Wikipedia:Example cruft

Encyclopedia articles are a summary of accepted knowledge on a given subject. In making an appropriate summary, this will involve describing theories and observations that come from mainstream scholarship and news. Naturally, every theory can be demonstrated with a list of examples or counter-examples. However, this tends to make articles less readable and reliable, as discussing too many example, or discussing an example with irrelevant detail, will take the article further from its original point.

Writing about examples of the phenomenon

One, or at most a few examples about the subject matter under discussion, should suffice. Examples help readers expand their understanding of a concept, and typifying it. Before adding yet another example, ask yourself, will it help readers unravel the many facets of the concept or will it drag them into needless details specific only to that example, thus deviating from the central theme of the concept.

If the number of examples in an article becomes too many, consider pruning them, or creating a separate list at the bottom of the article. In cases where the list of examples as a whole has verifiable cultural significance, consider creating a separate article.

Writing about exceptions to the phenomenon

Any theory or phenomenon lacking a reliable source directly supporting may be removed. But avoid removing theories attributed to a reliable sources without discussing it first.

A theory that appears in many reliable sources should never be removed, even if that theory is not 100% true. The standard for inclusion in Wikipedia is verifiability, not truth. Rather than engaging in original research by trying to invalidate a theory you disagree with, look for criticism of that theory from reliable sources on the subject. It is always preferable to describe an alternative explanation from a reliable source, rather than synthesizing a thousand counter-examples.

Balancing coverage of a phenomenon with intelligent criticism is a part of creating a neutral encyclopedia. However, counter-examples and criticisms that come from sources that are unreliable or thoroughly discredited should be removed. Wikipedia is not a compilation of every fringe theory or opinion piece about a subject. Treat each perspective on a topic with proportional weight.

See also

Essays

• Wikipedia:Systemic bias
• Wikipedia:Overlistification
• Wikipedia:Writing better articles

Policies and guidelines

• WP:SYNTHESIS
• WP:WEIGHT
• Wikipedia:Manual of Style (lists)
• Wikipedia:Fringe theories

Tempates

• Template:Example farm