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Can You Edit Your Own Wikipedia Page?
For centuries, countless individuals have wandered the ends of the earth in search to quench their thirst for knowledge. Back then, knowledge was a privilege and wasn’t easily accessible. Lucky for us, things have changed drastically.
Gone are the days when we’d spend days cramped up in libraries, burying our noses in books, learning more about every subject we could think of. In today’s digital era, information can be accessed with just one touch, thanks to the internet.
Although there are several encyclopedias in the digital world, one has become the most popular one. We are talking about none other than one of the most visited websites on the internet—Wikipedia. Brought to existence by The Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia is a collaborative open-source platform that possesses pages and articles on an array of diverse topics.
While this platform is known and used by billions, individuals still have some ambiguities about how Wikipedia continues to maintain its integrity and relevancy. In fact, some of the most common queries people have is if Wikipedia allows individuals to edit their pages.
If you have the same concern, you are in the right place. In this blog, we will dive into all these details and so much more.
How Do You Edit a Wikipedia Page?
Wikipedia has a colossal community that comprises contributors from every nook and cranny of the world. These contributors come together to keep this platform credible and the content it exhibits relevant. Amongst these various contributors are Wikipedia editors who continuously modify the contents of various articles and pages to maintain their integrity.
Unlike other platforms, Wikipedia has no restrictions for its contributors; people from different expertise and background are free to contribute to the platform. As a result, anyone can edit the pages. So, can I edit Wikipedia pages? The answer to that is yes. We’re sure now you’re wondering, how do you edit Wikipedia pages? Well, lucky for you, our experts have prepared a guide to help you.
But before that, we need to clarify certain things. We have already answered the most common question, can anyone edit Wikipedia pages? However, that doesn’t make navigating this platform as an editor hassle-free. Just because Wikipedia allows all sorts of contributions, it doesn’t mean there are no rules. This platform is known for having strict guidelines and policies, especially for editing.
Therefore, all editors are bound by these rules and need to contribute in accordance with them.
How to Edit Wikipedia Pages?
The process of editing a Wikipedia page can be a little tricky simply because they are two types of pages on the platform—protected and unprotected. As a result, editing both of them entails diverse steps that need to be followed, but don’t worry; we’ll teach you how do you edit Wikipedia pages.
So, let’s answer your question, can you edit a Wikipedia page in detail.
• Editing a Protected Page
Many individuals often wonder, “Can I edit any Wikipedia page?” You surely can, but before that, you need to know what you are dealing with. For instance, editing protected pages can be different than unprotected pages.
Before we dive into that, you need to understand what protected pages are. As the name suggests, these pages have complete or semi-protection to prevent any disputes over edits and to stop vandalism.
Here are the steps that teach you how do I edit a protected Wikipedia page:
1. Go the Page
If you want to edit a protected page, you need to first visit it. So, quickly look up the page or article you wish to edit.
2. Select the View Source Option
After you have successfully accessed the protected Wikipedia page or article, the next step is to select the “view source” option.
3. Submit an Edit
The next step is putting a request for an edit. Since this page is protected, you can’t edit it the usual way. Instead, you will have to click the “submit an edit” request, which will allow you to request an edit.
4. Specify Your Intention
Once you have requested to make an edit, you will be prompted to add the information regarding the edit you intend to make. This is where you need to specify what you want to do. If you aren’t sure about this, you can also discuss your edit on Wikipedia’s talk page before you go about it.
5. Select the “Show Preview” Option
If you’ve mentioned the edit, you can now click on the “show preview” option, and you will be able to see how these modifications will be visible on the talk page.
6. Select the “Publish Changes” Option
Last but not least, you can submit these changes after clicking the publish changes option.
• Editing an Unprotected Page
Unlike editing protected pages, unprotected pages are quite straightforward to navigate. All you need to do is follow these steps:
1. Find the Page
Before you begin editing any page on Wikipedia, you need to first come across that page. Edits are often made to update the information and correct a typo or incorrect piece of information.
2. Select the Edit Option
After you have found the Wikipedia page or article you wish to edit, select the “edit” option.
3. Edit the Page
Did you just click the edit option? Now it’s time to edit. Thoroughly examine the page for this step. After you’ve made a list of what edits need to be made, go about with them.
4. Click the “Show Preview” Option
If you’ve wrapped up all the edits, hit the “show preview” option to get an idea of how these edits will look without saving the changes. Once you’re sure they are good to go, you can move to the final step.
5. Click the “Publish Changes” Option
Have you edited the page and also seen how these changes will appear on the page via the show preview option? Then finalize these changes by clicking the publish changes option to save them. An effective editing tip is to include an edit summary that expands over all the changes you’ve made.
