Hi! Welcome to Wikipedia!

Thanks for your contributions to Wikipedia. Below is a raft of links to help you. (I know, unbelievable that a free encyclopedia should have so many rules, but apparently people like to make rules.)

  1. Start at Wikipedia:Introduction. But if you're too busy to click through a few screens, try this basic table of how to write Wikipedia's links, headings, etc. And when you're finished, try the wikimarkup out in the sandbox.
  2. You want to make sure you know the Five Pillars of Wikipedia, which are the most important rules. I've summarized them here (although you still should read the full page):
    • Wikipedia is an encyclopedia. Try for accuracy and verifiability, and don't try to create articles about yourself, your friends, dog, school, or company... not, at least, until you have read the criteria for notability and know that what you're writing about meets those criteria.
    • Wikipedia has a neutral point of view policy. Give reasonable weight to all sides of an issue, without overemphasizing any one view, and without inflating fringe views.
    • Wikipedia is free content (licensed under the GFDL) and can be edited by anyone. No one is a webmaster (except maybe Jimmy Wales) and anyone can change any article that you make with certain exceptions.
    • Wikipedia does have a sort of code of conduct. Do not attack anyone, and be civil, avoid making personal attacks, find consensus for your changes, avoid edit wars, follow the three-revert rule, and remember that there are about 2 million articles out there and you don't have to get into any disputes about any one article.
    • Wikipedia does not have any firm rules. Be bold, because nobody is perfect and you don't have to have a perfect encyclopedia article the first time around. Don't worry about messing up, either, because all previous versions are kept (check the "History" tab at the top of the page for all those previous versions!) and can be accessed and restored if need be.
  3. There is a help page for new contributors. Meanwhile, if you have any general knowledge questions, ask at the Wikipedia:Reference desk, and if you want to ask about the wiki itself, ask at the Wikipedia:Help desk.
  4. If you want to make an article after reading all this (and good job if you did!), see Wikipedia:Your first article.
  5. When you are making an edit, make sure to use a descriptive edit summary. (If you are reverting obvious vandalism, check the "This is a minor edit" checkbox and put "Reverting Vandalism" or "rvV" in the edit summary box.)
  6. When you are on a talk page (after clicking the "discussion" tab at the top), make sure to sign your posts using the automatic signature function, which can be accessed by the "sign your username" link just under the edit summary box, by clicking this button (), or by using four tildes - ~~~~ - which can be typed by holding down Shift, then tapping the "~ `" button (just under the "Esc" button) four times.
  7. This "getting started" page has a very comprehensive list, if you want to find everything you need or might want to know to start in Wikipedia.
  8. If you need any help and can't figure out how to get it, just put {{helpme}} on this page below me, describe the problem below that, and someone will be around shortly to assist you.

Happy editing!

From ~user:orngjce223 how am I typing? 16:29, 20 March 2009 (UTC)Reply

August 2011

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You currently appear to be engaged in an edit war according to the reverts you have made on Aircraft in fiction. Users are expected to collaborate with others and avoid editing disruptively.

In particular, the three-revert rule states that:

  1. Making more than three reversions on a single page within a 24-hour period is almost always grounds for an immediate block.
  2. Do not edit war even if you believe you are right.

If you find yourself in an editing dispute, use the article's talk page to discuss controversial changes; work towards a version that represents consensus among editors. You can post a request for help at an appropriate noticeboard or seek dispute resolution. In some cases it may be appropriate to request temporary page protection. If you continue to edit war, you may be blocked from editing without further notice.
Two experienced editors have reverted you and there is a discussion on the talk page. Refusing to participate in the discussion doesn't help you. Niteshift36 (talk) 02:25, 28 August 2011 (UTC)Reply

Problems with upload of File:551pmap-big.jpg

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Thanks for uploading File:551pmap-big.jpg. You don't seem to have said where the image came from, who created it, or what the copyright status is. We require this information to verify that the image is legally usable on Wikipedia, and because most image licenses require giving credit to the image's creator.

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Thank you for your cooperation. --ImageTaggingBot (talk) 16:05, 6 November 2011 (UTC)Reply

Problems with upload of File:AtlasF ArtistConceptDrawing Color.jpg

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Thank you for your cooperation. --ImageTaggingBot (talk) 16:05, 6 November 2011 (UTC)Reply

Problems with upload of File:Atlase-0-1A.jpg

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Thanks for uploading File:Atlase-0-1A.jpg. You don't seem to have said where the image came from, who created it, or what the copyright status is. We require this information to verify that the image is legally usable on Wikipedia, and because most image licenses require giving credit to the image's creator.

