How to Use Wikipedia As a New Contributor
Read the new contributors' help page., Look at the lists of Wikipedia policies and guidelines., Take the editing tutorial., Practice editing using the Sandbox., Look at Wikipedia's frequently asked questions (you can find them here.), Check out...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Read the new contributors' help page.
It provides useful information and help pages for Wikipedia beginners.
You can ask a knowledge question, question about editing at the Wikipedia teahouse and look at other ways to get help in the "Ways to Get Help" section. -
Step 2: Look at the lists of Wikipedia policies and guidelines.
They give you information on how Wikipedia works, and guidelines that you'll want to follow. , This tutorial will help you learn about editing Wikipedia.
This includes formatting articles, using Wikipedia talk pages and citing sources. , You can make edit you like, except for edits that misuse this practice page.
This includes adding copyrighted content without permission of the copyright holder, offensive content and harassment.
Repetitive misuse of the Sandbox will result in a block. , This way, if you have a question, you can get your answer without having to contact another editor. , This allows you to learn about certain things on Wikipedia, including WikiProjects and Barnstars.
It also provides more help with editing Wikipedia. , You will probably want to learn how to write your first article as a beginner on Wikipedia.
Consider writing articles in your userspace (as sub-pages to your user page) first.
This is where you can practice before you write an actual article, to see how article writing on Wikipedia works.
Make sure your article follows Wikipedia's notability guidelines.
That means you should be sure to use sources you can count on as citations
-- not just blogs, YouTube, etc.
You shouldn't only use websites
- try using an article on your subject or checking out books from the library.
Wikipedia expects these kinds of sources on articles.
Do not write articles about yourself, your friends, family, or certain jokes or other things you have with these people.
This kind of information will get deleted. -
Step 3: Take the editing tutorial.
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Step 4: Practice editing using the Sandbox.
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Step 5: Look at Wikipedia's frequently asked questions (you can find them here.)
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Step 6: Check out Wikipedia's community portal.
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Step 7: Learn how to write a new article.
Detailed Guide
It provides useful information and help pages for Wikipedia beginners.
You can ask a knowledge question, question about editing at the Wikipedia teahouse and look at other ways to get help in the "Ways to Get Help" section.
They give you information on how Wikipedia works, and guidelines that you'll want to follow. , This tutorial will help you learn about editing Wikipedia.
This includes formatting articles, using Wikipedia talk pages and citing sources. , You can make edit you like, except for edits that misuse this practice page.
This includes adding copyrighted content without permission of the copyright holder, offensive content and harassment.
Repetitive misuse of the Sandbox will result in a block. , This way, if you have a question, you can get your answer without having to contact another editor. , This allows you to learn about certain things on Wikipedia, including WikiProjects and Barnstars.
It also provides more help with editing Wikipedia. , You will probably want to learn how to write your first article as a beginner on Wikipedia.
Consider writing articles in your userspace (as sub-pages to your user page) first.
This is where you can practice before you write an actual article, to see how article writing on Wikipedia works.
Make sure your article follows Wikipedia's notability guidelines.
That means you should be sure to use sources you can count on as citations
-- not just blogs, YouTube, etc.
You shouldn't only use websites
- try using an article on your subject or checking out books from the library.
Wikipedia expects these kinds of sources on articles.
Do not write articles about yourself, your friends, family, or certain jokes or other things you have with these people.
This kind of information will get deleted.
About the Author
Jacqueline Ford
Brings years of experience writing about creative arts and related subjects.
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