Can I Edit My Own Wikipedia Page?
Perhaps one of the most common queries our professionals get is, can I edit my Wikipedia page? Besides the usual Can I edit Wikipedia pages or Can I edit a Wikipedia page, many individuals want to know if it’s possible for them to make changes to their own pages. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t really do that.
Don’t get us wrong: sure, you can edit your own Wikipedia page, but Wikipedia is a platform that doesn’t support promotional content. In addition, they have strict rules about conflict of interest, and technically editing your own page falls under this category and can spark conflict of interest.
While there is no certified way to edit your Wikipedia page, there are a bunch of ways that can be accepted. But keep in mind that as per Wikipedia’s etiquette, editing your page is frowned upon. But then again, you can find a way around that and utilize adequate ways to do that.
For instance, you can add a comment on the discussion page for that respective article. You can wait while someone views it, and they can go forward and make the changes for you. Besides that, you can hire a professional Wikipedia editor for the task, but these professionals need to understand some key factors about the platform.
Here is a list of them.
• Wikipedia is the Largest Encyclopedia
Wikipedia offers the perfect blend of features from encyclopedias, gazetteers, and almanacs. And so, this platform must not be treated as an advertising platform, dictionary, vanity press, etc. It was and continues to operate as the largest online encyclopedia existing to provide an unlimited supply of accurate and relevant information.
• Wikipedia Content is Unbiased
Whether it’s pages or articles on the platform, each and every bit of information on Wikipedia has to be unbiased and written from a neutral point of view. The platform characterizes information rather than advocating or debating on them. Instead of presenting the truth they see, Wikipedia puts forwards all sorts of truth with utmost accuracy. As a result, all information is backed by citable, verifiable, and relevant sources.
• Wikipedia Possesses Content That is Available for All Purposes
Any editor affiliated with Wikipedia willingly licenses any contributions on the platform to the public. And so, they don’t own any page or article; all contributions can be edited and used as anyone wishes. In addition, as a Wikipedia editor, you’re liable to respect the copyright laws and not duplicate anyone’s work, so fair use of content needs to be practiced.
• Editors Must Respect Other Contributors
Any editor who is associated with Wikipedia must respect fellow contributors, even during times of disagreement or difference of opinion. At all times, they must be mindful of Wikipedia etiquette and refrain from any disrespect, such as inappropriate comments, personal attacks, edit wars, etc.
A rule of thumb is to assume good faith at all times and act accordingly. Be as welcoming and civil as you can be with others you are working with.
• Wikipedia is An Ever-Evolving Platform
Wikipedia is known for having rigorous guidelines and policies, and contributors are encouraged to abide by them and avoid disobeying them. However, that doesn’t mean they are carved in stone. With time, Wikipedia keeps evolving, and these guidelines may also change in various ways. In some rare cases, the emphasis on these rules may need to be avoided to keep the platform relevant and authoritative.
Can Anyone Edit a Wikipedia Page?
Are you lost in thought, wondering, “Can you edit Wikipedia pages”? By now, you probably have a clear understanding of this question. To put it out there, yes, Wikipedia doesn’t impose any restrictions on individuals who are interested in contributing to the platform in any way. So, if you are interested in writing or editing a page, you don’t have to think twice.
Having said that, there isn’t any hard and fast rule of limitations as to who can edit wiki pages and articles. Anyone who wishes to and abides by the platform’s guidelines is free to do so. As a result, your educational background or expertise doesn’t matter.
Are you hesitant about editing your page yourself? Think it’s better to reach out to a professional editor to get it done? Then, make sure you do your due diligence before you hire any professional, as it is imperative for them to keep all the guidelines in mind.
If you need some assistance and suggestions on where to find a trusted and experienced expert? We recommend The Wiki Inc.
We’re an all-inclusive Wikipedia agency that is known for handling every task related to this platform with the utmost professionalism. Not to forget, our services are available at brilliant pricing plans.
So, hurry up ad get in touch with us to work with us.
Like writing, Wikipedia editing also contains some rules and guidelines that need to be followed. Some common rules are don’t edit to cause harm or compromise the content, refrain from being biased, don’t change the tone by overediting, avoid making extensive edits, etc. You can learn more about these with our experts.
Wikipedia edit wars are when two editors from the platform engage in a dispute or disagreement regarding the edits. So, these wars occur when two or more editors aren’t on the same page in terms of edits and continue to override the contributions made by each other.
Paid editing is when an editor is paid to make edits on various pages and articles on the platform in return for money. Contrary to popular belief, Wikipedia doesn’t pay its contributors. Any contributions made by these professionals are voluntary and won’t be compensated. However, some individuals outsource editors from agencies and pay them to edit their pages.