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Thank you for your cooperation. --ImageTaggingBot (talk) 16:06, 6 November 2011 (UTC)Reply

Problems with upload of File:ATLASE2.GIF

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Thanks for uploading File:ATLASE2.GIF. You don't seem to have said where the image came from, who created it, or what the copyright status is. We require this information to verify that the image is legally usable on Wikipedia, and because most image licenses require giving credit to the image's creator.

To add this information, click on this link, then click the "Edit" tab at the top of the page and add the information to the image's description. If you need help, post your question on Wikipedia:Media copyright questions.

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Thank you for your cooperation. --ImageTaggingBot (talk) 16:06, 6 November 2011 (UTC)Reply

License tagging for File:MissileAuctionAdvertisement-sm.jpg

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Thanks for uploading File:MissileAuctionAdvertisement-sm.jpg. You don't seem to have indicated the license status of the image. Wikipedia uses a set of image copyright tags to indicate this information.

To add a tag to the image, select the appropriate tag from this list, click on this link, then click "Edit this page" and add the tag to the image's description. If there doesn't seem to be a suitable tag, the image is probably not appropriate for use on Wikipedia. For help in choosing the correct tag, or for any other questions, leave a message on Wikipedia:Media copyright questions. Thank you for your cooperation. --ImageTaggingBot (talk) 19:06, 13 November 2011 (UTC)Reply

License tagging for File:Belmont1.jpg

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Thanks for uploading File:Belmont1.jpg. You don't seem to have indicated the license status of the image. Wikipedia uses a set of image copyright tags to indicate this information.

To add a tag to the image, select the appropriate tag from this list, click on this link, then click "Edit this page" and add the tag to the image's description. If there doesn't seem to be a suitable tag, the image is probably not appropriate for use on Wikipedia. For help in choosing the correct tag, or for any other questions, leave a message on Wikipedia:Media copyright questions. Thank you for your cooperation. --ImageTaggingBot (talk) 17:05, 29 July 2012 (UTC)Reply

License tagging for File:Belmont Manor House, Elkridge, Maryland Sept. 1991.jpg

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Thanks for uploading File:Belmont Manor House, Elkridge, Maryland Sept. 1991.jpg. You don't seem to have indicated the license status of the image. Wikipedia uses a set of image copyright tags to indicate this information.

To add a tag to the image, select the appropriate tag from this list, click on this link, then click "Edit this page" and add the tag to the image's description. If there doesn't seem to be a suitable tag, the image is probably not appropriate for use on Wikipedia. For help in choosing the correct tag, or for any other questions, leave a message on Wikipedia:Media copyright questions. Thank you for your cooperation. --ImageTaggingBot (talk) 16:05, 12 August 2012 (UTC)Reply

Talkback

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Hello, Archivist Robert. You have new messages at WP:MCQ.
Message added 21:10, 12 August 2012 (UTC). You can remove this notice at any time by removing the {{Talkback}} or {{Tb}} template.

ww2censor (talk) 21:10, 12 August 2012 (UTC)Reply

October 2013

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  Hello, I'm BracketBot. I have automatically detected that your edit to Plum Island (New York) may have broken the syntax by modifying 1 "[]"s. If you have, don't worry: just edit the page again to fix it. If I misunderstood what happened, or if you have any questions, you can leave a message on my operator's talk page.

List of unpaired brackets remaining on the page:
  • at the west end of the island. The first lighthouse on Plum Island was constructed in 1827.<ref>[http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=743 Plum Island, NY</ref> The light helped navigation

Thanks, BracketBot (talk) 20:55, 8 October 2013 (UTC)Reply

  Hello, I'm BracketBot. I have automatically detected that your edit to Plum Island (New York) may have broken the syntax by modifying 1 "()"s. If you have, don't worry: just edit the page again to fix it. If I misunderstood what happened, or if you have any questions, you can leave a message on my operator's talk page.

Thanks, BracketBot (talk) 16:58, 9 October 2013 (UTC)Reply

  Hello, I'm BracketBot. I have automatically detected that your edit to Plum Island (New York) may have broken the syntax by modifying 1 "[]"s. If you have, don't worry: just edit the page again to fix it. If I misunderstood what happened, or if you have any questions, you can leave a message on my operator's talk page.

Thanks, BracketBot (talk) 20:21, 11 October 2013 (UTC)Reply

Your submission at Articles for creation: Reevesland has been accepted

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Reevesland, which you submitted to Articles for creation, has been created.
The article has been assessed as Start-Class, which is recorded on the article's talk page. You may like to take a look at the grading scheme to see how you can improve the article.

