Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not

"WP:NOT" and "WP:!" redirect here. For other uses of "WP:NOT", seeWikipedia:Not (disambiguation).For other uses of! in Wikipedia jargon, seeWikipedia:Glossary.For the Department of Fun, seeWP:¡.

Wikipediais afreeonlineencyclopedia.The amount of information on Wikipedia is practically unlimited, but Wikipedia does not aim to contain all knowledge. What to exclude is determined by anonline communitycommitted to building a high-quality encyclopedia. These exclusions are summarized asthings that Wikipedia isnot.

Style and format

Wikipedia is not a paper encyclopedia

Print Wikipedia

Wikipedia is not a paper encyclopedia, but a digital encyclopedia project.There is no practical limit to the number of topics Wikipedia can cover, or the total amount of content.

However, there is an important distinction between whatcanbe done, and whatshouldbe done, which is covered under§ Encyclopedic content.Consequently, this policy is not a free pass for inclusion: articles must abide bypolicies,particularly those covered in thefive pillars.

Editors should limit individual articles to a reasonable size to keep them accessible (seeWikipedia:Article size). Splitting long articles signals a natural growth of a topic (seeWikipedia:Summary style). Print encyclopedias can cover most topics only in short, static articles, but Wikipedia can include more information, provide more external links, and update more quickly.

Encyclopedic content

Information should not be included solely because it is true or useful. An article should not be a complete presentation of all possible details, but asummaryof accepted knowledge regarding its subject.Verifiable and sourced statements should be treated withappropriate weight.Although there are debates about the encyclopedic merits of several classes of entries, consensus is that the following are good examples of what Wikipedia is not. The examples under each section are not exhaustive.

Wikipedia is not a dictionary

Main page:Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not a dictionary

No, it isn't part of Wikipedia.

Wikipedia is not a dictionary, or a usage or jargon guide. For a wiki thatisa dictionary, visit our sister projectWiktionary.Missing dictionary definitions should be contributed there. Wikipedia articles are not:

1. Definitions.Articles should begin with agood definitionor description, but articles that contain nothing more than a definition should be expanded with additional encyclopedic content. If they cannot be expanded, Wikipedia is not the place for them. In some cases, however, the definition of a word may be an encyclopedic subject, such as thedefinition ofplanet.
2. Dictionary entries.Encyclopedia articles are about a person, or a group, a concept, a place, a thing, an event, etc. In some cases, a word or phrase itself may be an encyclopedic subject, such asMacedonia (terminology)ortruthiness.Articles almost always focus on a single definition or usage of the title. Articles about the cultural or mathematical significance of individualnumbersare also acceptable.
3. Usage, slang, or idiom guides.Descriptive articles about languages, dialects, or types of slang (such asKlingon language,Cockney,orLeet) are desirable. Prescriptive guides for prospective speakers of such languages are not. See§ Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journalbelow. For a wiki thatisa collection of textbooks, visit our sister projectWikibooks.Considertranswiki-ingsuch content there.

Wikipedia is not a publisher of original thought

"WP:FORUM" redirects here. You may be looking forWikipedia:Verifiability § Self-published sources,Wikipedia:Forum shoppingorWikipedia:Village pump.

Editors will try to answer relevant questions on talk and Wikipedia pages, but they are not here to fix your broken toaster.

Wikipedia is not a place to publish your own thoughts and analyses or new information. Per thepolicy on original research,do not use Wikipedia for any of the following:

1. Primary (original) research,such as proposing theories and solutions, communicating original ideas, offering novel definitions of terms, coining new words, etc. If you have completed primary research on a topic, your results should be published in other venues, such aspeer-reviewedjournals, other printed forms,open research,or respected online publications. Wikipedia can report your work after it is published and becomes part of accepted knowledge; however,citationsofreliable sourcesare needed to demonstrate that such material isverifiable,and not merely the editor'sopinion.
2. Personal inventions.If you or a friend invented a drinking game, a new type of dance move, or even the wordfrindle,it is notnotable enoughto be given an article until multiple, independent, and reliable secondary sources report on it. AndWikipedia iscertainlynot for things made up one day.
3. Personal essaysthat state your feelings about a topic (rather than the opinions of experts). Although Wikipedia is supposed to compile human knowledge, it is not a vehicle to make personal opinions become part of such knowledge. In the unusual situation where the opinions of an individual are important enough to discuss, let other people write about them. (Personal essays on Wikipedia-related topics are welcome in your user namespace or on theMeta-wiki.)
4. Discussion forums.Stay on the task of creating an encyclopedia. You can chat with people about Wikipedia-related topics on their user talk pages, and should resolve problems with articles on the relevanttalk pages,but do not take discussion into articles. In addition, bear in mind that article talk pages exist solely to discuss how to improve articles; they are not for general discussion about the subject of the article, nor are they a help desk for obtaining instructions or technical assistance. Material unsuitable for talk pages may be subject to removal per thetalk page guidelines.If you wish to ask a specific question on a topic, Wikipedia has aReference desk;questions should be asked there rather than on talk pages. However, these should be used for questions of reasonable academic interest; Wikipedia does not serve as a technical help line or customer support for products or companies that have articles.

