Wikipedia notability, explained.
Notability is the single concept that decides whether a Wikipedia article can exist. It is widely misunderstood - so here is what it actually means, in plain terms.
- Notability ≠ fame, wealth or importance. It is about coverage.
- The test: significant coverage in reliable, independent sources.
- Significant = addresses the subject directly and in detail.
- Independent = not produced by the subject or their associates.
- Specific guidelines exist for people, companies and other topics.
What "notable" means on Wikipedia
In everyday language, "notable" means important or famous. On Wikipedia it means something narrower and more precise: a subject is notable if it has received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject. This is the General Notability Guideline (often abbreviated GNG), and it is the gate every article must pass.
Breaking the test down
Significant coverage
Sources must address the subject directly and in detail - not a passing mention, a quote, or a name in a list. A feature article about you is significant; being named once in a story about something else is not.
Reliable sources
Coverage must come from sources with a reputation for editorial oversight and fact-checking - established news organisations, books from reputable publishers, peer-reviewed work. See reliable sources.
Independent of the subject
The coverage must be by people unconnected to the subject. Press releases, your own website, autobiographies, paid placements and interviews where you simply speak about yourself do not count towards notability.
Multiple sources
One good article is rarely enough. Notability is usually shown through several independent sources covering the subject over time.
Subject-specific guidelines
Beyond the general guideline, Wikipedia has specific notability standards for categories such as people (including academics, athletes and creatives), companies and organisations, and others. The guideline for organisations is notably strict, reflecting how often company pages are attempted promotionally.
Why this matters before you write a word
Notability cannot be manufactured by good writing. If the independent coverage does not exist, no article will survive review - and an honest assessment of notability is therefore the first thing any responsible adviser does. It is where our creation process always begins.
Questions, answered plainly.
Q.Does being rich or successful make me notable on Wikipedia?
Q.How many sources do I need to be notable?
Q.Do social media followers count towards notability?
Q.Is notability permanent?
Related pages.
Begin a confidential conversation.
If you believe your achievements meet the threshold for an encyclopedic entry - or you wish to review an existing one - we would be glad to assess it candidly and in confidence.