Wikipedia's rules, in plain English.
Wikipedia is governed by a handful of core policies. Understanding them explains almost everything about what can and cannot appear in an article - and why.
- Neutral point of view - articles describe, they do not advocate.
- Verifiability - claims must be checkable in reliable sources.
- No original research - no new analysis or unpublished claims.
- Notability - the subject must merit an article at all.
- Conflict of interest - connected editors must disclose and step back.
The three core content policies
Almost everything on Wikipedia flows from three policies that work together.
Neutral point of view (NPOV)
Articles must represent topics fairly, proportionately and without advocacy. They describe what reliable sources say, including significant differing views, rather than promote a position. This is why promotional writing is removed: it is, by definition, not neutral.
Verifiability (V)
Readers must be able to check that information comes from a reliable source. On Wikipedia, the threshold is verifiability, not truth: even a true statement may be removed if it cannot be sourced.
No original research (NOR)
Articles may not contain new analysis, interpretation or unpublished facts. Everything must be traceable to published, reliable sources; editors summarise, they do not invent.
The rules that decide who and what gets an article
Notability
A subject earns an article only if it has received significant coverage in reliable, independent sources. See notability, explained.
Reliable sources
Not all sources are equal. Wikipedia prizes independent, secondary sources with editorial oversight. See reliable sources.
The rules that govern conduct
Conflict of interest (COI) and paid editing
Editors connected to a subject should disclose and avoid editing directly, instead proposing changes for independent review. Paid contributions must be disclosed under the Terms of Use. See COI and paid editing.
Biographies of living persons (BLP)
Articles about living people are held to a stricter standard: poorly sourced or potentially defamatory material is removed promptly, and privacy is taken seriously.
Ownership
No one owns an article - not even its subject. Content is decided by community consensus, which is why stewardship, not control, is the only realistic posture.
Questions, answered plainly.
Q.What are the most important Wikipedia rules?
Q.Why does Wikipedia remove promotional content?
Q.What does "verifiability, not truth" mean?
Q.Can the subject of an article control its content?
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.