Wikipedia is not a soapbox or means of promotion

"WP:PROMOTION" redirects here. For other pages about advertising and promotion, seeWikipedia:Advertising.

"WP:SOAP" redirects here. For the Soap Operas WikiProject, seeWikipedia:WikiProject Soap Operas.

But Wikipedia isn't doing it on thisbillboard.

Wikipedia is not asoapbox,abattleground,or a vehicle forpropaganda,advertising and showcasing. This applies tousernames,articles, drafts, categories, files, talk page discussions, templates, and user pages. Therefore, content hosted on Wikipedia is not for:

1. Advocacy,propaganda, or recruitmentof any kind: commercial, political, scientific, religious, national, sports-related, or otherwise. An article can report objectivelyaboutsuch things, as long as an attempt is made to describe the topic from aneutral point of view.You might wish to start ablogor visit aforumif you want to convince people of the merits of your opinions.
2. Opinion pieces.Although some topics, particularly those concerningcurrent affairsand politics, may stir passions and tempt people to "climb soapboxes", Wikipedia is not the medium for this. Articles must be balanced to put entries, especially for current events, in a reasonable perspective, and represent aneutral point of view.Furthermore, Wikipedia authors should strive to write articles that will not quickly become obsolete. Wikipedia's sister projectWikinews,however, has "opinion" pages allowing commentary on articles.
3. Scandalmongering,promoting things "heard through the grapevine" orgossiping.Articles and contentabout living peopleare required to meet an especially high standard, as they may otherwise belibellousor infringe the subjects'right to privacy.Articles must not be written purely toattack the reputation of another person.
4. Self-promotion.It can be tempting towrite about yourselfor projects in which you have a strong personal involvement. However, remember that the standards for encyclopedic articles apply to such pages just like any other. This includes the requirement to maintain a neutral point of view, which can be difficult when writing about yourself or about projects close to you. Creating overly abundant links and references to autobiographical sources, such as yourrésumé or curriculum vitae,is unacceptable. SeeWikipedia:Autobiography,Wikipedia:NotabilityandWikipedia:Conflict of interest.
5. Advertising, marketing, publicity, or public relations.Information about companies and products must be written in anobjective and unbiased style,free ofpuffery.All article topics must beverifiablewithindependent,third-party sources, so articles about very smallgarage bandsor local companies are typically unacceptable. Wikipedia articles about a person, company, or organization are not an extension of their website, press releases, or othersocial media marketingefforts.External linksto commercial organizations are acceptable if they identifynotableorganizations which are the topic of the article. Wikipedia neither endorses organizations nor runs affiliate programs. See alsoWikipedia:Notability (organizations and companies)for guidelines on corporate notability. Those promoting causes or events, or issuingpublic service announcements,even if noncommercial, should use a forum other than Wikipedia to do so. Contributors mustdisclose any payments they receivefor editing Wikipedia. See alsoWikipedia:Conflict of interest § Paid editing.

Non-disruptive statements of opinion on internal Wikipedia policies and guidelines may be made on user pages and within theWikipedia:namespace,as they are relevant to the current and future operation of the project. However, articletalk pagesshould not be used by editors as platforms for their personal views on a subject (seeWikipedia:Talk page guidelines).

