What to Avoid When Creating a Wikipedia Page: Key Mistakes to Sidestep

 Creating a Wikipedia page can be a powerful way to share information on a topic, a notable figure, or an organization. However, Wikipedia has rigorous standards that must be met to ensure that the content remains accurate, unbiased, and trustworthy. Unfortunately, many first-time creators make mistakes that result in page rejection, edits, or even deletion. Understanding these potential pitfalls can save time and help your page become a reliable part of the Wikipedia community.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most common errors people make when creating Wikipedia pages and how to avoid them. If you're new to Wikipedia editing, you might find this beginner’s guide on Wikipedia editing helpful as it provides practical tips and steps for getting started.

1. Avoid Using Non-Notable or Inadequate Sources

One of the primary reasons new Wikipedia pages are rejected is due to insufficient or unreliable sources. Wikipedia has strict rules regarding verifiability, which means every claim made on the platform should be supported by references to reliable, secondary sources.

What to Avoid:

• Using Primary Sources Only: Avoid relying solely on primary sources, such as press releases, company websites, or social media posts, as these sources are not considered independent or objective.
• Self-Published Sources: Wikipedia discourages self-published sources like personal blogs, social media, and personal websites unless the author is recognized as an expert on the topic.
• Non-Notable Publications: Avoid citing low-quality or obscure sources. Aim for well-regarded publications, academic journals, reputable news outlets, or books from notable publishers.

Best Practices:

• Conduct thorough research using high-quality, independent sources that provide in-depth information about the topic. Establish a foundation of references that showcase the subject’s notability.

2. Avoid Promotional Language and Bias

Wikipedia is not a platform for marketing, personal promotion, or public relations. The Wikipedia community highly values neutrality, requiring all articles to be written without bias.

What to Avoid:

• Promotional Tone: Avoid using language that praises or promotes. Wikipedia's guidelines emphasize neutrality, so all descriptions must be fact-based and objective.
• Unbalanced Views: Refrain from presenting only positive aspects of a subject, which may create a one-sided view. Address both sides, if applicable, to maintain neutrality.
• Puffery: Words like “leading,” “revolutionary,” or “groundbreaking” should be avoided unless they are directly supported by reputable sources.

Best Practices:

• Keep language neutral and professional. Focus on facts rather than opinions or subjective statements. If negative information is relevant and well-sourced, include it to balance the page's viewpoint.

3. Avoid Using Original Research

Wikipedia does not permit original research or unpublished facts. All information added to Wikipedia must be sourced from published material by reputable authors or organizations.

What to Avoid:

• Personal Analysis: Refrain from adding personal opinions or analyses that aren’t backed by sources.
• Unverified Claims: Avoid including information that is unverifiable or lacks a reliable source.

Best Practices:

• Stick to adding information from reputable sources. Every claim or piece of data should be traceable to a published reference, keeping Wikipedia a reliable source for general knowledge.

4. Avoid Creating Pages Without Understanding Notability Guidelines

Wikipedia’s notability guidelines ensure that only subjects of public interest or significance are included. Each page must meet the platform’s notability requirements to be published.

What to Avoid:

• Obscure Topics: Avoid creating pages on subjects that lack sufficient coverage in reliable sources. If there isn’t enough information on the topic available, it may not yet meet Wikipedia’s standards.
• New or Emerging Topics: Wikipedia generally prefers topics that have had sustained attention over time. Pages about new companies, people, or events might not meet the notability threshold.

Best Practices:

• Review Wikipedia’s notability guidelines before creating a page. Make sure the topic is well-covered by reliable sources and has a level of significance recognized by independent sources.

5. Avoid Overlinking or Using Excessive Internal Links

While linking to other Wikipedia articles can be helpful, overlinking can clutter the page and detract from readability.

What to Avoid:

• Unnecessary Links: Avoid linking common terms or overly generic topics. Only link to articles that add real context or depth to the subject.
• Excessive Linking: Too many internal links can make an article look cluttered and unprofessional.

Best Practices:

• Use links sparingly and only when they contribute to the reader’s understanding. Quality over quantity applies to links as well.

6. Avoid Ignoring Formatting and Style Guidelines

Wikipedia has specific guidelines on how to format and style pages. Ignoring these can lead to a page appearing unprofessional and difficult to navigate.

What to Avoid:

• Improper Use of Headings: Avoid creating overly complicated heading structures. Use only the necessary headings to break up information logically.
• Lack of Consistency: Inconsistent formatting, such as varied font styles or alignment, can make a page appear disjointed.
• Wall of Text: Avoid large, unbroken paragraphs as these can be hard for readers to follow.

Best Practices:

• Familiarize yourself with Wikipedia’s Manual of Style to ensure consistent formatting. Break up text into digestible sections and use subheadings where appropriate.

7. Avoid Creating Conflicts of Interest (COI)

A conflict of interest arises when the page creator has a personal or financial interest in the subject. Wikipedia has strict rules on COI editing to prevent biased contributions.

What to Avoid:

• Editing Your Own Biography: Wikipedia discourages self-editing or creating pages about oneself or close connections.
• Corporate Edits: Employees creating or editing pages about their company can lead to biased content.

Best Practices:

• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest on the Talk Page and refrain from editing directly if possible. Instead, suggest edits to neutral editors.

8. Avoid Poor Citation Practices

Citations are a cornerstone of Wikipedia’s reliability, so it’s essential to handle them correctly.

What to Avoid:

• Improper Citation Format: Wikipedia has specific citation formats, and deviating from these can make an article look inconsistent.
• Outdated Sources: Avoid relying on outdated sources, especially for topics that evolve rapidly.

Best Practices:

• Use reliable, up-to-date references. Wikipedia prefers specific citation styles (e.g., using inline citations), so ensure you are familiar with these.

9. Avoid Ignoring the Talk Page

Wikipedia articles come with a Talk Page, a space for editors to discuss changes, suggestions, or concerns. Ignoring this page can result in misunderstandings or missed feedback.

What to Avoid:

• Neglecting Discussion: Avoid ignoring feedback or discussions on the Talk Page.
• Disregarding Consensus: Wikipedia decisions are often made by community consensus, so it’s important to consider the perspectives shared by other editors.

Best Practices:

• Regularly check the Talk Page for feedback or suggestions from other editors, and contribute constructively to the conversation.

10. Avoid Violating Copyright

Wikipedia enforces strict copyright rules, so content must be original or sourced from public domain or freely licensed material.

What to Avoid:

• Copying Text: Avoid copying text verbatim from other sources, as this can lead to copyright violations.
• Using Copyrighted Images: Wikipedia only accepts freely licensed images or those in the public domain.

Best Practices:

• Use your own words and verify that all images used meet Wikipedia’s licensing requirements.

Conclusion

Creating a Wikipedia page is a rewarding but challenging process that requires adherence to Wikipedia’s content, style, and notability guidelines. By avoiding the mistakes mentioned here—such as using unreliable sources, adding biased information, neglecting proper formatting, and disregarding Wikipedia's notability standards—you’ll have a stronger chance of publishing a page that adds lasting value to the platform.

Taking the time to familiarize yourself with the best practices and avoiding these common pitfalls will help ensure your Wikipedia page has the quality and credibility that Wikipedia values. Remember, each Wikipedia page contributes to a global knowledge repository, and creating accurate, well-sourced content makes Wikipedia a more valuable resource for everyone.