View source for Help:Editing

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{{About|how to edit Wikipedia in general|the editing policy|Wikipedia:Editing policy|information on how and where you can contribute|Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia|getting help from someone|Wikipedia:Questions}}
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[[File:Wikipedia video tutorial-1-Editing-en.ogv|thumb|250px|Editing tutorial for Wikipedia]]

{{Side box|text='''Note''': You can use the [[Draft:Sandbox|sandbox]] to experiment with page editing.|imageright=[[File:Sandbox.svg|52px]]}}

[[Wikipedia]] is a [[wiki]], meaning that anyone can edit any [[Wikipedia:Protection policy|unprotected page]] and improve articles immediately for all readers. You do not need to register to do this. Anyone who has edited is known as a "[[Wikipedia: Wikipedian|''Wikipedian'']]" (commonly referred to as, simply, editors) and, no matter how trivial the edit may seem, can be proud that they have helped make Wikipedia what it is. All of these edits add up!  Wikipedia uses two methods of editing: the new [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor|VisualEditor]] (VE), and classic editing through [[Help:Wiki markup|wiki markup]] (wikitext).  <!-- Comment - Good luck with your first edit. -->

Some pages are [[WP:Protection policy|protected from editing]]. These pages are denoted by a lock icon on the top right of the page and, if you are not allowed to edit the page, it will have a "View&nbsp;source" tab instead of an "Edit" tab. You can still edit these pages indirectly, by submitting an [[Wikipedia:Edit requests|edit request]]—an editor with the ability to edit the protected page will respond to your request. You can submit a request by clicking on the "View&nbsp;source" tab on that page and using the "Submit an edit request" link at the bottom right.

== Editing articles ==
:''See also: [[Wikipedia:FAQ/Editing]] and [[Help:Introduction to editing (VE)/1|Help:Editing with VisualEditor ]]''

=== Content protocols ===
{{see|Wikipedia:Core content policies}}

When adding content and creating new articles, an [[Wikipedia:Encyclopedic style|encyclopedic style]] with a [[WP:TONE|formal tone]] is important. Instead of essay-like, argumentative, or opinionated writing, Wikipedia articles should have a straightforward, [[Wikipedia:Summary style|just-the-facts]] style. The goal of a Wikipedia article is to create a comprehensive and [[WP:NPOV|neutrally written]] summary of existing mainstream knowledge about a topic. Accordingly, Wikipedia does not publish [[WP:NOR|original research]]. An encyclopedia is, by its nature, a [[tertiary source]] that provides a survey of information already the subject of publication in the wider world. Ideally, all information should be [[Wikipedia:Citing sources|cited]] and [[WP:Verify|verifiable]]  by [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources|reliable sources]]. Sourcing requirements are significantly stricter in [[WP:BLP|articles on living persons]].

=== Edit screen(s) ===
{{seealso|Wikipedia:Tutorial/Editing}}

Editing most Wikipedia pages is quite simple. Wikipedia uses two methods of editing: classic editing through [[Help:Wiki markup|wiki markup]] (wikitext) and through a new [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor|VisualEditor]] (VE). Wiki markup editing is chosen by clicking the <kbd>Edit</kbd> tab at the top of a Wikipedia page (or on a [[Wikipedia: Section|section-edit link]]). This will take you to a new page containing the editable contents of the current page. Wiki markup is used extensively throughout Wikipedia for such things as [[Help:Link|hyperlinks]], [[Help:Table|tables]] and [[Help:Columns|columns]], [[Help:Footnotes|footnotes]], [[Wikipedia:Inline citation|inline citation]], [[Help:Special characters|special characters]] and so on.

The VisualEditor option is intended as a user-friendly, [[WYSIWYG|"What You See Is What You Get"]] (WYSIWYG) editing aid allowing one to edit pages without the need to learn wikitext markup. It is only available to registered logged-in users through an opt-in choice available through [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-betafeatures|personal preferences]], see the [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor/User guide|VisualEditor user guide]] for more information.

