Are there any rules to adding content to a Wikipedia article?
Yes, very simple stuff actually. Any time you add content, make sure that what you add is
verifiable and is sourced to
a reliable source like a text book, journal article, newspaper article etc and is written
in neutral language -- meaning that it just explains the topic without taking any position on the issue.
Great to know that I can use a text book as a reference. Can I copy from it?
No, you will have to write the content in your own words -- you will have to paraphrase it. e.g. Imagine you find this source: Singh, R. A. (2006). Chhote Lal Khatri (ed.).
R.K. Narayan: reflections and re-evaluation. Sarup & Sons. p. 1.
ISBN9788176257138., and you think this passage from the book deserves to be included in the article on The Financial Expert:
The Financial Expert, the sixth novel published in 1952 is regarded as the masterpiece of R. K. Narayan's greatest single comic creation. It is in five parts corresponding to the five acts of an Elizabethean drama. The Financial Expert is well construed in the racy, realistic and sympathetic style of a comedy. It is about the rise and fall of Margayya, a money-lender of Malgudi.
One acceptable way to insert this content on to The Financial Expert would be to add the following in the relevant part of the article:
"''The Financial Expert'' is five part comedic novel authored by [[R. K. Narayan]]. The story revolves around a money-lender, detailing his successes and troubles and is set in the town of [[Malgudi]]. It was released in 1952.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=R. A.|editor= Chhote Lal Khatri|title=R.K. Narayan: reflections and re-evaluation|publisher=Sarup & Sons|date=2006|isbn=9788176257138|p=1|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=x8BwVbOEiGwC&lpg=PP1&dq=r.%20k.%20narayan&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref>
When you add the above, it will show as
The Financial Expert is five part comedic novel authored by
R. K. Narayan. The story revolves around a money-lender, detailing his successes and troubles and is set in the town of
Malgudi. It was released in 1952.[1]
Actually you can. Wikipedia content is
licensed under CC-BY-SA or GFDL (the text at the bottom of the source article will tell you which) and you can therefore copy content from one article to another, but you will have to
attribute the source.
So you want to copy the following text:
"In cricket, a five-wicket haul (also known as a "five–for" or "fifer")[1][2] refers to a bowler taking five or more wickets in a single innings. This is regarded as a notable achievement,[3] and fewer than 30 bowlers have taken more than 15 five-wicket hauls at international level in their cricketing careers.[4][5]"
Click edit on the McGrath list and copy the text. Next, open the Kumble list in a new tab/window and click edit and paste the text in your desired location. Do not save yet. Now go back to the "history" tab of the McGrath article and click on the top most time/date - A version of the page will appear shortly, copy the hyperlink from this and go to the Kumble list. Now insert "Copied from <hyperlink>
List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Glenn McGrath in that little text box that says "Edit summary". Now press save. That's all there is to it. (See the
history of
List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Anil Kumble to see how this attribution looks).
I heard that it's ok to copy material from sources that are in
public domain. Is that not correct?
You heard correct. However, if you copy material from them without stating that you are copying material from them then that's
plagiarism. Also note that "public domain" does not mean available to the public etc. It means that the creator of the content has explicitly authorised anyone to use it or the copyright for that work has expired. A text book published in 1980, although available in public libraries, college libraries or just available for you to read without any charge is still not public domain material and should not be confused as such. An example of a public domain source is the NASA website --
www.nasa.gov (Note: Even on that website there could be material that is not in the public domain.)
No. There aren't any sources you can copy from; some you can copy from with attribution (like most parts of NASA), but there's no standard list. However, please note that you can not copy from the following for sure (this list is not exhaustive):
Government websites
School/college/university websites
Text books
Newspapers, magazines, journals, news websites
Other books
Websites, newsletters of NGOs
Blogs
Other encyclopaedias
General websites, topic specific websites
OK. But can I write an essay and put it up on the article?
But I'm doing my thesis and I've done a lot of research for it, can't I upload that?
Not right now. Wikipedia requires
secondary sources to discuss your work. So, when you publish your thesis, and if other sources such as Times of India or The Hindu or a book by an author who is notable in that field discusses it, then we can add content to an article, sourced to the secondary source.
I get it now. Is that all?
Yup, for the purpose of your course related editing this list is fine. However, don't forget to read the
Welcome page as that provides a more comprehensive look on our policies and guidelines.
