User:Qcne - Wikipedia
Articles generally require significant coverage
in reliable sources
that are independent of the subject.
Significant coverage
We need significant coverage. We need multiple sources that discuss the topic directly and in detail. Not: passing mentions, directory listings, government records, or any old thing that happens to have the topic's name in it. Several of them. The subject of the article must be notable.
Reliable sources
We need sources that are reliable. Usually this means that the publisher has a reputation for fact checking and accuracy. A major newspaper, a factual, widely-published book, academic journals, high-quality generally trusted mainstream publications. Not forums, blogs, social media, fansites, wikis, or other sites with user-generated content. The content of the article must be verifiable.
Independent
We need sources that are independent from the subject of the article. Nothing written by the subject, paid for by the subject, or affiliated with the subject. Not their website, not a press release, not an interview.
References
Readers should be able to rely on what they read and be able to verify claims they read in Wikipedia articles. So, add footnotes to your article citing reliable sources as described.
Did I decline or reject your draft? Read below...
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Declined: This submission is not adequately supported by reliable sources / This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article.
Wikipedia only hosts articles about notable topics whose information can be verified to a reliable source; the test of notability is determined if the topic has had significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject. No sources means no article is possible.
The sources should be:
- - Reliable: We prefer secondary sources that are published by reputable institutions with proof of editorial oversight. Primary sources can be used for basic facts (such as a date of birth), but they should be supplemented with strong secondary sources that offer in-depth analysis, discussion, or interpretation.
- - Independent: Your sources should be independent of the topic, for example not interviews with the subject, self-published, or from the subject's own website.
- - Show significant coverage: Your topic should be discussed in detail in the sources you find. The sources should provide in-depth analysis, discussion, or interpretation about the topic, going beyond basic facts or promotional material.
- - From multiple places: We usually require at least three reliable, independent, secondary sources that discuss the topic.
- - Not original research: Wikipedia articles should summarise existing knowledge about a topic. Wikipedia is a tertiary source and is not a place to present new research. Do not draw your own conclusions or analyses from the sources.
For more information about verifiability, see the policy page Wikipedia:Verifiability.
If you cannot find significant coverage of your topic in multiple, reliable, independent sources then it would not meet our notability criteria and therefore would not merit an article at this time.
Declined: This submission does not appear to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. / This submission appears to read more like an advertisement than an entry in an encyclopedia.
Wikipedia articles must be written from a neutral point of view. They should not promote or advertise the subject.
The language should be:
- - Neutral: Articles must be neutral. Don't take sides, promote, or criticise the subject. Don't address the reader directly. Simply paraphrase or summarise reliable sources in a neutral and encyclopaedic way, and let readers form their own opinions.
- - Non-promotional: Don't write the article like an advert or a press release. Avoid any emotive language or weasel words. Stick to plain, factual statements. Pretend you are a completely disinterested party simply reporting the facts.
For more information about neutrality, see the policy page Wikipedia:Neutral point of view.
If your draft contains promotional content or biased language, it cannot be accepted and may be deleted.
Rejected: This topic is not sufficiently notable for inclusion in Wikipedia.
Wikipedia only hosts articles about notable topics, using our special criteria of "notability" which has been developed over the last two decades. "Notability" does not mean "popular" or "famous"; instead the test of notability is determined if the topic has had significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject.
For more information about notability, see the policy page Wikipedia:Notability.
If I have rejected your article for this reason, what you have written is not yet notable and does not merit an article at this time.
If something has fundamentally changed about your topic and you can now prove notability, let me know and I can take another look.
Rejected: This submission is contrary to the purpose of Wikipedia.
Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia and can only accept articles about real topics that can be referenced by reliable sources. Wikipedia is not:
- A place to host your original research, a place to write personal essays or opinions, or to document something you've just invented or made up.
- A place to promote or advertise a topic, person, or thing.
- A social media website or discussion forum.
- A business directory.
- An indiscriminate collection of everything to have ever existed.
For more information about what Wikipedia is not, see the policy page Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not.
If I have rejected your article for this reason, what you have written is not suitable for Wikipedia and can not be published.
You will not be able to re-submit your draft for review.
Frequently asked questions
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My draft wasn't accepted but I've found existing articles that are poor quality. Why was my draft not accepted but they were?
Wikipedia has many millions of articles, tens of thousands of which are poor quality and should be improved or deleted. As we're a volunteer project no one has gotten around to doing that yet. If you have found articles that are of poor quality, please do feel free to improve them or nominate them for deletion. We don't want to add more poor quality articles to the project.
Wikipedia has also existed for two decades, and in the early days articles were created with less rigor. Notability standards have also gotten more strict over the years.
If you want to base your draft on a good article, choose one that has been rated Good by the community.
The topic I am writing about is famous, why did you decline my draft for not being notable?
Wikipedia uses "notability" as a test to see if a topic meets our criteria for inclusion, but our special definition of "notability" doesn't mean "famous" or "popular" or "well-known".
Instead, take "notability" to mean "noted in multiple reliable published secondary sources".
For more information about how we define notability, see the policy page Wikipedia:Notability.
My draft exists on another language Wikipedia, why wasn't it accepted on the English language Wikipedia?
Each Wikipedia language project is entirely separate and unaffiliated, with different policies and guidelines. What may be acceptable on one may not be acceptable on this one. The English language Wikipedia project generally has the strictest notability, referencing, and content requirements of any of them.
My draft was deleted, how do I get it back?
Please visit Wikipedia:Requests for undeletion. However, if your draft was unambiguous advertising or promotion, copyright infringement, or an attack page (amongst other reasons), it will not be returned to you.