Wikipedia:Quick tutorial (historical)
However, you might be wondering how to edit Wikipedia. This guide will teach you how in ten minutes.
I: Edit
Wikipedia editing is easy; you don't even have to be a registered user (although you may want to). There are three steps:
Step I: Click the Edit tab
On the article you wish to edit, click the Edit tab on the top-right corner. Note that some articles may only be editable by established registered users, but you can edit the vast majority of articles.
Step II: Make your edits
After clicking the tab, you will be directed to a page that allows you to change the content of the page. Before the implementation of VisualEditor, editors had to deal with complex syntax, but now, you will be redirected to a WYSIWYG editor similar to a word processor. Formatting, heading, and linking are available at the top of the editing interface.
However, since VisualEditor isn't available on talk pages (more on that later), you may want to learn basic formatting:
| Formatting | You get |
|---|---|
'''Bold text''' |
Bold text |
''Italic text'' |
Italic text |
[http://example.com Example] |
Example |
[[Nature (journal)|''Nature'']] |
Nature |
[[File:Example.jpg|thumbnail|caption]] |
 |
<ref>Example footnote</ref> |
[1] |
Step III: Save
Once you are finished, click Show preview to see what the changes would look like, enter a descriptive edit summary, then click Save page. Be bold! Don't be afraid to save and don't agonize about making mistakes; edits can be undone at any time.
II: Discuss
You know how to edit articles, but how about discussing edits with other Wikipedians? Wikipedia facilitates such discussions using article talk pages (for discussing individual articles) and user talk pages (for contacting users). On the top of an article of user, click Talk to be directed to the corresponding talk page. Add new comments by editing a section directly (there is a Edit section link for every section), start a new discussion by clicking New section on the top of the page. Reply to discussions by indenting; one colon per indent at the beginning of a comment:
- : One
- :: Two
- ::: Three
- :: Two
Remember to sign your comments; add ~~~~ to the end of every comment.
III: Keep in mind
On Wikipedia, editors must respect policies and guidelines documenting community consensus. Here are the main ones to consider while editing:
- Verifiability: All statements that are likely to be challenged must be attributed to a reliable, published source. Reliable sources have a good reputation for accuracy. The goal here is verifiability; readers must be able to ensure that statements come from a source that they can trust. Academic articles, news, and books are commonly reliable sources. Blogs, comments made on social networks, and sensational sources are often unreliable. While a lightweight statement can cite a lightweight sources, extraordinary statements require extraordinary sources.
- Neutral point of view: When reliable sources disagree with each other, we don't cite sources that take our personal viewpoints; we represent them fairly and without bias. Cover viewpoints, giving weight according to how widely they are held; the most minor viewpoints need not be covered. Simply put, don't take viewpoints, explain them.
- No original research: Verifiability is important; readers should be able to verify statements that they challenge. Refrain from adding your own research or ideas, even if you think it comes attached with a convincing proof; they are not verifiable, and readers can't immediately trust your research.
- Civility: Wikipedia is edited by volunteers. Many volunteers. It is important to respect fellow editors; comment on content, not the contributor; don't begrudge other editors; and harassment and other incivil actions don't belong here.
- Notability: Any registered editor can create articles; just navigate to the title of the new article you wish to create (use the search bar). However, since Wikipedia can't cover every topic, only topics that outside reliable sources have already deemed important to cover can be covered on Wikipedia. In general, only topics that have been covered, not just mentioned, by multiple reliable sources can be covered.
- ^ Example footnote