Guidelines for Creating English Wikipedia Articles
Creating an article on the English Wikipedia involves several steps and follows a series of guidelines. Understanding these guidelines is crucial for ensuring your article is well-received and adheres to the standards of the Wikipedia community.
1. Account Creation
To contribute to the English Wikipedia, you'll need to create an account. Once your account is created, you can start looking for articles that need your input or assistance. If the article you want to create does not exist, a 'create article' link will appear after you enter the title.
2. Writing Your First Article
For those new to Wikipedia, it's highly recommended to start with an article through the article wizard. This can be accessed by clicking on 'Wikipedia:Your first article', which provides a step-by-step guide to creating a new article. This wizard will help you set up a new article and structure it properly.
For younger or newer accounts, typically those with less than ten edits and less than four days old, the article will need to be vetted through the 'Articles for Creation' (AFC) process. This involves submitting your draft to a group that will review it and ensure it meets the standards before full publication. If you have an older account or are more experienced, you can add your article directly to mainspace. However, it's generally advised to use the AFC process to ensure quality and avoid immediate scrutiny.
Remember, even when creating in draft form, it's important to keep your content improving steadily. People are understanding of rough drafts as long as they're showing progress and improvement. Directly publishing a messy article in mainspace may cause it to be flagged for immediate deletion if it is perceived as substandard.
3. Creating Article Through Red Links
One of the most common methods for creating a new article is through the use of red links. A red link is a link to a page that does not yet exist. When you click on it, you are directed to a blank page where you can start creating the article. Once you publish your edits, the page will be created. Red links can also be found in other articles or at the top of search results when you search for a page that doesn't exist.
4. Translating Articles
Another way to contribute to Wikipedia is by translating articles from other languages. This can be a fun and useful way to create content, but it should be done carefully. Make sure you are fluent in both languages, the source article is of high quality, and the translated article will be useful in the target language. For guidance on translating articles, refer to the instructions provided by Amir E. Aharoni in the answer linked in the original content.
Lastly, it's important to note that there is no 'Create Article' button available in the default user interface of Wikipedia. This feature may exist in customized user interfaces or through specific hacks, but it's not a standard function. Therefore, red links and translation are the primary methods for creating new articles.
Conclusion
Creating a Wikipedia article is a collaborative effort that requires careful planning, attention to detail, and adherence to the community guidelines. By following these steps and tips, you can make a valuable contribution to the wealth of knowledge available on the English Wikipedia.