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Postponed deletion is part of the process for Articles for Deletion (AFD). It provides a way for editors to be given more time to try to correct the deficiencies in articles that led to the article being listed for deletion. This is primary for articles where there has been no notification, either through cleanup tags or through talk page discussions, such that the deletion proposal is the first time that the editors of that article have been notified of problems within the article, though other cases may warrant its use. However, if an article has been tagged for cleanup for one or more months and no work has been attempted to improve upon that despite the presence of other edits to the article, it is unlikely that postponing the article for cleanup will result in the expected cleanup.
The reasoning for postponing the deletion is that if an article is only first notified through the AFD process that it fails policy or guidelines, the AFD process only gives the editors five days to correct the issue. Some issues can be resolved in this short time, but others, such as demonstrating the notability of a topic or improving the language of the article, may take more time. Also, as Wikipedia is a volunteer project, a concerned editor may not be able to make the necessary changes within those five days; postponing would give them more time to find to help correct the article. Overall, this process should help to prevent "biting" newer editors to Wikipedia, while still helping to improve the quality of articles.
Nevertheless, a postponed deletion is not an indefinite postponement. Interested editors are expected to make reasonable effort to meet the concerns from the proposed deletion within four weeks from when the deletion was postponed. If such efforts are not made in that time, any editor is free to repropose the article for deletion, and except in outstanding situations, the deletion cannot be postponed again. It is not expected that an article will meet the high standards expected for featured articles, but should show reasonable progress towards addressing the points raised during the previous deletion debate.
Postponed deletion does not apply to articles that egregiously violate policy (such as biographies of living persons), nor applies to articles that meet the criteria for speedy deletion.
Process
editDuring the AFD process, if an editor feels that they can improve such an article within a month, they may ask to postpone; however, this suggestion should not be added frivolously; it is expected that the editor asking for postponement of the article will take the lead in bringing the article up to par. This does not mean other editors cannot assist, nor that the help of an appropriate WikiProject or Task Force brought in, but the onus is on the editor asking for more time.
Other editors may discuss the merits of postponing the deletion of an article to allow it to be cleaned up, basing their comments on what notification the article has seen before, the reliability or dedication of the editor asking for the postponement, and other factors. The closing administrator should weigh all other comments of the AFD and judge whether postponing is a reasonable option, giving the benefit of the doubt to postponing if there is no clear consensus with other actions.
When an AFD is closed as "postponed", the following template should be placed on the article's page:
 | Article Name has been nominated for deletion as per Wikipedia's policies and guidelines for the following reason: reason. However, this deletion has been postponed as of DATE to give editors more time to address these concerns. If, after four weeks from this date, these issues have not been adequately addressed from the ((OLDID/current version)), this article may be renominated for deletion. Please do not delete this message; it will removed when an editor reviews the article no less than four weeks from DATE. |
The template includes:
- The date which the AFD closed and the link to the AFD discussion, as well as a permanent link to the present article.
- The reasons why the article was at AFD as to identify what needs to be improved
One month after an article has been tagged with the above template, the article's state should be reconsidered:
- If the article has shown good faith improvements to meeting the cleanup issues in question, the article should be kept, removing the above template.
- If the article does not appear to have been improved, it should be relisted for AFD. Barring unique circumstances, an article that has already been postponed once through this process should not be allowed to be postponed again.
Current postponed articles
editHere are the list of articles that have been currently postponed from deletion. If you see an article that has been postponed for more than 4 weeks on this list, you may review the changes that have been made. If you feel that the article still fails the original concerns from the initial AFD, you may renominate this article for deletion. (ideally have by-day sections here for easy tracking of 28 days)