Wikipedia is not a mirror or a repository of links, images, or media files

Wikipedia is neither amirrornor arepositoryof links, images, or media files.Wikipedia articles are not merely collections of:

1. External linksorInternet directories.There is nothing wrong with adding relevant, useful links to the external links section of an article; however, excessive lists can dwarf articles and detract from the purpose of Wikipedia. On articles about topics with many fansites, for example, including a link to one major fansite may be appropriate. SeeWikipedia:External linksfor some guidelines.
2. Internal links,except fordisambiguationpages when an article title is ambiguous, and forlistsfor browsing or to assist with article organization and navigation; for these, please follow relevant guidance atWikipedia:Manual of Style/Lists,Wikipedia:Stand-alone lists.
3. Public domainor other source materialsuch as entire books or source code, original historical documents, letters, laws, proclamations, and other source material that are useful only when presented with their original, unmodified wording. Complete copies of primary sources may go intoWikisource,but not on Wikipedia.Public domain resourcessuch as the1911Encyclopædia Britannicamay be used to add content to an article (seePlagiarism guideline: Public-domain sourcesfor guidelines on doing so). See alsoWikipedia:Do not include the full text of lengthy primary sourcesandWikisource's inclusion policy.
4. Photographs or media fileswith no accompanying text. If you are interested in presenting a picture, please provide an encyclopedic context, or consider adding it toWikimedia Commons.If a picture comes from a public domain source on a website, then consider adding it toWikipedia:Images with missing articlesorWikipedia:Public domain image resources.

Wikipedia is not a blog, web hosting service, social networking service, or memorial site

"WP:MEMORIAL" and "WP:HOST" redirect here. For a list of deceased Wikipedians, seeWikipedia:Deceased Wikipedians.For ownership of content, seeWikipedia:Ownership of content.

Further information:Wikipedia:User pagesandWikipedia:Alternative outlets

Wikipedia is not asocial networking servicelikeFacebook,TwitterorInstagram,nor asocial-network game.It is not a place to host your ownwebsite,blog,wiki,résumé,orcloud.Wikipedia pages,including those inuser space,are not:

1. Personal web pages.Wikipedianshave individual user pages, but they should be used primarily to present information relevant to work on the encyclopedia.Limited autobiographical informationis allowed, but user pages do not serve as personal webpages, blogs, or repositories for large amounts of material irrelevant to collaborating on Wikipedia. If you want to post your résumé or make a personal webpage, please use one of the many free providers on the Internet or any hosting included with yourInternet service provider.The focus of user pagesshould notbesocial networkingoramusement,but rather providing a foundation for effectivecollaboration.Humorous pagesthat refer to Wikipedia in some way may be created in an appropriatenamespace.Personal web pages are oftenspeedily deletedunder criterionU5.Wikipedia articles use formal English and arenot written in Internet posting style.
2. File storageareas.Please upload onlyfilesthat are used (or could be used) in encyclopedia articles or project pages; anything else (e.g., personal photos) will be deleted. Ideally, freely licensed files should be uploaded toWikimedia Commons,where they can be linked from Wikipedia.
3. Dating services.Wikipedia is not an appropriate place to pursue relationships or sexual encounters. User pages that move beyond broad expressions of sexual orientation are unacceptable.
4. Memorials.Subjects of encyclopedia articles must satisfyWikipedia's notability requirements.Wikipedia is not the place to memorialize deceased friends, relatives, acquaintances, or others whodo not meet such requirements.(WP:RIPis excluded from this rule.)
5. Content for projects unrelated to Wikipedia.Do not store material unrelated to Wikipedia, including in userspace. Please seeWP:UPNOTfor examples of what may not be included.

If you are interested in using the wiki technology for a collaborative effort on something else, even just a single page, many free and commercial sites provide wiki hosting. You can also install wiki software on your own server. See theinstallation guideat MediaWiki.org for information on doing this.

You do not own your userpage.It is a part of Wikipedia, and exists to make collaboration among Wikipedians easier, not for self-promotion.

Wikipedia is not a directory

"WP:DIRECTORY" and "WP:NOTSALE" redirect here. For a listing of Wikipedia's directories and indexes, seeWikipedia:Directory.For "adminship is not for sale" essay, seeWP:ANOT § SALE.

See also:Wikipedia:Manual of Style/ListsandWikipedia:Stand-alone lists

Nuh-uh

Wikipedia encompasses many lists of links to articles within Wikipedia that are used for internal organization or to describe a notable subject. In that sense, Wikipedia functions as an index or directory of its own content. However, Wikipedia is not a directory of everything in the universe that exists or has existed. Please seeWikipedia:Alternative outletsfor alternatives. Wikipedia articles are not:

