933:. The GA criteria neither require nor prohibit the inclusion of these, so their presence or absence should not, in itself, affect the review. However, as with all material in an article, the information in an infobox (such as titles, definitions, or statistics) is required to meet the GA criteria. Since information in an infobox is usually repeated in the body of the article, this is rarely a concern.
535:, and trivia. The inclusion of details and minor aspects can contribute to good writing, but such details should not overwhelm the article. Second, the level of detail of each aspect of the topic should be appropriate to the article and kept in balance: where an aspect of the topic involves information which is or could be covered in more detail by another article, the article itself should
139:
known, or images that simply don't exist), explain politely why this is impractical or inappropriate. Regular reviewers often have good suggestions for improvements that go beyond the GA criteria. These suggestions are optional with respect to GA status, but implementing them may result in an even better article, which may help it reach
35:
528:; only compliance with the policies and guidelines specifically named in the six Good article criteria themselves are required.) For an article on a work of fiction, a summary of the plot and a discussion of the reception are usually required. For an article on a disease, the causes, symptoms and treatments are usually significant.
138:
Regular editors of a nominated article should likewise assume and act in accordance with good faith and the goal of article improvement. The reviewer may have less expertise in the subject matter. If they make impractical or inappropriate suggestions (e.g., for the inclusion of information that isn't
134:
Article editors and reviewers should have as a common goal the ideal to make the article as good as it can be. However, the decision to list or not list an article should be based on the GA criteria alone. Reviewers are encouraged to differentiate clearly between those improvements that are necessary
800:
Point (a) requires reviewers to click every image (sound clip, etc.) to check its copyright status. If it is a free image (i.e., is in the public domain, or is released under a free license such as GFDL or
Creative Commons) then Point (a) is satisfied. If it's a non-free image, then it must have a
550:
Taken together, these criteria mean that no obviously important information should be entirely absent from the article, and the level of detail should be appropriate to the significance of the information. It is better to have an article that covers the essentials well, based on reliable sources,
523:
Point (a) means that the "main aspects" of the topic, according to reliable sources, should each be "addressed" in the article; it does not require comprehensive coverage of these major aspects, nor any coverage of minor aspects. For particular types of article, WikiProjects often provide helpful
420:
Point (d) means that none of the text is copied from another work without proper attribution. All of the text is either properly paraphrased or quoted and is sourced accordingly. If the entire article is copied from a non-free source, not only does it fail this criterion, it makes it eligible for
943:
team. The assessments at the top of article talk pages are frequently reviewed less than once a year. They should be assumed to be out of date. At the end of your review, you have no obligation to update the WikiProjects' ratings if an article is listed as GA, but it is helpful (just change
359:
Point (a) means that there must be at least one section with a ==Level 2== header, containing a list of sources used in the article. That section heading should have a title that identifies the contents that the reader will find there, e.g., ==Notes== or ==References== or ==Sources cited== or
857:. Content forking and merging issues are also not within the remit of good article processes. If you see a nomination whose notability you personally doubt, please do not start a GA review yourself. Instead, nominate it for deletion. If the article is kept, then let someone else review it.
627:
issues (1b). For controversial subjects (biographical, political, religious and health articles require particular care), you need to be sure that significant viewpoints are fairly and accurately represented, based on the diversity of reliable sources available (not just those favoring one
242:
are complied with. (The "Fiction" and "List incorporation" guidelines do not apply to many articles.) Note that the main Manual of Style page is not in the list of required MoS pages. It may, however, be a useful page to look at if you have questions about spelling and grammar for point
981:
simple MoS cleanup themselves, than to list out a bunch of desired cleanup and an explanation for each point in a review: Why spend time typing something like "In the third paragraph of ==Early life and education== section, the last sentence has an obvious typo in the word
444:
Not checking at least a substantial proportion of sources to make sure that they actually support the statements they're purported to support. (Sources should not be "accepted in good faith": for example, nominators may themselves have left material added by prior editors
889:. Although the good article criteria require article stability, good article processes should not be used to further content disputes, nor are the criteria designed for dispute resolution. Use the article talk page instead, and seek mediation if necessary.
135:
for the article to meet the criteria, and suggestions to improve the article beyond the actual criteria. As a rule of thumb, if none of the six criteria plainly apply to a suggested improvement, it should be labeled as such or considered optional.
794:), then this criterion is automatically satisfied. If you think that free or fair-use images should be readily available, then please either find and add the images yourself, or recommend specific sources or images to editors.
808:
Point (b) says that every included image must be relevant to the topic, and must have a suitable caption. Purely decorative images, such as an image of a butterfly in a psychology article about emotions, should be removed.
