- You don't need an account to edit Wikipedia, so why bother?
- Creating a user account offers a number of benefits.
- Registering offers you privacy and security. Registered editors have greater anonymity than those who think they are editing “anonymously” from an IP address.
- You establish an online identity; this allows you to build a reputation of trust through a history of good editing.
- It makes it easier to communicate and collaborate, by providing you with user pages where you can draft articles and where people can leave you messages.
- Logging into an account gives you access to enhanced editing features and customization:
- You can start new pages
- You can rename pages
- You can edit pages that are "semi-protected"
- You have a watchlist - to help you track the status of articles you are interested in.
- First select a username that is available and unique.
- Real name or pseudonym? Consider the type of editing you intend to do, and remember that every edit will be publicly associated with your username for eternity.
- The use of more than one account is generally frowned upon (though there are some legitimate uses).
- Multiple accounts that are used to deceive, misrepresent or disrupt (a practice called sock puppetry) will result in your IP being blocked from editing Wikipedia.
- You now have access to a range of special pages that are personal to your new account:
- Links to these can be found on bar at the top right of every Wikipedia page:
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