1. Simple listingswithoutcontextual informationshowing encyclopedic merit. Listings such as thewhiteoryellow pagesshould not be replicated. SeeWP:LISTCRITERIAfor more information.
2. Lists or repositories of loosely associated topicssuch as (but not limited to) quotations,aphorisms,or persons (real or fictional). If you want to enter lists of quotations, put them into our sister projectWikiquote.Of course, there is nothing wrong with havinglistsif their entries are relevantbecausethey are associated with or significantly contribute to the list topic. Wikipedia also includes reference tables and tabular information for quick reference.Merged groups of small articlesbased on a core topic are permitted. (SeeWikipedia:Stand-alone lists § Appropriate topics for listsfor clarification.)
3. Non-encyclopedic cross-categorizations,such as "people from ethnic / cultural / religious group X employed by organization Y" or "restaurants specializing in food type X in city Y". Cross-categories such as these are not considered a sufficient basis for creating an article, unless the intersection of those categories is in some way a culturally significant phenomenon. See alsoWikipedia:Overcategorizationfor this issue in categories.
4. Genealogical entries.Family histories should be presented only where appropriate to support the reader's understanding of anotabletopic.
5. Electronic program guides.An article on a broadcaster should not list upcoming events, current promotions, current schedules,format clocks,etc., although mention of major events, promotions or historically significant program lists and schedules may be acceptable.
6. A resource for conducting business.Neither articles nor their associated talk pages are for conducting the business of the topic of the article. Listings to be avoided include, but are not limited to: business alliances, clients, competitors, employees (except CEOs, supervisory directors and similar top functionaries), equipment, estates, offices, store locations, contact information, patent filings, products and services, sponsors, subdivisions and tourist attractions. An article should not include product pricing or availability information (which can vary widely with time and location) unless there is an independentsourceandencyclopedic significance for the mention, which may be indicated by mainstream media sources or books (not justproduct reviews) providing commentary on these details instead of just passing mention. Wikipedia is not aprice comparison serviceto compare prices and availability of competing products or a single product from different vendors. Lists of creative works are permitted. Thus, for example, Wikipedia should not include a list of all books published byHarperCollins,but may include a bibliography of books written by HarperCollins authorVeronica Roth.

Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journal

It's a cookbook!(But Wikipediais not)

Wikipediais an encyclopedic reference,not an instruction manual, guidebook, or textbook. Wikipedia articles should not read like:

1. Instruction manuals and cookbooks:while Wikipedia has descriptions of people, places and things, anarticleshould not read like a "how-to" styleowner's manual,cookbook,advice column(legal,medicalor otherwise) orsuggestion box.This includes tutorials, instruction manuals, game guides, and recipes. Describing to the reader how people or things use or do something is encyclopedic; instructing the reader in theimperative moodabout how to use or do something is not.Wording can easily be modified to avoid advising the reader:Do not give aspirin...⇒The WHO advises against the use of aspirin....Such guides may be welcome atWikibooksinstead.
2. Travel guides:an article onParisshould mention landmarks, such as theEiffel Towerand theLouvre,but not the telephone numbers or street addresses of the"best"restaurants, nor the current price of a café au lait on theChamps-Élysées.Wikipedia is not the place to recreate content more suited to entries in hotel or culinary guides, travelogues, and the like. Notable locations may meet the inclusion criteria, but the resulting articles need not include every tourist attraction, restaurant, hotel or venue, etc. While travel guides for a city will often mention distant attractions, a Wikipedia article for a city should list only those that are actually in the city. If youdowish to help write a travel guide, your contributions would be more than welcome at our sister project,Wikivoyage.
3. Game guides:an article about a game should briefly summarize the story and the main actions the player performs in the game. Avoid lists of gameplay concepts and items unless these are notable as discussed in secondary sources in their own right in gaming context (such as theBFGfrom theDoomseries). A concise summary of gameplay details (specific point values, achievements, time-limits, levels, types of enemies, etc.) is appropriate if it is essential to understanding the game or its significance in the industry, but walk-throughs and detailed coverage are not. See alsoWP:WAFandWP:VGSCOPE.As ofa 2021 decision to start allowing them,such guides may be welcome atWikibooksinstead.
4. Internet guides:Wikipedia articles should not existonlyto describe the nature, appearance or services a website offers, but should also describe the site in anencyclopedic manner,offering detail on a website's achievements, impact or historical significance, which can be kept significantly more up-to-date than most reference sources, since editors can incorporate new developments and facts as they are made known. See theCurrent events portalfor examples.
5. FAQs:Wikipedia articles should not listfrequently asked questions(FAQs). Instead, format the information as neutral prose within the appropriate article(s).
6. Textbooks and annotated texts:the purpose of Wikipedia is tosummarizeaccepted knowledge, not to teach subject matter. Articles should not read liketextbooks,with leading questions and systematic problem solutions as examples. These belong on our sister projects, such asWikibooks,Wikisource,andWikiversity.However, examples intended toinformrather than toinstruct,may be appropriate for inclusion in Wikipedia articles.
7. Scientific journals:a Wikipedia article should not be presented on the assumption that the reader is well-versed in the topic's field. Article titles should reflectcommon usage,not academic terminology, whenever possible. Introductory language in thelead(and sometimes the initial sections) of the article should be written in plain terms and concepts that can be understood by any literate reader of Wikipedia without any knowledge in the given field before advancing to more detailed explanations of the topic. Whilewikilinksshould be provided for advanced terms and concepts in that field, articles should be written on the assumption that the reader will not or cannot follow these links, instead attempting to infer their meaning from the text. SeeWikipedia:Manual of Style/Linking.Publishing such scientific articles may be more appropriate forWikiJournalin Wikiversity.
8. Case studies:many topics are based on the relationship offactor Xtofactor Y,resulting in one or more full articles. For example, this could refer tosituation Xinlocation Y,orversion Xofitem Y.This is perfectly acceptable when the two variables put together represent some culturally significant phenomenon or some otherwise notable interest. Often, separate articles are needed for a subject within a range of different countries, due to substantial differences across international borders; articles such as "Slate industry in Wales"are fitting examples. Writing about"Oak trees in North Carolina"or"Blue trucks",however, would likely constitute aPOV forkororiginal research,and would certainly not result in an encyclopedic article.

