Wikipedia:Five pillars
Wikipedia is an encyclopedia
Wikipedia combines many features of general and specializedencyclopedias,almanacs,andgazetteers.Wikipedia is notasoapbox,anadvertising platform,asocial network,avanity press,an experiment inanarchyordemocracy,anindiscriminate collection of information,nor a webdirectory.It is not adictionary,anewspaper,nor a collection ofsource documents,although some of itsfellow Wikimedia projectsare.
Wikipedia is written from a neutral point of view
We strive for articles with an impartial tone thatdocument and explain major points of view,givingdue weightfor their prominence. We avoidadvocacy,and we characterize information and issues rather than debate them. In some areas there may be just one well-recognized point of view; in others, we describe multiple points of view, presenting each accurately and in context rather than as "the truth" or "the best view". Allarticlesmust strive forverifiable accuracywithcitationsbased onreliable sources,especially when the topic is controversial or is abouta living person.Editors'personal experiences, interpretations, or opinionsdo not belong on Wikipedia.
Wikipedia is free content that anyone can use, edit, and distribute
All editorsfreely license their work to the public,and no editorowns an article– any contributions can and may bemercilessly editedandredistributed.Respectcopyrightlaws and neverplagiarizefrom any sources. Borrowingnon-free mediais sometimes allowed asfair use,but editors should strive to find free alternatives first.
Wikipedia's editors should treat each other with respect and civility
Respect your fellow Wikipedians,even when you disagree. Apply Wikipediaetiquette,and do not engage inpersonal attacksoredit wars.Seekconsensus,andnever disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point.Act in good faith, andassume good faithon the part of others. Be open andwelcoming to newcomers.Should conflicts arise, discuss them calmly on the appropriatetalk pages,followdispute resolution procedures,and consider that there are 6,854,295 other articles on the English Wikipedia to improve and discuss.
Wikipedia has no firm rules
Wikipedia haspolicies and guidelines,but they are not carved in stone; their content and interpretation canevolve over time.The principles and spirit matter more than literal wording, and sometimes improving Wikipedia requiresmaking exceptions.Be bold,but notreckless,in updating articles. Anddo not agonize over making mistakes:they can be corrected easily because(almost) every past version of each article is saved.
