View source for Help:Editing

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{{Wikipedia how-to|WP:HEP|H:EDIT|H:E}}
{{simple|Help:Introduction to editing}}
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[[File:Wikipedia video tutorial-1-Editing-en.ogv|thumb|250px|Editing tutorial for Wikipedia]]
{{ombox|image=none|small=y|text='''Note''': You can use the [[Draft:Sandbox|sandbox]] to experiment with page editing.|imageright=[[File:Sandbox.svg|52px]]}}
[[Wikipedia]] is a [[wiki]], meaning anyone can edit almost any<ref name="protection"/> page and improve articles immediately. You do not need to register to do this, and anyone who has edited is known as a ''[[Wikipedia:Wikipedians|Wikipedian]]'' or ''editor.'' Small edits add up, and every editor can be proud to have made Wikipedia better for everyone. There are two editing interfaces: the new [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor|VisualEditor]] (VE) and classic [[Help:Wikitext|wikitext]] editing (wiki markup), which uses the [[Help:Introduction to editing with Wiki Markup/1|Source Editor]].

== Editing articles ==
{{see also|Wikipedia:FAQ/Editing|Help:Introduction to editing with VisualEditor|Help:Introduction to editing with Wiki Markup}}
=== Content style and policies ===
{{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]].
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=== Edit screen(s) ===
Editing most Wikipedia pages is simple. Wikipedia uses two interface methods: classic editing with the [[Help:Introduction to editing with Wiki Markup/1|Source Editor]] through [[Help:Wikitext|wikitext]] (wiki markup), and a new [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor|VisualEditor]] (VE). 

Wikitext editing using the Source Editor is chosen by clicking the <kbd>Edit source</kbd> tab at the top of a Wikipedia page (or on a [[Help:Section|section-edit link]]). This opens an editable copy of the page, showing all the wikitext used there, and the Source Editor toolbar offers simple menu options to add or change the formatting. 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. The Source Editor lets users toggle on "wikitext highlighting", which uses different colours to help differentiate article text from wikitext.

The VisualEditor option is intended as a user-friendly, "What You See Is What You Get" ([[WYSIWYG]]) editing aid, allowing one to edit pages without the need to learn wikitext markup. It is available only to registered, logged-in users through an opt-in choice that can be made in [[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="140" style="font-size:95%" caption="Two editing environments: Source Editor (wikitext) and VisualEditor">
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:Wikitext|wikitext markup]]. You can change the formatting and contents of the page by changing what is written in this box. 
File:How to edit a page Edit box - 2025 with preview and syntax highlight (cropped).png|Edit box showing the [[Help:Wikitext|wikitext markup]] with [[syntax highlighting]] and realtime preview turned on.
File:Wikipedia article in VisualEditor 2018-02-12.png|Screenshot showing the same article in [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor|VisualEditor]]. Unlike the wikitext 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:Wikitext|wikitext]] can be found on the [[Help:Cheatsheet|cheatsheet]]. An "[[Help:Edit toolbar|edit toolbar]]" is provided just above the edit box (pictured below), which allows 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:Wikitext]] for more information; remember that you can't break Wikipedia; and, although there are many protocols, [[Wikipedia:Editing policy#Wikipedia is a work in progress: perfection is not required|perfection is not required]] because [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia is a work in progress|Wikipedia is a work in progress]].

[[File:WikiEditor-advanced menu-en.png|center]]<br>

When you have finished editing, you should write a short [[Help:Edit summary|edit summary]] in the field underneath those words (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 click on the "'''Publish changes'''" button. Your changes will immediately be visible to all Wikipedia users.
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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/grammar corrections, fixing a formatting problem, etc. A ''minor edit'' is a version that the editor believes requires no review and could never be the subject of a dispute. Marking a change as minor does not mean that the edit is unimportant.

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 are never required to use this button. When in doubt, consider your work to be a normal edit.

==== Major edits ====
{{further|Wikipedia:Editing policy#Talking and editing}}
All editors are encouraged to [[Wikipedia:Be bold|be bold]] when improving articles, but there are several things that a user can do to ensure that potentially disruptive 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 [[Help:Edit conflict|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 re-edited may be higher.

When making particularly large or complex changes, you may want to copy the article to [[Special:MyPage/sandbox|your sandbox]] so you can make changes without being interrupted by other editors. It is also a good idea to publish changes frequently, so that a browser crash or electrical failure will not result in the loss of all your work.


=== Adding references ===
{{further|Help:Referencing for beginners|Wikipedia:Citing sources}}{{See also|Help:Introduction to referencing with Wiki Markup|Help:Introduction to referencing with 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 the use of [[Wikipedia:Inline citation|inline citations]] to do so. Common methods of placing inline citations include [[Help:Footnotes|footnotes]], [[Help:Shortened footnotes|shortened footnotes]] and [[Wikipedia:Citing sources#Parenthetical referencing|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, whereas 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://citer.toolforge.org/ Citer] 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.

=== Adding images, sounds, and videos ===
{{main|Help:Creation and usage of media files}}
{{See also|Help:Introduction to images with Wiki Markup|Help:Introduction to images with 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. There are various file formats available.

== Article creation ==
{{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>]]
Before [[Help:Your first 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 [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources|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:Independent 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 [[Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not#Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information|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 [[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 also review the [[Wikipedia:Article titles|article titling policy]] for guidance on what to name the article.

== Talk pages ==
{{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>]]
Every article on Wikipedia has a [[Help: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 [[Wikipedia:Civility|civility]] and [[Wikipedia:Assume good faith|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 [[Wikipedia:User pages|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.
{{anchor|Protected pages}}

== Protected pages and source code ==
{{further|Wikipedia:Protection policy}}

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]] and an editor with 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" button at the bottom right.

== Policies and conventions ==
{{seealso|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 that 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.

== See also ==
{{help desk}}
{{portal|Contents|Help|Wikipedia}}
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'''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:Article size#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]]
'''Style and layout'''
* [[Wikipedia:Annotated article]]
* [[Wikipedia:Layout]]
* [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style]]
'''Tools'''
* [[Draft:Sandbox]]
* [[Help:Text editor support]]
* [[Wikipedia:Tools]]
{{div col end}}
'''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

== Notes ==
<references>
<ref name="protection">
Some pages are [[Wikipedia:Protection policy|protected from editing]] and marked by a lock icon at the top right. If you are not allowed to edit the page, it will have a "View&nbsp;source" instead of an "Edit" and "Edit source" tab. You can still edit these pages indirectly by submitting an [[Wikipedia:Edit requests|edit request]]: click "View&nbsp;source", then "Submit an edit request" at the bottom right, and an editor who is authorized to edit the page will respond to your request.
</ref>
</references>
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