<gallery mode="packed" class="center" heights="233" caption="Two editing environments: wikitext and VisualEditor" style="font-size:95%">
File:How to edit a page Edit box.png|alt=Text in a large rectangle below two toolbars and next to a scrollbar.|Edit box showing the [[Help:wiki markup|wikitext markup]] (screenshot from 2012). You can change the formatting and contents of the page by changing what is written in this box.
File:Wikipedia article in VisualEditor 2018-02-12.png|Screenshot showing the same article in [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor|VisualEditor]]. Unlike the wiki markup display, VisualEditor will show the text being edited almost as if it were already published.
</gallery>

The Wikipedia community has developed [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style|style guidelines]] to make articles and facts appear in a standardized form, and Wikipedia easier to use as a whole. A basic list of [[Help:Wiki markup|wiki markup]] can be found on the [[Help:Cheatsheet|cheatsheet]]. An [[Help:Edit toolbar|"edit toolbar"]] is provided just above the edit box (pictured below), which will allow logged-in users (by selecting the option in [[Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets|personal preferences]]) to automatically place and format various aspects of wiki code. See [[Help:Wiki markup]] for more information, remember that you can't break Wikipedia, and, although there are many protocols, [[WP:PERFECTION|perfection is not required]], as [[WP:WIP|Wikipedia is a work in progress]].

[[File:Advanced toolbar of vector skin.png|center]]

When you have finished editing, you should write a short [[Help:Edit summary|edit summary]] in the small field below the edit box (pictured below). You may use shorthand to describe your changes, as described in the [[Wikipedia:Edit summary legend|legend]]. To see how the page looks with your edits, press the "'''Show preview'''" button. To see the differences between the page with your edits and the previous version of the page press the "'''Show changes'''" button. If you're satisfied with what you see, '''[[Wikipedia:Be bold|be bold]]''' and press the "'''Publish changes'''" button. Your changes will immediately be visible to all Wikipedia users.
{{EditOptions|align=center|width=50em|font-size=80%}}
Note: Do not sign the edit summary line with your <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> signature, as it does not work there.

==== Minor edits ====
{{further|Help:Minor edit}}

[[File:Minor edit.png|thumb|upright|The "minor edit" checkbox (circled) in the wikitext editor]]

A check to the "minor edit" box signifies that only superficial differences exist between the version with your edit and the previous version: typo corrections, formatting and presentational changes, rearranging of text without modifying content, etc. A ''minor edit'' is a version that the editor believes requires no review and could never be the subject of a dispute. The "minor edit" option is one of several [[Wikipedia:Why create an account?#New editing options|options]] available only to [[Help:Logging in|registered users]]. Editors should not feel that marking a change as minor devalues their effort.

==== Major edits ====
{{see|Wikipedia:Editing policy#Talking and editing}}

All editors are encouraged to [[Wikipedia:Be bold|be bold]], but there are several things that a user can do to ensure that major edits are performed smoothly. Before engaging in a major edit, a user should consider discussing proposed changes on the article discussion/talk page. During the edit, if doing so over an extended period, the {{tlx|In use}} tag can reduce the likelihood of an edit conflict. Once the edit has been completed, the inclusion of an [[Help:Edit summary|edit summary]] will assist in documenting the changes. These steps will help all to ensure that major edits are well received by the Wikipedia community.

A major edit should be reviewed to confirm that it is consensual to all concerned editors. Therefore, any change that affects the ''meaning'' of an article is major (not minor), even if the edit is a single word.

There are no necessary terms to which you have to agree when doing major edits, but the preceding recommendations have become best practice. If you do it your own way, the likelihood of your edits being reedited may be higher.

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When performing a large edit, it is suggested that you periodically, and before pressing "Publish changes", copy your edits into an external text editor (preferably one without formatting, such as [[Notepad (Windows)|Notepad]]). This ensures that in the case of a browser crash you will not lose your work. If you are adding substantial amounts of work, it is also a good idea to publish changes in stages.

