will appear on the site. When you're ready to publish it, hit "Save Page." Congratulations! You're a Wikipedian!

Did You Know?
Wikipedia has published articles in more than 250 languages.

How to Create a Wikipedia Article. Share your
expertise on a subject by writing about it

for Wikipedia, the world's biggest encyclopedia.
This multilingual, Web-based, free content

encyclopedia already contains millions of
articles, but there's always room for something

new. Why not publish something by you? You
will need Internet access Notable topic and

reliable sources. Step 1. Before you try to
create an article, make sure you have an appropriate

topic. Wikipedia wants unbiased, well-sourced
information about subjects that are notable

enough to appear in an encyclopedia. The site
rejects articles that promote or publicize

a business; advice – legal, medical or otherwise;
instructional material; travel guides; and

news items. Get ideas for topics by typing
WP:RA in the search box; a list of articles

requested by others will appear. Step 2. Make
sure you get the information for your article

from a credible, reliable source. Material
in books and newspapers is generally considered

reliable; the musings of bloggers are not.
And don't bother writing about yourself; it's

considered a conflict of interest. Detailed
instructions on the proper way to cite sources

can be found by typing WP:CITE into the search
box and hitting "Go." Step 3. Make sure Wikipedia

hasn't already published an article on your
exact subject by typing it into the site's

internal search engine. Search as many variations
of the topic name as you can think of, including

common misspellings of relevant terms. Click
"Search" to find Wikipedia articles that just

mention your subject. Step 4. Search the topic
on Google to see if it finds any Wikipedia

articles on your subject. Google sometimes
picks up postings that Wikipedia's own search

engine misses. Step 5. Become a registered
user to submit an article without first gaining

the site's approval. Having an account also
means you can create a user profile, receive

messages from other users, request notification
for changes made to articles, and, of course,

get credit for the articles you write. Click
on "create an account" at the top right of

any page. If you'd prefer not to register,
submit a proposal through Wikipedia's Articles

for Creation, an online review process that
provides feedback on your idea. Type WP:AFC

in a Search box and hit "Go." Step 6. Practice
writing an article by composing a draft in

the Sandbox, where you can familiarize yourself
with the site's editing tools. Get there by

typing WP:SB in the Search box and hitting,
"Go." Click "Help" in the toolbox to the left

of any page for guidance. Step 7. Type your
subject in a Search box and hit "Go." You've

already determined that no page with that
title exists. Click on your highlighted search

entry. You'll be redirected to a blank page
where you can begin writing your article.

Wikipedia editors may request more sources
from you after reviewing your article. Step

8. When your article is finished, hit "Show
Preview" to proofread your work and see how

it will appear on the site. When you're ready
to publish it, hit "Save Page." Congratulations!

You're a Wikipedian! Did you know Wikipedia
has published articles in more than 250 languages.