Wikipedia is not a crystal ball

...but Wikipedia does not.

Wikipedia is not a collection ofunverifiablespeculation, rumors, or presumptions. Wikipedia does not predict the future. All articles about anticipated events must be verifiable, and the subject matter must be of sufficiently wide interest that it would merit an article if the event had already occurred. Itisappropriate to report discussion and arguments about the prospects for success of future proposals and projects or whether some development will occur, if discussion is properly referenced. It isnotappropriate for editors to inserttheir own opinions or analyses.Predictions, speculation, forecasts and theories stated by reliable, expert sources or recognized entities in a field may be included, though editors should be aware of creatingundue biasto any specific point-of-view. In forward-looking articles about unreleased products, such as films and games, take special care to avoidadvertisingand unverified claims (for films, seeWP:NFF). In particular:

1. Individualscheduled or expected future eventsshould be included only if the event is notable and almost certain to take place. Dates arenot definiteuntil the event actually takes place, as even otherwise-notable events can be cancelled or postponed at the last minute by a major incident. If preparation for the event is not already in progress, speculation about it must be well documented. Examples of appropriate topics include the2028 U.S. presidential electionand2032 Summer Olympics.By comparison, the2044 U.S. presidential electionand2048 Summer Olympicsare not appropriate article topics if nothing can be said about them that is verifiable and not original research. Avoid predicted sports team line-ups, which are inherently unverifiable and speculative. A schedule of future events may be appropriate if it can be verified. As an exception, even highly speculative articles about events that may or may not occur far in the futuremightbe appropriate, where coverage in reliable sources is sufficient. For example, theultimate fate of the universeis an acceptable topic.
2. Individual items from apredetermined list or a systematic pattern of names,pre-assigned to future events or discoveries, are not suitable article topics, if only generic information is known about the item.Lists of tropical cyclone namesis encyclopedic; "Tropical Storm Andrea (2025)"is not, even though it is virtually certain that such a storm will occur. Similarly, articles aboutwords formed on a predictable numeric system(such as "septenquinquagintillion") are not encyclopedic unless they are defined on good authority, or genuinely in use. Certain scientific extrapolations are considered to be encyclopedic, such aschemical elements documented before isolation in the laboratory,provided that scientists have made significant non-trivial predictions of their properties.
3. Articles that present original research in the form ofextrapolation, speculation, and "future history"are inappropriate. Although scientific and cultural norms continually evolve, we must wait for this evolution to happen, rather than try to predict it. Of course, we do and should have articlesaboutnotableartistic works, essays, or credible researchthat embody predictions. An article onweapons inStar Trekis appropriate; an article on "Weapons to be used in World War III"is not.
4. Although currently accepted scientific paradigms may later be rejected, and hypotheses previously held to be controversial or incorrect sometimes become accepted by the scientific community, it is not the place of Wikipedia to venture such projections.
5. Wikipedia is not a collection of product announcements and rumors.Although Wikipedia includes up-to-date knowledge about newly revealed products, short articles that consist of only product announcement information and rumors are not appropriate. Until such time that more encyclopedic knowledge about the product can be verified, product announcements should be merged to a larger topic (such as an article about the creator(s), a series of products, or a previous product) if applicable.