=== Adding references ===
{{see|Wikipedia:Referencing for beginners|Wikipedia:Citing sources}}
:'' Introductions: [[Help:Introduction to referencing|Help:Introduction to referencing (Wiki Markup)]]  and   [[Help:Introduction to referencing (VE)/1|Help:Introduction to referencing (VisualEditor)]]''
[[File:Citing sources tutorial, part 1.ogv|thumb|upright|A screencast that walks through the essentials needed in citing your sources. <small>(2:01&nbsp;min)</small>]]
[[File:RefTools rework.ogv|thumb|right|upright|A screencast that walks through how to use the various features of RefTools. <small>(5:03&nbsp;min)</small>]] 

Generally, sources are added directly after the facts they support at the end of the sentence and after any punctuation. Wikipedia permits editors to use any citation system that allows the reader to understand where the information came from, and strongly encourages use of [[Wikipedia:Inline citation|inline citations]] to do so. Common methods of placing inline citations include [[Wikipedia:Footnotes|footnotes]], [[Help:Shortened footnotes|shortened footnotes]] and [[Wikipedia:Harvard references|parenthetical references]].

Inline citations are most commonly placed by inserting a reference between <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code> ... <code><nowiki></ref></nowiki></code> tags, directly in the text of an article. The reference is a footnote, appearing as an inline link (e.g. <small><sup><span style="color:#002BB8">[1][2]</span></sup></small>) to a particular item in a collated, numbered list of footnotes, found wherever a {{tl|Reflist}} template or <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code> tag is present, usually in a section titled "References" or "Notes". If you are creating a new page or adding references to a page that didn't previously have any, don't forget to add a references section with this display markup. 

There are a number of tools available to help with citation placement and formatting, some of which are internal tools and scripts while others are available from external sites. For an example of the former, [[Wikipedia:RefToolbar|RefToolbar]] is a [[JavaScript]] toolbar displayed above the edit box that provides the ability to automatically fill out various [[Wikipedia:Citation templates|citation templates]] and insert them in the text already formatted inside <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code> ... <code><nowiki></ref></nowiki></code> tags. For an example of the latter, the [https://reftag.appspot.com/ Wikipedia citation tool for Google Books] converts a Google Books address (URL) into a filled-out {{tl|cite book}} template ready to be pasted into an article. See [[Help:Citation tools]] for many others.

=== Adding images, sounds, and videos ===
{{main|Wikipedia:Creation and usage of media files}}
:'' Introductions: [[Help:Introduction to uploading images/1|Help:Introduction uploading images]] and [[Help:Introduction to images (VE)/1|Help:Introduction to images (VisualEditor)]]''
A file that is already hosted on Wikipedia or the [[Wikimedia Commons]] can be inserted with the basic code <code><nowiki>[[File:FILENAME|thumb|DESCRIPTION]]</nowiki></code>. (<code>Image:</code> can be substituted for <code>File:</code> with no change in effect; the choice between the two is purely a matter of editorial preference.) Using <code>thumb</code> generates a [[thumbnail]] of an image (the most common placement option), which is typically sized differently from the original image. The Wikimedia Commons' [[Commons:Special:UploadWizard|File Upload Wizard]] and Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:File Upload Wizard|File Upload Wizard]], will guide you through the process of submitting media. All files uploaded are [[mirror (computing)|mirrored]] between Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, and searchable from either one. There are various file formats available.

== Article creation ==
{{main|Wikipedia:Your first article}}

[[File:How to create a Wikipedia article - Right to science and culture.ogv|upright|thumb|A screencast demonstrating how to create a Wikipedia article manually. <small>(7:50 min)</small>]]

Before [[Wikipedia:Starting an article|starting a new article,]] please understand [[Wikipedia:Notability|Wikipedia's notability requirements]]. In short, the topic of an article must have already been the subject of publication in [[WP:IRS|reliable sources]], such as books published by major publishing houses, newspapers, magazines, peer-reviewed scholarly journals and websites that meet the same requirements as reputable print-based sources. Information on Wikipedia must be verifiable; if no reliable [[Wikipedia:Third-party sources|third-party]] sources can be found on a topic, then it should not have a separate article. Wikipedia's concept of notability applies this basic standard to avoid [[WP:INDISCRIMINATE|indiscriminate]] inclusion of topics.

An [[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article Wizard]] is available to help you create articles — it is not required but will help you construct better articles.  '''Note:''' The ability to create articles directly in mainspace [[WP:ACPERM|is restricted]] to autoconfirmed users, though non-confirmed users and non-registered users  can submit a proposed article through the [[Wikipedia:Articles for creation|Articles for Creation]] process, where it will be reviewed and considered for publication. Before creating an article, please [[Wikipedia:Searching|search]] Wikipedia first to make sure that an article does not already exist on the subject, and please also review the [[Wikipedia:Article titles|article titling policy]] for guidance on what to name the article.