You are more than welcome to continue making quality contributions to Wikipedia. Note that because you are a logged-in user, you can create articles yourself, and don't have to post a request. However, you may continue submitting work to Articles for Creation if you prefer.

Thank you for helping improve Wikipedia!

MatthewVanitas (talk) 15:55, 20 June 2015 (UTC)Reply

ArbCom 2018 election voter message

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Hello, Archivist Robert. Voting in the 2018 Arbitration Committee elections is now open until 23.59 on Sunday, 2 December. All users who registered an account before Sunday, 28 October 2018, made at least 150 mainspace edits before Thursday, 1 November 2018 and are not currently blocked are eligible to vote. Users with alternate accounts may only vote once.

The Arbitration Committee is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Wikipedia arbitration process. It has the authority to impose binding solutions to disputes between editors, primarily for serious conduct disputes the community has been unable to resolve. This includes the authority to impose site bans, topic bans, editing restrictions, and other measures needed to maintain our editing environment. The arbitration policy describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail.

If you wish to participate in the 2018 election, please review the candidates and submit your choices on the voting page. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 18:42, 19 November 2018 (UTC)Reply

ArbCom 2018 election voter message

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Hello, Archivist Robert. Voting in the 2018 Arbitration Committee elections is now open until 23.59 on Sunday, 3 December. All users who registered an account before Sunday, 28 October 2018, made at least 150 mainspace edits before Thursday, 1 November 2018 and are not currently blocked are eligible to vote. Users with alternate accounts may only vote once.

The Arbitration Committee is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Wikipedia arbitration process. It has the authority to impose binding solutions to disputes between editors, primarily for serious conduct disputes the community has been unable to resolve. This includes the authority to impose site bans, topic bans, editing restrictions, and other measures needed to maintain our editing environment. The arbitration policy describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail.

If you wish to participate in the 2018 election, please review the candidates and submit your choices on the voting page. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 18:42, 19 November 2018 (UTC)Reply

ArbCom 2019 election voter message

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 Hello! Voting in the 2019 Arbitration Committee elections is now open until 23:59 on Monday, 2 December 2019. All eligible users are allowed to vote. Users with alternate accounts may only vote once.

The Arbitration Committee is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Wikipedia arbitration process. It has the authority to impose binding solutions to disputes between editors, primarily for serious conduct disputes the community has been unable to resolve. This includes the authority to impose site bans, topic bans, editing restrictions, and other measures needed to maintain our editing environment. The arbitration policy describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail.

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Speedy deletion nomination of The Ivy Hotel

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If this is the first article that you have created, you may want to read the guide to writing your first article.

You may want to consider using the Article Wizard to help you create articles.

A tag has been placed on The Ivy Hotel requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under section G12 of the criteria for speedy deletion, because the page appears to be an unambiguous copyright infringement. This page appears to be a direct copy from https://web.archive.org/web/20150624025437/http://www.theivybaltimore.com/about-the-ivy/history-of-the-ivy/ and https://www.theivybaltimore.com/history/. For legal reasons, we cannot accept copyrighted text or images taken from other web sites or printed material, and as a consequence, your addition will most likely be deleted. You may use external websites or other printed material as a source of information, but not as a source of sentences. This part is crucial: say it in your own words. Wikipedia takes copyright violations very seriously and persistent violators will be blocked from editing.

If the external website or image belongs to you, and you want to allow Wikipedia to use the text or image — which means allowing other people to use it for any reason — then you must verify that externally by one of the processes explained at Wikipedia:Donating copyrighted materials. The same holds if you are not the owner but have their permission. If you are not the owner and do not have permission, see Wikipedia:Requesting copyright permission for how you may obtain it. You might want to look at Wikipedia's copyright policy for more details, or ask a question here.

If you think this page should not be deleted for this reason, you may contest the nomination by visiting the page and clicking the button labelled "Contest this speedy deletion". This will give you the opportunity to explain why you believe the page should not be deleted. However, be aware that once a page is tagged for speedy deletion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag from the page yourself, but do not hesitate to add information in line with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. Graywalls (talk) 10:41, 7 May 2020 (UTC)Reply

May 2020

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You have been blocked indefinitely from editing for advertising or self-promoting in violation of the conflict of interest and notability guidelines.
If you think there are good reasons for being unblocked, please read the guide to appealing blocks, then add the following text below the block notice on your talk page: {{unblock|reason=Your reason here ~~~~}}.  MER-C 17:26, 19 May 2020 (UTC)Reply