Wikipedia is not a newspaper

See also:Wikipedia:Notability (events),Wikipedia:Too much detail,andWikipedia:Wikipedia is not a newspaper

Extra! Extra!Wikipedia is nota newspaper!

Editors are encouraged to include current and up-to-date information within its coverage, and to develop stand-alone articles on significant current events. However, not all verifiable events are suitable for inclusion in Wikipedia. Ensure that Wikipedia articles are not:

1. Original reporting.Wikipedia should not offer first-hand news reports on breaking stories. Wikipedia does not constitute aprimary source.However, our sister projectsWikisourceandWikinewsdo exactly that, andareintended to be primary sources. Wikipedia does have manyencyclopedia articleson topics of historical significance that are currently in the news, and can be updated with recentlyverifiedinformation.
2. News reports.Wikipedia considers the enduringnotabilityof persons and events. While news coverage can be useful source material for encyclopedic topics, most newsworthy events do not qualify for inclusion and Wikipedia is not written innews style.For example, routine news coverage of announcements, events, sports, or celebrities, while sometimes useful, is not by itself a sufficient basis for inclusion of the subject of that coverage (seeWP:ROUTINEfor more on this with regard to routineevents). Also, while including information on recent developments is sometimes appropriate, breaking news should not be emphasized or otherwise treated differently from other information. Timely news subjects not suitable for Wikipedia may be suitable for our sister projectWikinews.
3. Who's who.Even when an event is notable, individuals involved in it may not be. Unless news coverage of an individual goes beyond the context of a single event, our coverage of that individual should be limited to the article about that event,in proportionto their importance to the overall topic. (SeeWikipedia:Biographies of living personsfor more details.)
4. Celebrity gossip and diary.Even when an individual is notable, not all events they are involved in are. For example, news reporting about celebrities and sports figures can be very frequent and cover a lot of trivia, but using all these sources would lead to overly detailed articles that look like a diary. Not every facet of a celebrity's life, personal details, matches played, or goals scored warrants inclusion in the biography of that person, only those for which they have notability or for which our readers are reasonably likely to have an interest.

Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information

"WP:PLOT" redirects here. For information regarding plot summary manuals of style, seeMOS:PLOT.

See also:Wikipedia:NotabilityandWikipedia:Manual of Style/Trivia sections

To provide encyclopedic value,datashould be put in context with explanations referenced to independent sources. As explained in§ Encyclopedic contentabove, merely being true, or evenverifiable,does not automatically make something suitable for inclusion in the encyclopedia. Wikipedia articles should not be:

1. Summary-only descriptions of works.Wikipedia treatscreative works(including, for example, works of art or fiction, video games, documentaries, research books or papers, and religious texts) in an encyclopedic manner, discussing the development, design, reception, significance, and influence of works in addition to concise summaries of those works. For more information regarding summaries, seeWikipedia:Manual of Style/Writing about fiction § Contextual presentation.
2. Lyrics databases.An article about a song should provide information about authorship, date of publication, social impact, and so on. Quotations from a song should be kept to a reasonable length relative to the rest of the article, and used to facilitate discussion, or to illustrate the style; the full text can be put onWikisourceand linked from the article. Most song lyrics published after 1928 are protected bycopyright;any quotation of them must be kept to a minimum, and used for direct commentary or to illustrate some aspect of style. Never link to the lyrics of copyrighted songs unless the linked-to site clearly has the right to distribute the work. SeeWikipedia:Do not include the full text of lengthy primary sourcesfor full discussion.
3. Excessive listings of unexplainedstatistics.Statistics that lack context or explanation can reduce readability and may be confusing; accordingly, statistics should be placed in tables to enhance readability, and articles with statistics should include explanatory text providing context. Where statistics are so lengthy as to impede the readability of the article, the statistics can besplitinto a separate article andsummarizedin the main article. (e.g., statistics from the main article2012 United States presidential electionwere moved to a related articleNationwide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election).Wikipedia:Notability § Stand-alone listsoffers more guidance on what kind of lists are acceptable, andWikipedia:Stand-alone lists § Selection criteriaoffers guidance on what entries should be included.
4. Exhaustive logs of software updates.Usereliablethird-party (notself-published or official) sources in articles dealing with software updates to describe the versions listed or discussed in the article. Common sense must be applied regarding the level of detail to include. A list of every version/beta/patch is inappropriate. Consider a summary of development instead.

Wikipedia is not censored

"WP:REDACTION" redirects here. For the criteria for redaction, seeWP:CRD.

