How to Edit a Page in Wikipedia

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Last Updated: October 22, 2024

Sometimes, while taking a look at a Wikipedia article, you might find a mistake in it. Here's how to edit a page.

It's recommended to create an account before doing this action. If you already have an account, log in. If you don't, you might want to create one to keep all your contributions in your account under your username. If you want to edit without an account, then continue below.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Editing an Unprotected Page

Download Article

1
Find the article that has a mistake (wrong information, spelling, etc.)
2
Click on the "Edit" icon.

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3
Correct the mistake you have found.
- Take a look again. Did you accidentally remove a word? Is there is anything else you could correct?
4
Click on Show preview. It will give you the chance to take a look at the article with your edits without saving the edit.
5
Click Publish changes. When you edited the page and clicked Show preview, click Publish changes to save your edits.
- Always do your best to leave an edit summary to describe that changes you have made.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Editing a Protected Page

Download Article

1
Go to the protected page.
2
Click on "View source".
3
Click Submit an edit request.
4
Fill in the space between {{subst:trim|1= and }} stating unambiguously what you want to do. If what you are doing is ambiguous, consider discussing the edit on the talk page before making the edit.
5
Click on Show preview. This allows you to view how the changes will appear on the talk page.
6
Click Publish changes.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I edit without logging in?

Hello903hello

Community Answer

Yes, unless your IP is blocked from editing. However, editing without logging in will make your IP address visible to anyone on the Internet.

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Question

How do I add to my profile on Wikipedia?

Hello903hello

Community Answer

You can create your own user page (User:Example -- replace Example with your username). You can write about yourself on your user page.

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Question

Do the edits disappear on the locked page after requesting them?

Community Answer

No, they must be approved first before they appear on the page. This is done to prevent people from easily ruining valuable information on Wikipedia. Once it's been approved, the edits will appear as you have requested them.

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Wiki formatting

Putting in:

section headings between two equals signs, e.g.: ==Hello there==;
subheadings between three equals signs, e.g.: ===Hello there===;
italic text between two apostrophes (NOT double quotes) - e.g. '' Hello there'' makes: Hello there;
bold text between three apostrophes - e.g. ''' Hello there''' makes: Hello there;
bold "and" italic text between five apostrophes - e.g. ''''' Hello there''''' makes: Hello there;
internal link in a Wikipedia title between doubled square brackets (check spelling and caps), e.g.:
- [[Hello there]] would link the Wikipedia article: "Hello there";
  - [[Say Hello in Different Languages|Say Hello]] would link in a wikiHow article to: Say Hello and
external web-link entire URL between single square brackets (check spelling & punctuation) - e.g. [http://www.hello-there.com] (with "http://") will link to the webpage at http://www.hello-there.com. Basically, external links are set up like internal links, only with one set of brackets, and a space instead of a | separator;
"block indent" of unnumbered line or paragraph, put a colon (:) beginning the line (2 colons = double indent) actually skips lines;
bullet points, use a star (*) beginning each line;
- more bullet points within a bulleted list, use a double star (**) beginning each line
- (That was done here and the one above for example).
  - Third level bullet points within a bulleted list, use a triple star (***) beginning each line
  - (That was done here and the one above for example).
Note: an extra "Enter" among bulleted, "starred" lines does not disrupt that list.
- But, that would disrupt a numbered list... See the note at the end of the numbering section.

Automatic wiki numbering:

numbered list, put a hash (#) beginning each line.
insert a new numbered line, strike "Enter" where you want the line and put a hash (#) and write your text and it will automatically renumber all the lines below. That's the basics of numbering!
(That was done here and the one above for example).
"extra touches," see below:
- bullet point listwithin the main numbered list, put a hash and a star (#*) beginning each line
- (That was done here and the one above for example).
To add extra blank lines as above before the bulleted sub-list, and also below before the indented numbered list use <br><br> at the end of the line before where extra lines are desired.
To do a numbered list within the main numbered list:
1. put a double hash (##) beginning each line
2. (That was done here and the one above for example).
  1. Third level numbering put a triple hash (###) beginning each line
  2. (That was done here and the one above for example).
Note: If you put an extra "Enter" between two numbered lines, the list will start over numbering at number one, so that is why <br> is used instead of "Enter " to add blank lines.
- "br" means line break (to break the line and go to the next line) so several of them will make several blank lines...
- Use this extra formatting for a good reason not for fun.