These are the policies, guidelines, etc. that helped me the most during my first week in wikipedia in Feb 2008. I have lifted a couple of sentences from each that were important to me. Please read the articles in their entirety for best results. --Daddy.twins (talk) 05:53, 15 February 2008 (UTC)
Within Wikipedia, notability is an inclusion criterion based on encyclopedic suitability of a topic for a Wikipedia article. The topic of an article should be notable, or "worthy of notice". This concept is distinct from "fame", "importance", or "popularity", although these may positively correlate with notability. Read the whole artice here.
The threshold for inclusion in Wikipedia is verifiability, not truth. Wikipedia:Verifiability is one of Wikipedia's core content policies. Read the whole artice here.
Wikipedia articles rely on reliable sources is fundamental to the encyclopedia's policies. Articles should rely on reliable, third-party published sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. Sources should be appropriate to the claims made. Read the whole artice here.
To assume good faith is a fundamental principle on Wikipedia. In allowing anyone to edit, we work from an assumption that most people are trying to help the project, not hurt it. When you can reasonably assume that a mistake someone made was a well-intentioned attempt to further the goals of the project, correct it without criticizing. When you disagree with people, remember that they probably believe that they are helping the project. Read the whole artice here.
New contributors are prospective "members" and are therefore our most valuable resource. We must treat newcomers with kindness and patience — nothing scares potentially valuable contributors away faster than hostility. Remember, our motto — and our invitation to the newcomer — is be bold. Read the whole artice here.
Plenty of articles exist that probably should not. So just pointing out that an article on a similar subject exists does not prove that the article in question should also exist; it is quite possible that the other article should also be deleted but nobody has noticed it and put it forward for AfD yet. Read the whole artice here.
All Wikipedia articles and other encyclopedic content must be written from a neutral point of view (NPOV), representing fairly and, as much as possible, without bias all significant views (that have been published by reliable sources). This is non-negotiable and expected on all articles, and of all article editors. Read the whole artice here.