Main page:Wikipedia:Content disclaimer

See also:Censorship of Wikipedia,Wikipedia:Offensive material,andwmf:Resolution:Controversial content

Wikipedia may contain content that some readers consider objectionable or offensive‍—even exceedingly so. Attempting to ensure that articles and images will be acceptable to all readers, or will adhere to generalsocialorreligiousnorms, is incompatible with the purposes of an encyclopedia.

Contentwillbe removed if it is judged to violateWikipedia's policies(especially those onbiographies of living personsand using aneutral point of view) or thelaw of the United States(where Wikipedia is hosted). However, because most edits are displayed immediately, inappropriate material may be visible to readers, for a time, before being detected and removed.

Options to hide an image

Some articles may include images, text, or links which are relevant to the topic but that some people find objectionable. Discussion of potentially objectionable content should usually focus not on its potential offensiveness but on whether it isan appropriate image,text, or link. Beyond that, "being objectionable" is generally not sufficient grounds for the removal of content. TheWikipedia:Offensive materialguideline can help assess appropriate actions to take in the case of content that may be considered offensive.

Some organizations' rules or traditions call for secrecy with regard to certain information about them. Such restrictions do not apply to Wikipedia, because Wikipedia is not a member of those organizations; thus, Wikipedia will not remove such information from articles if it is otherwise encyclopedic.

“ The University is not engaged in making ideas safe for students. It is engaged in making students safe for ideas. Thus it permits the freest expression of views before students, trusting to their good sense in passing judgment on these views. ” — Clark Kerr,President of theUniversity of California(1961)

Community

The above policies are about Wikipedia's content. The following relate to Wikipedia's governance and processes.

Wikipedia is not an anarchy or a forum for free speech

"WP:ANARCHY" redirects here. For WikiProject Anarchism, seeWikipedia:WikiProject Anarchism.

See also:m:Power structure,WP:User access levels,andWP:Enforcement

Main page:Wikipedia:Administration

Wikipedia is En­cy­clo­pe­dists' Corner, notSpeakers' Corner.

Wikipedia is free and open, but restricts both freedom and openness where they interfere with creating an encyclopedia. Accordingly, Wikipedia is not an unregulated forum for free speech. The fact that Wikipedia is an open, self-governing project does not mean that any part of its purpose is to explore the viability ofanarchist communities.Our purposeis tobuild an encyclopedia,not to test the limits ofanarchism.

Wikipedia is not a democracy

"WP:DEMOCRACY" redirects here. For Wikipedia's democratic structures, seeWP:WikiProject Democracy.

See also:Wikipedia:Polling is not a substitute for discussionandWikipedia:Elections

A ballot box. Note that most Wikipedia decisions arenot a result of a vote.

Wikipedia isnot an experiment in democracyor any otherpolitical system.Its primary (though not exclusive) means of decision making and conflict resolution iseditinganddiscussionleading toconsensus—notvoting.(Voting is used for certain matterssuch as electing theArbitration Committee.)Straw pollsare sometimes used to test for consensus, but polls or surveys can impede, rather than foster, discussion and should be used with caution.

Off-site petitions and votes have no weight in the formation of consensus on Wikipedia.

Wikipedia is not a bureaucracy

"WP:BURO" and "WP:BUREAU" redirect here. For the "bureaucrat" user access level, seeWikipedia:Bureaucrats.

See also:Wikipedia:Ignore all rules

While Wikipediahas many elementsof abureaucracy,it is not governed by statute: it is not aquasi-judicial body,and rules are not the purpose of the community. Althoughsome rules may be enforced,the written rules themselves do not set accepted practice. Rather, they document already-existing community consensus regarding what should be accepted and what should be rejected.

While Wikipedia's writtenpolicies and guidelinesshould be taken seriously, they can be misused. Do not follow an overly strict interpretation of theletterof policies without considering theirprinciples.If the rules truly prevent you from improving the encyclopedia,ignore them.Disagreements are resolved throughconsensus-baseddiscussion, not by tightly sticking to rules and procedures. Furthermore, policies and guidelines themselvesmay be changedto reflectevolving consensus.

A procedural error made in a proposal or request is not grounds for rejecting that proposal or request.

A procedural, coding, or grammatical error in a new contributionis not grounds for reverting it,unless the error cannot easily be fixed.