Are there any rules to adding content to a Wikipedia article?
Yes, very simple stuff actually. Any time you add content, make sure that what you add is
verifiable and is sourced to
a reliable source like a text book, journal article, newspaper article etc and is written
in neutral language -- meaning that it just explains the topic without taking any position on the issue.
Great to know that I can use a text book as a reference. Can I copy from it?
No, you will have to write the content in your own words -- you will have to paraphrase it. e.g. Imagine you find this source: Singh, R. A. (2006). Chhote Lal Khatri (ed.).
R.K. Narayan: reflections and re-evaluation. Sarup & Sons. p. 1.
ISBN9788176257138., and you think this passage from the book deserves to be included in the article on The Financial Expert:
The Financial Expert, the sixth novel published in 1952 is regarded as the masterpiece of R. K. Narayan's greatest single comic creation. It is in five parts corresponding to the five acts of an Elizabethean drama. The Financial Expert is well construed in the racy, realistic and sympathetic style of a comedy. It is about the rise and fall of Margayya, a money-lender of Malgudi.
One acceptable way to insert this content on to The Financial Expert would be to add the following in the relevant part of the article:
"''The Financial Expert'' is five part comedic novel authored by [[R. K. Narayan]]. The story revolves around a money-lender, detailing his successes and troubles and is set in the town of [[Malgudi]]. It was released in 1952.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=R. A.|editor= Chhote Lal Khatri|title=R.K. Narayan: reflections and re-evaluation|publisher=Sarup & Sons|date=2006|isbn=9788176257138|p=1|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=x8BwVbOEiGwC&lpg=PP1&dq=r.%20k.%20narayan&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref>
When you add the above, it will show as
The Financial Expert is five part comedic novel authored by
R. K. Narayan. The story revolves around a money-lender, detailing his successes and troubles and is set in the town of
Malgudi. It was released in 1952.[1]
Actually you can. Wikipedia content is
licensed under CC-BY-SA or GFDL (the text at the bottom of the source article will tell you which) and you can therefore copy content from one article to another, but you will have to
attribute the source.
So you want to copy the following text:
"In cricket, a five-wicket haul (also known as a "five–for" or "fifer")[1][2] refers to a bowler taking five or more wickets in a single innings. This is regarded as a notable achievement,[3] and fewer than 30 bowlers have taken more than 15 five-wicket hauls at international level in their cricketing careers.[4][5]"
Click edit on the McGrath list and copy the text. Next, open the Kumble list in a new tab/window and click edit and paste the text in your desired location. Do not save yet. Now go back to the "history" tab of the McGrath article and click on the top most time/date - A version of the page will appear shortly, copy the hyperlink from this and go to the Kumble list. Now insert "Copied from <hyperlink>
List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Glenn McGrath in that little text box that says "Edit summary". Now press save. That's all there is to it. (See the
history of
List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Anil Kumble to see how this attribution looks).
I heard that it's ok to copy material from sources that are in
public domain. Is that not correct?
You heard correct. However, if you copy material from them without stating that you are copying material from them then that's
plagiarism. Also note that "public domain" does not mean available to the public etc. It means that the creator of the content has explicitly authorised anyone to use it or the copyright for that work has expired. A text book published in 1980, although available in public libraries, college libraries or just available for you to read without any charge is still not public domain material and should not be confused as such. An example of a public domain source is the NASA website --
www.nasa.gov (Note: Even on that website there could be material that is not in the public domain.)
No. There aren't any sources you can copy from; some you can copy from with attribution (like most parts of NASA), but there's no standard list. However, please note that you can not copy from the following for sure (this list is not exhaustive):
Government websites
School/college/university websites
Text books
Newspapers, magazines, journals, news websites
Other books
Websites, newsletters of NGOs
Blogs
Other encyclopaedias
General websites, topic specific websites
OK. But can I write an essay and put it up on the article?
But I'm doing my thesis and I've done a lot of research for it, can't I upload that?
Not right now. Wikipedia requires
secondary sources to discuss your work. So, when you publish your thesis, and if other sources such as Times of India or The Hindu or a book by an author who is notable in that field discusses it, then we can add content to an article, sourced to the secondary source.
I get it now. Is that all?
Yup, for the purpose of your course related editing this list is fine. However, don't forget to read the
Welcome page as that provides a more comprehensive look on our policies and guidelines.