Wikipedia FAQ: 30 Common Questions Answered

Quick answers to 30 questions people often ask about Wikipedia, with a source for each. The answers summarize the Wikimedia UK FAQ and Wikipedia’s own “Ten things you may not know” page, so check those pages for their current wording.

What is Wikipedia? A free, web-based encyclopedia written and maintained by volunteers using wiki software (Wikipedia).
Who owns Wikipedia? Wikipedia is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, and its content is written by contributors and published under a free license (WMUK).
How reliable is Wikipedia? Its reliability varies because anyone can edit it, but errors are often corrected quickly by active editors (WMUK, Wikipedia).
Who writes Wikipedia? Volunteers from around the world contribute and edit articles (WMUK).
Can Wikipedia be cited in research papers? It’s usually discouraged as a primary source. Consult the sources cited in the article instead (WMUK).
How does Wikipedia make money? It is funded primarily by donations and grants, and it does not display advertisements (WMUK).
What is Wikipedia’s neutral point of view policy? Articles must be written from a neutral point of view, presenting all significant views without bias (Wikipedia).
What are featured articles? These are the best articles on Wikipedia, reviewed for quality, neutrality and completeness (Wikipedia).
Can anyone edit Wikipedia? Yes, anyone with internet access can edit most pages (Wikipedia).
How is content monitored for accuracy? Wikipedia relies on community quality control, including patrolling edits, tagging problematic articles and reporting vandalism (Wikipedia).
Who oversees Wikipedia’s operation? The Wikimedia Foundation manages the site, but editorial decisions are governed by the user community (WMUK, Wikipedia).
What are WikiProjects? Collaborative efforts by editors to improve specific topic areas (Wikipedia).
What are Wikipedia’s sister projects? Wikipedia belongs to a larger group of projects, including Wiktionary (dictionary), Wikimedia Commons (media) and Wikibooks (textbooks) (Wikipedia).
Why does Wikipedia ask for donations? It depends on donations to keep access free and avoid advertisements (WMUK).
How often is Wikipedia updated? Continuously, as editors contribute or revise articles in real time (Wikipedia).
Can I create a new Wikipedia article? Yes, but new articles must meet Wikipedia’s notability and sourcing guidelines to stay published (WMUK).
Why do some pages restrict editing? Certain articles may be locked or semi-protected to prevent vandalism or maintain quality, especially highly trafficked pages (Wikipedia).
How does Wikipedia handle vandalism? Volunteers revert it quickly, and persistent vandals may be blocked from editing (WMUK, Wikipedia).
What are stubs? A stub is a short article that needs more content. Wikipedia encourages editors to expand them (Wikipedia).
What is the Wikipedia community? Editors, administrators and users who work together to maintain and improve the encyclopedia (Wikipedia).
What are the Five Pillars? Five guiding principles: an encyclopedia, a neutral point of view, free content, a respectful community and flexible editing (Wikipedia).
Is Wikipedia a non-profit? Yes. It is run by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation (WMUK).
How does Wikipedia verify information? Information must be verifiable and backed by reliable sources, and editors are responsible for adding citations (Wikipedia).
How can I track changes to an article? Every article has a history showing each edit and who made it (Wikipedia).
What is Wikipedia’s citation policy? Articles must include reliable, published sources, and unsourced material may be removed (Wikipedia).
What happens in a content dispute? Editors discuss it on article talk pages, and neutral editors sometimes mediate (Wikipedia).
Does Wikipedia have an official app? Yes, there are mobile apps for Android and iOS (WMUK).
What is a disambiguation page? It helps readers choose between articles with the same or similar titles (Wikipedia).
How does Wikipedia deal with biased content? Content is meant to be written from a neutral point of view and supported by reliable sources (Wikipedia).
Can I use Wikipedia images for free? Many images are licensed for free use under Creative Commons, but restrictions can apply depending on the license (Wikipedia).