This is an
essay on the
WP:PROPOSAL policy. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of
Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been
thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
This page in a nutshell: A list of recommendations regarding the creation and updating of policy and guideline pages. See WP:PROPOSAL for official procedural details. |
In the context of this page, the term "guidance" has a broad meaning: it applies to most "Wikipedia:" (project) namespace pages (except WikiProjects and discussion pages like the Wikipedia:Village pump pages), and equally to almost any "Help:" namespace page.
The recommendations on this page apply both to the creation of new guidance and to the improvement or updating of existing guidance.
There are two main approaches for the creation of additional guidance in Wikipedia:
An example of the first approach is the creation of Wikipedia:Biographies of living people following the problems experienced with the Seigenthaler controversy.
On the other hand, the creation process of guidance like Wikipedia:Naming conventions (dates and numbers) reflects the second approach.
Only in the case when somebody has a brilliant and original idea to solve an existing problem (first approach), and furthermore that solution is instantly adopted by the community at large, could it be said that guidance is created "from scratch". Usually, however, the creation of guidance involves many intermediate steps before the community agrees on the new standards. Specifically, there is broad agreement at "policy" level that the essential features are already contained in the current ruleset, not calling for sweeping changes. Nonetheless, Wikipedia founder Jimbo Wales or the Board of Trustees can initiate the creation process of a policy "from scratch" (example: Wikipedia:Office actions, initiated by Jimbo, or a later example).
Most guidance is created as a combination of the first and second approaches; for example, Wikipedia:Footnotes results from technical novelties requested by the community (first approach), then written down in guidance on how to use the updated technical features (second approach).
It is usually not such a good idea to insert novel ideas on guidance in the top level guidance pages ( policies and important guidelines). In that case, attempt an essay or a new guideline proposal instead. If help is desired in forming an acceptable proposal, one may wish to invite others to brainstorm ideas.
If an essay contradicts existing policies and adopted guidelines, the essay would better be removed in order not to create confusion. In other words, essays should not be used to create an alternative rule set – such alternative ideas can better be presented via discussion on the talk page of a related guideline or via a project namespace discussion platform like Wikipedia:Village pump (policy). Guideline proposals should also not be used to attempt to create a contradictory ruleset; use relevant discussion pages instead if you think your alternative ideas have merit.
New or alternative guidance proposals that would affect the nature of Wikipedia (key policies and essential guidelines that more or less define the nature of Wikipedia) should be discussed on the mailing list (compare User:Jimbo Wales/Statement of principles, point 6).
Consider that the most important job on guidance pages is pruning, rather than the expansion of the ruleset. Constant expansion of the body of policies and guidelines can make it into a swamp, not nearly like the handy toolset editors may expect to find.
Maintaining a clear and organic structure of the ruleset can be seen as part of much-appreciated pruning efforts – for instance, updating naming conventions guideline pages to a common and recognizable structure can be seen as a contribution to such pruning effort.
The following general principles were gathered together following the implementation of several policies across the encyclopedia. As you will see from these recommendations themselves, these points are guidelines, not rules. You know best what will work in your case.
Policies as well as guidelines can benefit from examples:
The central place to discuss policies is Village pump (policy). Policy issues also may be formulated and debated on talk pages, at Meta, on IRC, and on our mailing lists. The Community Portal offers a Community bulletin board to post Wikipedia-related news and announcements, including the locations of policy proposals and discussions. Remember, participants may be unregistered, or may take part using an account; encourage wide participation.
[...] οἱ αὐτοὶ ἤτοι κρίνομέν γε ἢ ἐνθυμούμεθα ὀρθῶς τὰ πράγματα, οὐ τοὺς λόγους τοῖς ἔργοις βλάβην ἡγούμενοι, ἀλλὰ μὴ προδιδαχθῆναι μᾶλλον λόγῳ πρότερον ἢ ἐπὶ ἃ δεῖ ἔργῳ ἐλθεῖν |
[...] although only a few may originate a policy, we are all able to judge it, and instead of looking on discussion as a stumbling-block in the way of action, we think it an indispensable preliminary to any wise action at all. | |
Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War, from
Pericles' funeral oration (
II.40.2) translation Karl Popper ( The Open Society and its Enemies, Ch 10.IV) and Perseus website |
This is an
essay on the
WP:PROPOSAL policy. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of
Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been
thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
This page in a nutshell: A list of recommendations regarding the creation and updating of policy and guideline pages. See WP:PROPOSAL for official procedural details. |
In the context of this page, the term "guidance" has a broad meaning: it applies to most "Wikipedia:" (project) namespace pages (except WikiProjects and discussion pages like the Wikipedia:Village pump pages), and equally to almost any "Help:" namespace page.
