QNA About Wikipedia

1. What is Wikipedia?
   • A free, web-based encyclopedia written and maintained by volunteers using a wiki-based system​(American Cultures Center).
2. Who owns Wikipedia?
   • Wikipedia is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, and content is owned by contributors under a free copyright license​(WMUK).
3. How reliable is Wikipedia?
   • Its reliability varies because anyone can edit it, but errors are often quickly corrected by active editors​(WMUK)​(Wikipedia).
4. Who writes Wikipedia?
   • Volunteers from around the world contribute and edit Wikipedia articles​(WMUK).
5. Can Wikipedia be cited in research papers?
   • It’s usually discouraged as a primary source. Instead, users should consult the sources cited in the article​(WMUK).
6. How does Wikipedia make money?
   • Wikipedia is funded primarily by donations and grants, and it does not display advertisements​(WMUK).
7. What is Wikipedia’s neutral point of view policy?
   • All articles must be written from a neutral point of view, presenting all significant views without bias​(Wikipedia).
8. What are featured articles?
   • These are the best articles on Wikipedia, reviewed for quality, neutrality, and completeness​(Wikipedia).
9. Can anyone edit Wikipedia?
   • Yes, anyone with internet access can edit most Wikipedia pages​(Wikipedia).
10. How is content on Wikipedia monitored for accuracy?
    • Wikipedia has community-driven quality control processes, including patrolling edits, tagging problematic articles, and reporting vandalism​(Wikipedia).
11. Who oversees Wikipedia’s operation?
    • Wikipedia is managed by the Wikimedia Foundation, but editorial decisions are governed by the user community​(WMUK)​(Wikipedia).
12. What are WikiProjects?
    • WikiProjects are collaborative efforts by editors to improve specific topic areas​(Wikipedia).
13. What are the sister projects of Wikipedia?
    • Wikipedia is part of a larger group of projects like Wiktionary (dictionary), Wikimedia Commons (media), Wikibooks (textbooks), and more​(Wikipedia).
14. Why does Wikipedia ask for donations?
    • Wikipedia depends on donations to maintain its free access and avoid the need for advertisements​(WMUK).
15. How often is Wikipedia updated?
    • Wikipedia is continuously updated, with changes occurring in real-time as editors contribute or revise articles​(Wikipedia).
16. Can I create a new Wikipedia article?
    • Yes, but new articles must meet Wikipedia’s notability and sourcing guidelines to remain published​(WMUK).
17. Why do some Wikipedia pages have restrictions on editing?
    • Certain articles may be locked or semi-protected to prevent vandalism or maintain quality, especially on highly trafficked pages​(Wikipedia).
18. How does Wikipedia handle vandalism?
    • Vandalism is quickly reverted by volunteers, and persistent vandals may be blocked from editing​(WMUK)​(Wikipedia).
19. What are stubs on Wikipedia?
    • A stub is a short article that needs further content. Wikipedia encourages editors to expand these stubs​(Wikipedia).
20. What is the Wikipedia community?
    • The Wikipedia community consists of editors, administrators, and users who work together to maintain and improve the encyclopedia​(Wikipedia).
21. What are the Five Pillars of Wikipedia?
    • Wikipedia is based on five guiding principles: an encyclopedia, neutral point of view, free content, respectful community, and flexible editing​(Wikipedia).
22. Is Wikipedia a non-profit?
    • Yes, Wikipedia is run by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation​(WMUK).
23. How does Wikipedia verify information?
    • Information must be verifiable and backed by reliable sources, and editors are responsible for adding citations​(Wikipedia).
24. How can I track changes made to an article?
    • Wikipedia allows users to view the history of an article, showing every edit and who made it​(Wikipedia).
25. What is Wikipedia’s citation policy?
    • Articles must include reliable, published sources, and unsourced material may be removed​(Wikipedia).
26. What happens when there is a dispute about content?
    • Disputes are resolved through discussion on article talk pages, and sometimes mediation by neutral editors​(Wikipedia).
27. Does Wikipedia have an official app?
    • Yes, Wikipedia has mobile apps available for both Android and iOS, providing easy access to its content​(WMUK).
28. What is a disambiguation page?
    • Disambiguation pages help resolve confusion between articles that have the same or similar titles​(Wikipedia).
29. How does Wikipedia deal with biased content?
    • Bias is removed by ensuring all content is written from a neutral point of view, supported by reliable sources​(Wikipedia).
30. Can I use Wikipedia images for free?
    • Many images on Wikipedia are licensed for free use under Creative Commons, but some restrictions may apply based on the license​(Wikipedia).

This comprehensive list covers some of the most common questions people ask about Wikipedia, offering a better understanding of how the platform operates​ (American Cultures Center)​ (WMUK)​

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