User:SebastianHelm/LEADSEED
 | This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Lead sections are magnets for unencyclopedic additions. We need to particularly watch out for those. |
As Wikipedia is getting on in years, our work shifts more from creation of new articles towards preserving existing ones. Because Wikipedia is “the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit”, there is a constant influx of content that doesn't meet our standards. The most popular target is the lead section for two reasons:
- The lead section is read by more readers.
- Because information in the lead section is less likely to be challenged and less likely to require a source (see MOS:LEADCITE), original research may be easier overlooked.
What to do about it
[edit]Patrol particularly lead sections. Watch for the following symptoms that may indicate LEADSEED:
- Length: There is a vicious circle: The longer a lead section is, the more likely is it to contain LEADSEED, and the more likely is it to attract more of it. (See MOS:LEADLENGTH for the recommended length.)
- One subtopic has more coverage than the rest of the article or is described with details not covered in the remainder of the article. (See MOS:LEADREL.)
- Language: Use of specialized terms that are not necessary for understanding the subject. Such terms may be jargon, or used to "eschew elucidation, espouse obfuscation."
- Heighten your awareness for original research.