Wikipedia:GLAM/University of Toronto Libraries/Resources/How to edit

WP:UTL/ET

This page provides an accessible bullet-form introduction to Wikipedia editing. It may be helpful on Wikipedia:Meetup event pages. You can link to or transclude this page (see example). To transclude (=reproduce), insert {{WP:UTL/ET}} where appropriate in the intended page. This instructional message box will not appear when this page is transcluded.

How to edit

This is a non-exhaustive guide to editing, simplified and organised by type of edit. You can supplement the notes below with this DIY slide deck. You can also try some editing exercises.

On Wikipedia, you can improve old stuff (existing articles) or write new stuff (new articles). If you're new to Wikipedia, it may be helpful to start by improving existing articles. Please bear in mind that the instructions below take the English Wikipedia as their basis. Basic editing "how-to"s apply across all language Wikipedias, although templates are specific to each Wikipedia and you will need to find and use the appropriate ones.

Improve old stuff

Here are some ways you can improve an existing article:

Link one article to another. For example, in Eglinton West there is a sentence on reggae which should be linked to reggae.
Cite to verify statements which do not yet have a source. Everything on Wikipedia needs to trace back to a source.
Add sentences based on sources. Keep in mind:
- Please only summarise and paraphrase the information found in the source being cited, to avoid plagiarism and copyright issues.
- The source cannot attest to more than it claims.
  - For example, a source that says 'A' can only anchor 'A', not 'A therefore B'. To write 'A therefore B', you will need a source that says 'A therefore B'.
Reword or rephrase in favour of terms that are specific, up-to-date, and chosen by relevant individuals/cultures/communities.
- Prioritise sources that use such terms.
- See also: manual of style for writing on group/cultural identity and gender identity
Add templates to an article to make them easier to find, read, and improve.
- You can add an infobox to the top of an article. An infobox summarises key facts about the article's subject, and looks different based on topic. It can include an image or a map if appropriate and available.
  - The infobox should only summarise information which is in the body of the article. If you have new facts to add, write and cite that information in the body of the article then use the infobox to summarise.
  - There are many kinds of infoboxes. Use an infobox appropriate for the article's subject. Take a look at similar pages in editing view to see what others have used, or look on Wikipedia:List of infoboxes for infoboxes which are bolded and/or have a higher transclusion count (=more frequently used). Commonly used infoboxes include infobox song (example), infobox film (example), infobox musical artist (example), infobox person (example), infobox radio station (example).
- You can add these templates to the bottom of an article, if applicable:
  - {{authority control}} - if the article is about a person or an organisation
  - {{stub}} - if the article is small and needs more development.

Write new stuff

To write a new article, take the following steps:

Choose a topic whose notability can be established through several reliable sources. You should find at least 3-5 sources which:
- are independent from the subject of the article (avoid conflict of interest)
- stay constant over time (avoid social media)
- can be summarised without additional interpretation (avoid sources like a photograph with no accompanying description)
Look through related Wikipedia articles in case you find the same topic covered in a section of another article. Use a search engine to find relevant articles.
- For example, History of insulin is not an article in itself, but there are relevant sections in Insulin#History and History of diabetes#Insulin.
- If you do find a section which addresses your topic, you can build on that section instead of creating a whole new article. Or if the section is notable enough to merit its own article and you'd like to dedicate some time to creating it, you may do so. You can then link to the new, standalone article from relevant sections using Template:Main.
Gather many different sources on the topic. A Wikipedia article is the sum of what is known about a topic, so your collection of sources will be your writing material. No need to worry about perfection, but you can give it a strong start that others can build on.
To get a sense for article structure, refer to other well-developed articles on the same topic area (e.g. place, biography, organisation, event).
- Take a look at some recognised articles by topic in Wikipedia:Good articles. These will give you a sense for what your article can look like.
Draft the article, adding citations at the end of each sentence. If you used one source for many sentences, you may cite it at the end of the last sentence.
- You can draft the article in your Wikipedia sandbox. This is your scratchpad - you can find it in the top right corner of Wikipedia.
- Make sure to summarise and paraphrase the information you find in a source, to avoid plagiarism and copyright issues.

How to submit an article for creation

When you are ready, use Wikipedia:Article wizard to submit your article as a draft. The article will be pushed to draftspace and be titled "Draft:[Article name]".
While the article is in draftspace, others can help improve it before it is created in mainspace.
You can submit the article for creation by clicking Submit for review. If you don't see this button, add the code {{subst:submit}} to the top of your draft in the source editor. Once you publish changes, you will see a yellow tag which indicates that the article has been submitted for review.

How to edit

Improve old stuff

Write new stuff

How to submit an article for creation

Other useful links