WikiIslam:How to Edit: Difference between revisions

[[File:Wikipedia video tutorial-1-Editing-en.ogv|thumb|250px|Editing tutorial for Wikipedia]]

{{see also|Wikipedia:FAQ/Editing|Help:Introduction to editing with VisualEditor/1}}

{{see also|Wikipedia:Core content policies}}

An [[Wikipedia:Writing better articles#Information style and tone|encyclopedic style]] with a [[Wikipedia:Writing better articles#Tone|formal tone]] is important: straightforward, [[Wikipedia:Summary style|just-the-facts]], instead of essay-like, argumentative, or opinionated. The goal of a Wikipedia article is to create a comprehensive and [[Wikipedia:Neutral point of view|neutrally written]] summary of existing mainstream knowledge about a topic. Wikipedia does not publish [[Wikipedia:No original research|original research]]. An encyclopedia is, by its nature, a [[tertiary source]] that provides a survey of information already published in the wider world. Ideally, all information should be [[Wikipedia:Citing sources|cited]] and [[Wikipedia:Verifiability|verifiable]] by [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources|reliable sources]]. Sourcing requirements are significantly stricter in [[Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons|articles on living persons]].

{{anchor|Edit window}}

Editing most Wikipedia pages is simple. Wikipedia uses two interface methods: classic editing through [[Help:Wikitext|wikitext]] (wiki markup), and a new [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor|VisualEditor]] (VE). Wikitext editing is chosen by clicking the <kbd>Edit</kbd> tab at the top of a Wikipedia page (or on a [[Help:Section|section-edit link]]). This will take you to a new page containing the editable contents of the current page. Wikitext 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.

Note: Do not sign the edit summary line with your <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> signature, as it does not work there.

{{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/grammar 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 to edit.

{{further|Wikipedia:Editing policy#Talking and editing}}

All editors are encouraged to [[Wikipedia:Be bold|be bold]] and strong, 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.

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 [[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.

{{further|Help:Referencing for beginners|Wikipedia:Citing sources}}

{{hatnote|Introductions: [[Help:Introduction to referencing with Wiki Markup/1]] and [[Help:Introduction to referencing with VisualEditor/1]]}}

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://alyw234237.github.io/wiki-doi-gbooks-citation-maker/ Wikipedia DOI and Google Books Citation Maker] converts a [[digital object identifier]] (DOI) or [[Google Books]] address (URL) into a filled-out {{tl|cite journal}} or {{tl|cite book}} template ready to be pasted into an article. See [[Help:Citation tools]] for many others.

{{main|Help:Creation and usage of media files}}

{{hatnote|Introductions: [[Help:Introduction to images with Wiki Markup/1]] and [[Help:Introduction to images with VisualEditor/1]]}}

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. There are various file formats available.

{{main|Help: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>]]

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 [[Wikipedia:Autoconfirmed article creation trial/Request for comment on permanent implementation|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 [[Help: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.

{{further|Help:Talk pages|Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines|Help: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>]]

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

{{anchor|Protected pages}}

{{further|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.

{{further|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 pages|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.

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{{portal|Contents|Help|Wikipedia}}

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;Helpful tips

*[[User:Cullen328/Smartphone editing|Smartphone editing (User essay)]]: a Wikipedia administrator's personal experiences and advice about phone editing

;Naming and moving

;Style and layout

;Tools

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;Related

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