View source for Help:Your first article

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{{short description|Plain and simple overview of creating a new article}}
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<div class="help-yfa-learn-writing">Writing an article</div>
<div class="help-yfa-learn-how">Learn how you can create a Wikipedia article.</div>
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{{nutshell|
* 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.
* If you are [[WP:COI|connected to the topic]], don't write about it. Find another topic instead.
* Make sure there [[#Search for an existing article|isn't already an article]] about the topic.
* The article you write ''must'' include [[WP:INLINECITE|citations]] to the sources you used.
* Use your own words to write the article; you ''must not'' [[WP:COPYRIGHT|copy from sources]] word-for-word.
* Don't use [[WP:LLM|large language models]] (LLMs) to write original content.
}}

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| 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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'''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. We recommend looking at our [[Help:Introduction|introductory tutorials]] or [[Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia|contributing to Wikipedia]] to learn the basics about editing first. 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. 

Before creating your first article, it's highly recommended to practice in [[Special:MyPage/sandbox|your sandbox]]. Choose a topic supported by [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources|reliable]], [[Wikipedia:Independent sources|independent]] sources. Write in a neutral tone, avoid promotional language, and make sure all the information in the article is supported by your sources. If you're unsure, the [[WP:Article Wizard|Article Wizard]] can help guide you step-by-step through the process. Don't worry if it's not perfect—every experienced editor started with their first try!

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

==The basics==
{{Further|Wikipedia:Simplified ruleset|Wikipedia:Reliable sources|Wikipedia:Verifiability|Wikipedia:Citing sources|Help:Find sources}}

All new articles start by researching a topic using <strong>high-quality, published sources</strong>. Even if you're an expert on a topic, you can't just write what you know off the top of your head; 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]].

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.

==Before you start writing==
{{anchor|Are you closely connected to the article topic?}}
===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 ''must'' [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest|disclose your relationship]] and make sure that it is reviewed by another editor by submitting it via [[Wikipedia:Articles for creation|Articles for creation]]. 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]].

===Search for an existing article===
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{{Further|Help:Searching}}

The English Wikipedia already has {{Round|{{#expr:{{formatnum:{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}|R}}/1000000}}|2}} 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. 

<div class="YFA-search">
  <div class="YFA-search-top">Search for articles (or drafts) that already exist:</div>
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     type=search
     searchbuttonlabel=Search
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'''Note:''' Articles are in "Main" space, and drafts are in "Draft" space.
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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>.
{{anchor|Gathering references and establishing notability}}<!-- Previous title of section -->

===Gather sources===
{{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 just means the community hasn't evaluated it yet. 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]].

=== Notability – should this topic have an article? ===
{{IncGuide}}
{{Main|Wikipedia:Notability}}

Your topic ''must'' meet Wikipedia's criteria for having an article, which we call "[[Wikipedia:Notability|notability]]". 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]]. 

A notable topic is one that has <strong>multiple</strong> reliable sources that each meet <strong>all three</strong> of the following criteria:
*<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. Trivial mentions, such as 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 [[WP:SUBSTANTIAL|significant]] and [[WP:CORPTRIV|trivial]].

{{OOUI icon|icon=alert-destructive}} '''If your topic is not notable, stop here and find a new one.''' 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]].

===Look at similar articles ===
{{See also|Help:Introduction to the Manual of Style}}

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.

==Writing your draft ==
{{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!

===What editing tool to use===
[[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=]]
[[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 }}
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.
* [[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]].

[[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]].

Users of [[Help:Mobile access|mobile devices]] are automatically redirected to the [[Help:Mobile access#Official mobile version|official mobile version]] of Wikipedia. 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.
{{anchor|Create your draft}}

===Where to start writing===
{{Further|Wikipedia:Drafts|Wikipedia:About the sandbox}}

Where will you develop your draft? You have several options:
* 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.
* in [[WP:About the sandbox|your sandbox]]{{snd}}this is a page you can always easily find, by 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 [[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>

===How to create content===
{{Further|Help:Editing|WP:Neutral point of view|WP:Verifiability}}

Writing a Wikipedia article:
*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 [[WP:BACKWARD|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 an [[Help:Infobox|infobox]] at the top, or a [[Wikipedia:Stub|stub]] at the bottom, and [[Help:Categories|categories]] to your article.
*Avoid using [[WP:LLM|large language models]] ("AI") like [[ChatGPT]] to generate article content. These often produce inaccurate text, and sometimes make up fake sources and references. It is much better to write the article completely yourself - then you can be confident in what it says. Remember, you are responsible for the content you add.

=== Citing sources ===
{{Further|Wikipedia:Citing sources|Help:Find sources|Help:Referencing for beginners|Help:Introduction to referencing with VisualEditor}}
[[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.

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.

===Dos and don'ts===
{{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:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ {{sronly|Dos and don't}}
|-
! scope="col" style="width:54%" | Great ways to contribute
! scope="col" style="width:46%" | {{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. 
* <strong>Don't</strong> use <strong>[[WP:LLM|large language models]]</strong> (LLMs) to write original content.
|}

== 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 [[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===
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.
*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 ===
{{main|Wikipedia:Drafts#Moving drafts to mainspace}}
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]]. Articles published directly take longer to appear in external search engines, up to a maximum of [[Wikipedia:Controlling search engine indexing|90 days]].
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===Ask for a review===
{{Further|Wikipedia:Articles for creation}}
{{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.

===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!

{{anchor|Still need help?}}
==Help is available!==
<!-- Not recommending asking mentors through the mentorship module. See [[Special:Permalink/1236591037#Regarding mentorship questions]] for reasoning. -->
* The best place to ask for assistance is at the [[WP:Teahouse|Teahouse]], which is dedicated to answering newer editors' questions.
* 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]].
* {{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!
* Alternatively, you can ask a question via the <code>#help</code> channel at [[Wikipedia:Discord]] or [[IRC]] chat at the {{Freenode|wikipedia-en-help}} channel.
* Wiki Education offers a [[wikiedudashboard:training|library of training modules]] for new Wikipedia editors and students.

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[[Category:Wikipedia page help]]
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