Wikipedia is not a laboratory

Research about Wikipedia's content, processes, and the people involvedcan provide valuable insights and understanding that benefit public knowledge, scholarship, and the Wikipedia community, but Wikipedia is not a public laboratory. Research that analyzes articles, talk pages, or other content on Wikipedia is not typically controversial, since all of Wikipedia isopen and freely usable.However, research projects that aredisruptiveto the community or which negatively affect articles—even temporarily—are not allowed and can result in loss of editing privileges. Before starting a potentially controversial project,researchers should open discussion at theVillage pumpto ensure it will not interfere with Wikipedia's mission. Regardless of the type of project, researchers are advised to be as transparent as possible on their user pages, disclosing information such as institutional connections and intentions.

Some editors explicitly request not to be subjects in research and experiments. Please respect the wish of editors to opt out of research.

Wikipedia is not a battleground

See also:Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not about winningandWikipedia:Behave

Wikipedia is not a place to hold grudges, import personal conflicts, carry on ideological battles, or nurture prejudice, hatred, or fear. Making personal battles out of Wikipedia discussions goes directly against our policies and goals. In addition to avoiding battles in discussions, do not try to advance your position in disagreements by making unilateral changes to policies.Do not disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point.

Every user is expected to interact with otherscivilly,calmly, and in a spirit of cooperation. Do notinsult,harass,or intimidate those with whom you have a disagreement. Rather, approach the matter intelligently and engage in polite discussion. If another user behaves in an uncivil, uncooperative, or insulting manner, or even tries to harass or intimidate you, this does not give you an excuse to respond in kind. Address only the factual points brought forward, ignoring the inappropriate comments, or disregard that user entirely. If necessary, point out gently that you think the comments might be considered uncivil, and make it clear that you want to move on and focus on the content issue. If a conflict continues to bother you, take advantage ofWikipedia's dispute resolutionprocess. There are always users willing to mediate andarbitratedisputes between others.

In large disputes, resist the urge to turn Wikipedia into a battleground between factions.Assume good faiththat every editor and group is here to improve Wikipedia—especially if they hold a point of view with which you disagree. Work with whomever you like, but do notorganize a factionthat disrupts (or aims to disrupt) Wikipedia's fundamental decision-making process, which is based on building aconsensus.Editors in large disputes should work in good faith to find broad principles of agreement between different viewpoints.

Do not use Wikipedia to makelegalor other threats against Wikipedia, its editors, or the Wikimedia Foundation—other means already exist to communicate legal problems.Threats are not tolerated and may result in aban.

Wikipedia is not compulsory

"WP:NOTREQUIRED" redirects here. For "References are not optional" essay, seeWP:OPTIONAL.

See also:Wikipedia:Wikipedia is a volunteer service

Wikipedia is a volunteer community and does not require Wikipedians to give any more time and effort than they wish. Focus on improving the encyclopedia itself, rather than demanding more from other Wikipedians. Editors are free to take a break or leave Wikipedia at any time.

And finally…

Wikipedia is not a lot of other things as well.We cannot anticipate every bad idea that someone might have. Almost everything on this page is here because somebody came up with abad ideathat had not been anticipated. (SeeWP:BEANS—it is, in fact,strongly discouragedto anticipate them.) In general, "that is a terrible idea" is always sufficient grounds to avoid doing something when there is a good reason that the idea is terrible.

When you wonder what to do

When you wonder what should or should not be in an article, ask yourself what a reader would expect to find under the same headingin an encyclopedia.

When you wonder whether the rules given above are being violated, consider:

1. Modifying the content of an article (normal editing).
2. Turning the page into a redirect, preserving the page history.
3. Nominating the page for deletionif it meets grounds for such action under theDeletion policy.To develop an understanding of what kinds of contributions are in danger of being deleted, you have to regularly follow discussions there.
4. Changing the rules on this page after a consensus has been reached following appropriate discussion with other Wikipedians viathe talk page.When adding new options, please be as clear as possible and provide counter-examples of similar, but permitted, subjects.

Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Common outcomesis not an official policy, but can be referred to as a record of what has and has not been considered encyclopedic in the past.

See also

• Wikipedia:Template messages/Cleanup § Style of writing—a list of templates that can be used to tag potentially inappropriate content when you can't fix the problem immediately yourself
• wmf:Resolution:Controversial content
• Pages titled "Wikipedia is... "and" Wikipedia is not... "
• Wikipedia:Avoiding common mistakes
• Wikipedia:Alternative outlets
• Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Common outcomes
• Wikipedia:Here to build an encyclopedia
• Wikipedia:Recentism
• Wikipedia:Why was the page I created deleted?
• Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not/Outtakesfor a more humorous version