The recommendations on this page apply both to the creation of new guidance and to the improvement or updating of existing guidance.
There are two main approaches for the creation of additional guidance in Wikipedia:
An example of the first approach is the creation of Wikipedia:Biographies of living people following the problems experienced with the Seigenthaler controversy.
On the other hand, the creation process of guidance like Wikipedia:Naming conventions (dates and numbers) reflects the second approach.
Only in the case when somebody has a brilliant and original idea to solve an existing problem (first approach), and furthermore that solution is instantly adopted by the community at large, could it be said that guidance is created "from scratch". Usually, however, the creation of guidance involves many intermediate steps before the community agrees on the new standards. Specifically, there is broad agreement at "policy" level that the essential features are already contained in the current ruleset, not calling for sweeping changes. Nonetheless, Wikipedia founder Jimbo Wales or the Board of Trustees can initiate the creation process of a policy "from scratch" (example: Wikipedia:Office actions, initiated by Jimbo, or a later example).
Most guidance is created as a combination of the first and second approaches; for example, Wikipedia:Footnotes results from technical novelties requested by the community (first approach), then written down in guidance on how to use the updated technical features (second approach).
It is usually not such a good idea to insert novel ideas on guidance in the top level guidance pages ( policies and important guidelines). In that case, attempt an essay or a new guideline proposal instead. If help is desired in forming an acceptable proposal, one may wish to invite others to brainstorm ideas.
If an essay contradicts existing policies and adopted guidelines, the essay would better be removed in order not to create confusion. In other words, essays should not be used to create an alternative rule set – such alternative ideas can better be presented via discussion on the talk page of a related guideline or via a project namespace discussion platform like Wikipedia:Village pump (policy). Guideline proposals should also not be used to attempt to create a contradictory ruleset; use relevant discussion pages instead if you think your alternative ideas have merit.
New or alternative guidance proposals that would affect the nature of Wikipedia (key policies and essential guidelines that more or less define the nature of Wikipedia) should be discussed on the mailing list (compare User:Jimbo Wales/Statement of principles, point 6).
Consider that the most important job on guidance pages is pruning, rather than the expansion of the ruleset. Constant expansion of the body of policies and guidelines can make it into a swamp, not nearly like the handy toolset editors may expect to find.
Maintaining a clear and organic structure of the ruleset can be seen as part of much-appreciated pruning efforts – for instance, updating naming conventions guideline pages to a common and recognizable structure can be seen as a contribution to such pruning effort.
The following general principles were gathered together following the implementation of several policies across the encyclopedia. As you will see from these recommendations themselves, these points are guidelines, not rules. You know best what will work in your case.
Policies as well as guidelines can benefit from examples:
The central place to discuss policies is Village pump (policy). Policy issues also may be formulated and debated on talk pages, at Meta, on IRC, and on our mailing lists. The Community Portal offers a Community bulletin board to post Wikipedia-related news and announcements, including the locations of policy proposals and discussions. Remember, participants may be unregistered, or may take part using an account; encourage wide participation.
[...] οἱ αὐτοὶ ἤτοι κρίνομέν γε ἢ ἐνθυμούμεθα ὀρθῶς τὰ πράγματα, οὐ τοὺς λόγους τοῖς ἔργοις βλάβην ἡγούμενοι, ἀλλὰ μὴ προδιδαχθῆναι μᾶλλον λόγῳ πρότερον ἢ ἐπὶ ἃ δεῖ ἔργῳ ἐλθεῖν |
[...] although only a few may originate a policy, we are all able to judge it, and instead of looking on discussion as a stumbling-block in the way of action, we think it an indispensable preliminary to any wise action at all. | |
Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War, from
Pericles' funeral oration (
II.40.2) translation Karl Popper ( The Open Society and its Enemies, Ch 10.IV) and Perseus website |