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Many factors influence the size of articles, and we allow all sizes from stubs to huge articles that, without splitting, could be the size of paper encyclopedias. The factors involved in their size should be considered when judging whether an article is too small or too large. In fact, thinking about
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Some provide short-term satisfaction, while others provide long-term enjoyment. Size matters for paper media, but is rather irrelevant for digital media. With digital media, the search function is a great aid for finding content. Reading every word is often no longer necessary or even a goal. Most
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So we end up with a spread of stubs, very short articles, average-size articles, and very long articles that, without splitting, could be the size of paper encyclopedias. All have their place. A stub may have no lead, while some leads will just be a few sentences. Other leads will be several short
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Some topics score low by these factors and have a short life in the public sphere. They end up being stubs and short articles with little added to them at later times. We document history, and they made a noteworthy blip for a while. We never delete them. We are not in the business of
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where some articles are much smaller than average and some much larger. That's okay. Do not try to force large articles toward the middle of the bell curve. Maybe they should be very large. This will naturally result in a larger lead.
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Other topics are always interesting, right from their birth. Every type of source mentions them. They are popular; constantly being researched; controversial; and complex. They appeal to many different minds and simply
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The following does not apply to lists, tables, and other material that is already in summary form. This is not about the number of bytes or words but about significant prose and thematic content.
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We are supposed to document the "sum of all human knowledge" as found in reliable sources, so the spread from small stubs to huge articles is enormous, and that's alright. Knowledge is
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Articles become very long because their topics are extremely notable, widely covered, popular, very controversial, and very significant using many different parameters and metrics.
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size is the wrong question. Size matters...and doesn't. Do not keep
Knowledge and its articles bound by limited "paper" thinking, but do remember readers have limited time
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102:? When one looks at the topic, we must realize that guidelines are rubbery on purpose. They are not absolutes, and each article's size will fall on a
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Do not keep
Knowledge and its articles bound by limited "paper" thinking, but do remember that readers, all of us, have limited time.
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It contains the advice or opinions of one or more
Knowledge contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of
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constant attention. Their main "parent" articles will be huge and may give birth to many "child" sub-articles.
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Judge each article and its lead by the type of subject and its coverage. Think of the factors listed above.
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50:. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.
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214:... and doesn't matter. Some topics are growers and others are showers.
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paragraphs, and others many long paragraphs. All have their place.
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WP editors understandably wanting to be comprehensive
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195:Fortunately, with very large topics, such as
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243:Knowledge:Database reports/Articles by size
253:Knowledge:Featured articles/By length
248:Knowledge:Database reports/Long pages
223:readers stop after reading the lead.
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265:with other encyclopedias
89:This page in a nutshell:
258:Knowledge:Popular pages
116:Here are some factors:
182:historical revisionism
162:Infamously evil people
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228:NOT PAPER
288:Category
237:See also
58:Shortcut
141:Complex
135:Popular
190:demand
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180:and
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