Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2013 April 3

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April 3

Writing an article in Wikipedia

Hi ! Am I allowed to just write anything, I mean any article in the Wikipedia? Or did it require something or was it a long process?

If I will write an article, does it need an approval to someone or it would automatically be posted somewhere in Wikipedia?

Could you tell me how it is being done? Thank You. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 112.198.77.36 (talk) 04:59, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

Instructions for creating an article is here : Wikipedia:Your_first_article

However you are not really allowed to write about "anything", articles must be about notable subjects. (Guideline here : Wikipedia:Notability) There's no approval process, the article will go up right away, but if it doesn't satisfy the notability guideline someone will delete it very soon after you make it.

Hope this helps. APL (talk) 05:08, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

Well, you are can write anything - but the odds are high that if you don't follow our guidelines, then your work will be deleted very soon afterwards! There are many difficult and complicated guidelines about what will be deleted and what won't...the most important ones (in my opinion) are:

1. Writing about living people is a minefield. We have a specific guideline about that (WP:BLP) which you should read before writing a single word!
2. Articles must be about "notable" subjects. You can't write an article about your friend...unless he's an olympic athlete or a prize-winning author or something. The rules for notability are really complicated (Wikipedia:Notability)- but they can best be summarized as: Would you expect to find an article about this subject in an encyclopedia?
3. Articles must be "referenced". The information in the article has to come from somewhere other than your own head! Any point mentioned in an article that isn't "obvious" (like "the sky is blue") should be linked to a book or a newspaper or an article in a scientific journal...something like that.
4. The article has to be your own work - you can't copy it from someplace else. Don't type in a magazine article or scan in someone else's photo or copy/paste from a web page someplace.

If you can clearly see that what you're writing passes those tests - then creating an article is remarkably easy. Type the name of your article into the "Search" box - and if it doesn't already exist then you'll be given the opportunity to create it. Do that, and just start writing...it's incredibly easy.

But do expect criticism...and if your article "vanishes" within a few days, then in all likelyhood, it's because you broke one of the guidelines that I just mentioned...there are others too - but most of the time, articles are given the benefit of the doubt. SteveBaker (talk) 13:29, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

IGNOAPS

Pls advise where to apply for senior citizens' pension scheme under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme and the application form availability, etc.

Iam 60+ and hail from Kerala (Palakkad)

Radhakrishnan — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.192.89.222 (talk) 07:33, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

This page may be a good place to start looking for more information. Rmhermen (talk) 01:24, 4 April 2013 (UTC)

ferruginous hawk/rough-legged buzzard

I was working at 300 college st in Toronto.I saw a large bird of prey take down a pidgeon in the laneway.Is it possible that it was a rough legged buzzard or a ferruginous hawk.I couldnt get a pic unfortunatly for it blended to well with the backround.The bird was easily close to 24inches tall and its feathers covered its legs all the way down — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.147.2.212 (talk) 15:17, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

Have you got a question? Or are you asking us to identify the bird? --ColinFine (talk) 15:42, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

Do our articles on Rough-legged Buzzard or Ferruginous Hawk help you?--Shantavira|^{feed me} 16:33, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

Greater Toronto Raptor Watch says "If you have a question not answered here, please email us." Alansplodge (talk) 17:00, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

Salen mustang

How many 04 salen conv. Mustang were Comption orange were produced? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.149.41.120 (talk) 21:23, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

You might have to ask the company themselves; I don't think that information is lying around on the Internet. Here is a table of the total figures from the Saleen Owners and Enthusiasts Club, in case that helps. You might consider asking the same question on their forum, too: If anyone can help, it's those guys. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 22:01, 3 April 2013 (UTC)

If anyone is wondering what the hell Saleen is, here is our article: Saleen. Astronaut (talk) 18:42, 4 April 2013 (UTC)