696:
supposed to interfere with normal editing. An article is unstable if there is a significant edit war underway, if editors are directly telling you that you shouldn't review the article because they're in the middle of
399:. (All other article text may still be supported by general references.) Any system that allows the reader to connect a specific sentence with a specific citation is an acceptable inline citation method. However,
360:==Footnotes== or anything with a similar meaning. It is extraordinarily unusual for a nominated article to not pass the 2(a) criteria, and if you think you have encountered one, then you should seek assistance at
279:
Requiring the resolution of links to disambiguation pages. The fact that the toolbox provides a handy tool for checking these things doesn't mean that the links are prohibited by the GA criteria.
131:, not the opinion of individual reviewers. This essay is intended to help reviewers make their decisions based on whether an article meets the criteria or not, rather than personal preferences.
844:
The good article criteria and good article processes are designed to address article content quality. Although there are overlaps, the following issues are beyond the scope of the criteria.
1065:
335:, except for plot summaries and that which summarizes cited content elsewhere in the article, must be cited no later than the end of the paragraph (or line if the content is not in prose);
554:
These criteria do not impose arbitrary size restrictions (in terms of kilobytes, characters or readable prose). Good articles can be as short or long as is appropriate to the topic:
332:
119:, and meet these criteria, should be listed as GAs. Good articles are "satisfactory" or "decent" articles, not great articles. The standards for GAs are fairly high, but
183:
206:
1055:
1026:), and changes based on reviewers' suggestions do not apply. Nominations for articles that are unstable because of constructive editing should be placed on hold.
977:
may be willing to help, especially if you tell them this is in preparation for GA. Reviewers will usually find that it takes less time and effort to just
974:
759:
1039:, in itself, a requirement. However, if media with acceptable copyright status is appropriate and readily available, then such media should be provided.
973:
Nominators may wish to do an MoS-compliance editing pass before a GA nomination, just to avoid a GA review becoming bogged down in stylistic quibbles.
441:
Asking for inline citations where they are not necessary, such as in plot summaries or content which summarizes cited content elsewhere in the article.
210:
202:
1070:
361:
194:
584:
Imposing arbitrary size restrictions, rather than directly addressing GA issues of coverage, conciseness, focus and the use of summary style.
986:" when you can just fix it in five seconds? (Reviewers are permitted to fix small problems they find in the articles they are reviewing.)
713:
Confusing normal talk page discussions, incremental improvements to the article, or vandalism, with a real content dispute or an edit war.
632:, sentence structure, section titles, or article organisation. An article written from the neutral point of view provides the reader with
1060:
959:
774:
701:
changes, or if the article is changing so dramatically and so rapidly that you can't figure out what you're supposed to be reviewing.
525:
247:
391:, but noticeably lower than many editors' personal preferences. If an article contains none of these five types of statements, then
50:
It contains the advice or opinions of one or more
Knowledge contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of
51:
581:
Not noticing that a major aspect is completely omitted from the article, despite being discussed significantly in reliable sources.
395:
may be used. If the article contains any of these five types of statements, then some sort of inline citation system must be used
1075:
251:
198:
655:
Listing as GA a controversial article written from a particular viewpoint, or which leads the reader to a particular conclusion.
599:
477:
921:
sections when deciding whether the article meets the GA criteria, because these sections are not mentioned in the GA criteria.
406:
Page numbers (or similar details) are only needed when the inline citation concerns one of the above five types of statement
346:
339:
289:
Requiring common sections (like cast lists) to follow a particular format or to look like similar sections in other articles.
751:
150:
is available to resolve disagreements, but all are encouraged to resolve as many outstanding problems as possible first.
1006:
853:, such as whether the subject merits its own article: questions related to notability and deletion are discussed at
223:
The meaning of each sentence or paragraph is clear and not confusing, even if you might have phrased it differently.
1009:; it allows shorter articles, articles that do not cover every major fact or detail, and overviews of large topics.
763:
410:
it would be difficult for the reader to find the location in the source without a page number (or similar detail).
367:
Point (b) names five types of statements for which the good article criteria require some form of inline citation:
324:
413:
Point (c) means that all facts, opinions and synthesis in a good article should be based on reliable sources with
328:
239:
190:
914:
861:
392:
575:
Requiring lengthy sections, especially if the same information can be adequately presented in a concise form.
784:
755:
623:
of plant or animal), this is likely already covered by criteria 1, 2 and 3, especially if you watch out for
536:
514:
304:
159:
673:
507:
913:
whenever you see one, but it is not usually appropriate to consider the contents of the
External links,
562:
be indicative of genuine GA problems with coverage (3a), concision and focus (1a and 3b), or the use of
473:
Requiring that footnotes be listed in numeric order, if multiple citations are named after a sentence.
