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Basic How-To
Creating an Article
To create an article on this (or any) Wiki:
- Locate the search bar in the left-hand column of the web browser.
- Submit a search for the topic you want to write about.
If the topic you want to write about already has an article written about it, the search will take you to that article. If the article has not been created yet, you will see a page that prompts you to do so.
Article Format
Every Wiki article should adhere to a common format (also known as a Manual of Style or MoS) so articles are uniform and easier to navigate. To see an example of Wiki formatting, just open up a random page by clicking the "random page" link in the left-hand column on the web site. Most articles you come across will display the basic Wiki format.
If you plan on editing in the Wiki, you are strongly encouraged to read through the Wikipedia Manual of Style to obtain the most thorough knowledge of the MoS.
Creating the Perfect Wiki Article
A perfect wiki article...
- fills a gap; search for existing or related articles on the topic first.
- has a good title so it can be linked to and found easily and follows existing naming conventions.
- starts with a clear description of the subject; the lead introduces and explains the subject and its significance clearly and accurately, without going into excessive detail.
- is understandable; it is clearly expressed for both experts and non-experts in appropriate detail, and thoroughly explores and explains the subject.
- is nearly self-contained; it includes essential information and terminology, and is comprehensible by itself, without requiring significant reading of other articles.
- branches out; it contains wikilinks and sources to other articles and external information that add meaning to the subject.
- and branches in; editors have found and edited other significant wiki pages which make mention of the topic and link them to the article.
- acknowledges and explores all aspects of the subject; i.e., it covers every encyclopedic angle of the subject.
- is completely neutral and unbiased; it has a neutral point of view, presenting competing views on controversies logically and fairly, and pointing out all sides without favoring particular viewpoints. The most factual and accepted views are emphasized, and minority views are given a lower priority; sufficient information and references are provided so that readers can learn more about particular views.
- is of an appropriate length; it is long enough to provide sufficient information, depth, and analysis on its subject, without including unnecessary detail or information that would be more suitable in "sub-articles", related articles, or sister projects.
- reflects expert knowledge; it is grounded in fact and on sound scholarly and logical principles.
- is precise and explicit; it is free of vague generalities and half-truths that may arise from an imperfect grasp of the subject.
- is well-documented; all facts are cited from reputable sources, preferably sources that are accessible and up-to-date.
- is clear; it is written to avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding, using logical structure, and plain, clear prose; it is free of redundant language.
- is engaging; the language is descriptive and has an interesting, encyclopedic tone.
- follows standard writing conventions of modern English, including correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
- includes informative, relevant images—including maps, portraits, photographs and artworks—that add to a reader's interest or understanding of the text, but not so many as to detract from it. Each image should have an explanatory caption.
- is categorized.
- is not attainable. Editing may bring an article closer to perfection, but ultimately, perfection means different things to different Wikipedians. Perfection may not be achievable, but it's fun trying. For more information, see our editing policy.
Editing an Article
With the exception of a few protected pages, every page has a link that says "edit this page", which lets you edit the page you are looking at. It is a Wiki's most basic feature, and allows you to make corrections and add facts to articles. If you add information to a page, please provide references, because unreferenced facts are subject to removal.
Editing an already existing Wiki article is not an easy task for a beginniner. Fortunately, there are several resources available to make editing a lot easier and more simple to understand:
You'll also find it helpful to take a look at the source code of existing wiki pages to see how it works.
Categorizing an Article
Categorizing articles can be a bit tricky, and is best explained on Wikipedia's Category page. Just remember: if you're unsure of what category to put an article in, just leave that part of the article alone. In addition to the main sysop of the Wiki, there are many individuals who donate their time to fix small errors like that-- so don't worry about it if you're not sure about it!
Additional Info
This page is just a basic how-to for editing article on VirtualArtpedia, and by no means sums up all of the nuances involved with editing a Wiki article. For in-depth information on how to edit a wiki page, please visit the Wikipedia Tutorial Page.
