How to Write a Wikipedia Page and Get It Approved
Follow a few simple guidelines to create a Wikipedia page and get published.
How to Get a Wikipedia Page Approved
Getting a Wikipedia page approved isn't as easy as it looks, but with this step-by-step article, you can be on your way to writing useful Wikipedia articles. You want to get on Wikipedia? Here I cover:
- Create a Wikipedia account
- Look for requested articles
- Making sure the article is needed
- Research
- Cite your sources
- Edit, edit, edit
- Publish an wait
Want the details? Read on.
1. Register Your Wikipedia Account
Become a registered user of Wikipedia. Registering an account with Wikipedia allows you to create a user profile, which has many benefits. For example, it enables you to receive messages from other users about changes made to your articles. Plus, you can get credit (non-financial) for your writing and contributions.
If, for whatever reason, you choose not to register, then try submitting an article proposal through Wikipedia’s Articles for Creation. Type “WP:AFT” in Wikipedia’s search box for more information on that.
2. Search for WP:RA in the Wikipedia Search Box
The Wikipedia search box appears at the top of every page of their website. There are different types of helpful search functions that you can type in the box. The search function "WP:RA" is useful for researching topics to write your Wikipedia article about.
- “WP” stands for “wiki” and “pedia.”
- “RA” stands for “requested articles” by other users.
Therefore, if you go to the search box on their website and type in “WP:RA” (without quotations), then it will bring up a number of requested article topics.
This is a great way to find a topic to write about because other people are looking for these kinds of articles specifically.
Thorough research makes for a strong WIkipedia article.
3. Avoid Rewriting and Double-Check That the Article Doesn't Exist
Before you create a Wikipedia page, be sure that Wikipedia hasn’t already published an article that you are thinking about writing.
In the site’s search box, type in your subject to see if any similar topics appear in their database. If your topic appears, then you’ll need to find another subject to write about that isn’t there already.
If the topic doesn’t appear in the Wikipedia search engine, there is a chance it may show up in Google. Search Google for the same subject matter and confirm that there isn't a Wikipedia article about the subject already.
If it doesn't appear in Google's index, then it is likely that it hasn't been published yet, and the topic is a good one to write about.
4. Research a Topic for Your Wikipedia Page
Before you create an article of your own, make sure that you have an appropriate topic that is well-sourced and unbiased.
Recommended
Your writing should be high quality and reach acceptable academic standards with proper references. It is essential that you include citations from relevant external sources.
Most importantly, make sure you do your research well in advance before writing anything. You want to be sure your Wikipedia articles are well-researched.
This may be obvious, but Wikipedia editors will reject articles that promote your personal business or website. This type of promotional content will most likely be flagged as spam.
Read the next steps below for a better understanding of what topics to write about and which ones to avoid.
5. Cite Your Sources Correctly
To create a Wikipedia page and have the article accepted, it is essential that you cite your sources from respected places. For instance, reliable references can come from published books, journals, and newspapers. Relying on external sources from personal blogs will appear far less credible and may not even be acceptable.
For more information about citing sources, type “WP:CITE” in Wikipedia’s search box. This will lead you to plenty of helpful tips and guidelines about referencing.
Finish editing and improving your Wikipedia article then submit it for review.
6. Use the Wikipedia Sandbox Editor
What does a sandbox have to do with writing Wikipedia articles? Everything.
Sandbox is the name of Wikipedia’s text editor that you use directly on their website to create and submit your articles. You could type your article in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, but you will eventually have to paste the content into Sandbox to submit it.