849:
350:
55:
770:
532:
531:
Point (b) raises two issues. First, the article should avoid undue emphasis on tangents, such as
524:
advice on what the main aspects are likely to be. (Do not, however, require compliance with any
380:
counter-intuitive or controversial statements that are challenged or likely to be challenged, and
283:
65:
316:(a) it contains a list of all references (sources of information), presented in accordance with
791:
925:
918:
907:
456:
452:
929:
739:
735:
612:. The subject should be discussed in encyclopedic language, based on reliable sources, with
388:
227:
43:
958:, beyond the points in the specific MoS pages incorporated into the GA criteria. There are
266:
Imposing your own stylistic preferences or national variety of
English on the article text.
743:
649:
578:
Requiring the inclusion of information that is not known or addressed by reliable sources.
273:
476:
Rejecting reliable sources because they are in a language you don't happen to read. See
603:: it represents viewpoints fairly and without editorial bias, giving due weight to each.
880:
609:
555:
466:
If you are able to figure out what the source is, that's a good enough citation for GA.
317:
124:
108:
226:
The spelling and grammar follow an established system, even if you prefer a different
1049:
967:
940:
876:
854:
810:
629:
628:
viewpoint), and that the article does not endorse or favor a particular view through
624:
613:
542:
426:
422:
414:
147:
120:
116:
790:
If images have not been included, and if suitable images are not readily available (
58:. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.
1023:
952:). The previous rating should not influence your evaluation of the article at all.
894:
866:
686:
563:
272:
Requiring the elimination of all bulleted lists, even if they are acceptable under
140:
112:
1005:
This requirement is significantly weaker than the "comprehensiveness" required of
551:
than a diffuse article relying on trivia or unreliable sources to flesh it out.
246:
For the purpose of a GA review, all other parts of the MoS are optional except
17:
966:
only to comply with the basics, though fuller compliance will be expected for
832:
513:(b) it stays focused on the topic without going into unnecessary detail (see
417:. Statements made in the article should reflect the material in the sources.
483:
Not checking if the article is committing plagiarism or violating copyright.
111:
are the requirements that an article should meet in order to be listed as a
822:
Failing the article because no free images or other media currently exist.
672:: it does not change significantly from day to day because of an ongoing
1022:
to split or merge content, good faith improvements to the page (such as
685:
to split or merge content, good faith improvements to the page (such as
645:
Requiring excessive representation of minor or insignificant viewpoints.
865:
are not addressed by the good article criteria. These are discussed at
710:
Discouraging normal editing activity for the convenience of the review.
620:
464:
Requiring consistently formatted, complete bibliographic citations.
608:
This point requires that the article is presented from
Knowledge's
828:
Accepting or requiring images which are decorative but irrelevant.
875:(other than copyright violations), such as those associated with
801:
valid fair use rationale that specifically justifies its use in
689:), and changes based on reviewers' suggestions do not apply."
29:
783:
Most GAs contain at least one image (or other media: video,
835:(as opposed to just the sections linked in the GA criteria).
451:
Demanding the removal of dead links, in direct violation of
438:
Imposing personal preference on reference section headings.
238:
The five particular pages listed (out of about 50) of the
403:
system should be used consistently for inline citations.
681:
The footnote here is important: "Vandalism reversions,
94:
87:
80:
73:
879:. These should be raised at a relevant forum, such as
558:
is not a good article criterion. However, size issues
461:
Requiring the use (or non-use) of citation templates.
448:
Requiring page numbers where these are not essential.
254:, which are discussed in part (6) of the GA criteria.
825:
Making vague requests for "more" or "better" images.
787:, etc.), but suitable images may not be available.
619:For articles on uncontroversial topics (such as a
269:Demanding compliance with your favorite MoS pages.
813:text, although easy to provide, is not required.
184:understandable to an appropriately broad audience
1066:Knowledge essays about building the encyclopedia
383:contentious material relating to living persons.
725:
667:
636:, allowing them to form their own conclusions.
596:
497:
301:
173:
648:Requiring that all viewpoints be presented as
393:Knowledge:Citing sources § General references
8:
146:If editors and reviewers reach an impasse,
792:checking Commons for images is a good idea
998:
389:absolute minimum standard set by policy
362:Knowledge talk:Good article nominations
186:; spelling and grammar are correct; and
949:
945:
1056:Knowledge essays explaining processes
616:given to all significant viewpoints.
470:Requiring consistent date formatting.
294:(2) Factually accurate and verifiable
286:. (Even FA and FL permit red links.)