== Talk pages ==
{{further|Help:Using talk pages|Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines|Wikipedia:Notifications}}

[[File:Editing basics - Talk pages.webm|thumb|upright|thumbtime=1|A screencast demonstrating how to use a talk page. <small>(2:43 min)</small>]]

Every article on Wikipedia has a [[Wikipedia:Talk pages|talk page]], reached by clicking the "Talk" tab just above the title (for example, [[Talk:Alexander the Great]]). There, editors can discuss improvements to the content of an article. If you ever make a change that gets [[Wikipedia:Reverting|reverted]] by another editor, discuss the change on the talk page! The [[Wikipedia:BOLD, revert, discuss cycle|BOLD, revert, discuss cycle]] is a popular method of reaching consensus. It is very important that you conduct yourself with [[WP:Civility|civility]] and [[WP:AGF|assume good faith]] on the part of others. [[Wikipedia:Edit warring|Edit warring]] (repeatedly overriding or reimplementing contributions) is highly discouraged.

Most other [[Wikipedia:Namespace|types of pages]] on Wikipedia also have associated talk pages, including the [[WP:User page|User page]] each editor is assigned once they sign up. When other editors need to contact you, they will usually do this by leaving a message on [[Special:mytalk|your talk page]]. When someone has left you a message that way, you will see a notice the next time you log in or view a page on Wikipedia.

:Sign your contributions to a Talk page by using four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>), which produces your username and a time/date stamp.

== <span id="Protected pages"></span> Protected pages and source code ==
{{see|Wikipedia:Rough guide to semi-protection|Wikipedia:Protection policy|Wikipedia:Requests for page protection|Wikipedia:Lists of protected pages}}

Some pages are [[Help:Protection|protected from editing]]. These pages have a "View&nbsp;source" tab instead of an "Edit" tab. You can still edit these pages indirectly by submitting an [[Wikipedia:Edit requests|edit request]]—an editor with the permission to edit the protected page will respond to it. 

To submit an edit request, click on the protected page's "View&nbsp;source" tab and then the "Submit an edit request" link at the bottom right.

== Policies and conventions ==
{{see|Wikipedia:Simplified ruleset|Wikipedia:Simplified Manual of Style}}

[[Wikipedia:List of policies|Policies]], [[Wikipedia:List of guidelines|guidelines]], and [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Contents|formatting norms]] are developed by the community to describe the best practices, to clarify principles, resolve conflicts, and otherwise further our goals. Make sure that you submit information which is relevant to Wikipedia's specific purpose, or your content might be deleted. You can always use the [[Help:Talk page|talk pages]] to ask questions or check to see if your idea will be accepted. Please make note of which license will cover your contributions.

== See also ==
{| style="width:100%;"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|width=47%|
;Helpful tips

* [[Help:Wikipedia: The Missing Manual/Editing, creating, and maintaining articles/Editing for the first time|Wikipedia: The Missing Manual—Editing for the first time]]
* [[Wikipedia:Page size#If you have problems editing a long article|Wikipedia:Page size §&nbsp;If you have problems editing a long article]]
*[[User:Cullen328/Smartphone editing|Smartphone editing (User essay)]]: a Wikipedia administrator's personal experiences and advice about phone editing
;Naming and moving
* [[Wikipedia:Article titles]]
* [[Wikipedia:Moving a page|Moving a page to a new name]]
* [[Wikipedia:Namespace]]
|width=2%|
|width=47%|
{{Portal|Contents|Help|Wikipedia}} 
;Style and layout
* [[Wikipedia:Annotated article]]
* [[Wikipedia:Layout]]
* [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style]]
;Tools
{{Help desk}}
* [[Draft:Sandbox]]
* [[Wikipedia:Text editor support]]
* [[Wikipedia:Tools]]
|}
{{meta}}
;Related
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject]]: if you are writing an article about something that belongs to a group of topics, check here first!
* [[outreach:Bookshelf|Wikimedia Bookshelf]]: learning materials, videos, and handouts
* [[Wikipedia:Glossary]]: a glossary for Wikipedia editors
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