182:(a) the prose is clear, concise, and
127:. Importantly, the GA criteria are a
7:
975:WP:WikiProject Guild of Copy Editors
526:advice pages written by WikiProjects
937:Article assessments by WikiProjects
274:WP:EMBED § Appropriate use of lists
115:(GA). Any articles that have been
56:thoroughly vetted by the community
52:Knowledge's policies or guidelines
25:
831:Requiring compliance with all of
387:This standard is higher than the
33:
478:Knowledge:Translators available
1071:Knowledge essays about editing
903:required. Feel free to tag a
797:If images have been included:
333:could reasonably be challenged
1:
877:biographies of living persons
760:valid non-free use rationales
718:(6) Appropriately illustrated
539:with suitable links, such as
397:for those specific statements
545:|(the background article)}}
1092:
968:featured article candidacy
537:summarize this information
318:the layout style guideline
63:
27:Essay on editing Knowledge
1061:WikiProject Good articles
1035:The presence of media is
692:Good article reviews are
490:(3) Broad in its coverage
480:for potential assistance.
282:Requiring the removal of
189:(b) it complies with the
125:Featured article criteria
962:on various things. A GA
948:from whatever it was to
803:the article under review
1076:Knowledge how-to essays
956:Tedious style nit-picks
773:to the topic, and have
154:What is a good article?
1018:Vandalism reversions,
780:
678:
605:
520:
356:
216:
148:Community reassessment
993:GA criteria footnotes
855:Articles for Deletion
610:neutral point of view
547:, where appropriate.
506:(a) it addresses the
500:Broad in its coverage
121:noticeably lower than
109:Good article criteria
54:, as it has not been
930:navigation templates
893:Compliance with the
415:no original research
347:copyright violations
340:no original research
310:no original research
881:the BLP noticeboard
676:or content dispute.
345:(d) it contains no
331:. All content that
756:copyright statuses
730:, if possible, by
377:published opinion,
371:direct quotations,
228:variety of English
211:list incorporation
1007:featured articles
850:Notability issues
817:Mistakes to avoid
775:suitable captions
762:are provided for
705:Mistakes to avoid
640:Mistakes to avoid
570:Mistakes to avoid
510:of the topic; and
433:Mistakes to avoid
259:Mistakes to avoid
234:Point (b) means:
219:Point (a) means:
105:
104:
16:(Redirected from
1083:
1040:
1033:
1027:
1016:
1010:
1003:
951:
947:
912:
906:
887:Content disputes
840:Beyond the scope
764:non-free content
546:
467:
425:under criterion
338:(c) it contains
325:reliable sources
166:(1) Well-written
141:Featured article
97:
90:
83:
76:
37:
36:
30:
21:
1091:
1090:
1086:
1085:
1084:
1082:
1081:
1080:
1046:
1045:
1044:
1043:
1034:
1030:
1017:
1013:
1004:
1000:
995:
915:Further reading
910:
904:
867:Requested Moves
842:
781:
724:
723:Actual Criteria
720:
679:
666:
665:Actual Criteria
662:
606:
595:
594:Actual Criteria
591:
540:
521:
496:
495:Actual Criteria
492:
465:
423:speedy deletion
357:
300:
299:Actual Criteria
296:
252:image relevance
240:Manual of Style
217:
193:guidelines for
191:Manual of Style
172:
171:Actual Criteria
168:
156:
101:
100:
93:
86:
79:
72:
68:
60:
59:
34:
28:
23:
22:
18:Knowledge:GANOT
15:
12:
11:
5:
1089:
1087:
1079:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1048:
1047:
1042:
1041:
1028:
1011:
997:
996:
994:
991:
990:
989:
988:
987:
980:
965:
960:many MoS pages
953:
934:
922:
895:External links
890:
884:
870:
862:Article titles
858:
841:
838:
837:
836:
829:
826:
823:
819:
818:
779:
778:
769:(b) media are
767:
750:(a) media are
747:
722:
721:
719:
716:
715:
714:
711:
707:
706:
677:
664:
663:
661:
658:
657:
656:
653:
646:
642:
641:
604:
593:
592:
590:
587:
586:
585:
582:
579:
576:
572:
571:
519:
518:
511:
503:
494:
493:
491:
488:
485:
484:
481:
474:
471:
468:
462:
459:
449:
446:
442:
439:
435:
434:
385:
384:
381:
378:
375:
372:
355:
354:
343:
336:
321:
313:
298:
297:
295:
292:
291:
290:
287:
280:
277:
270:
267:
263:
262:
260:
256:
255:
244:
232:
231:
224:
215:
214:
203:words to watch
187:
179:
170:
169:
167:
164:
155:
152:
103:
102:
99:
98:
91:
84:
77:
69:
64:
61:
49:
48:
40:
38:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1088:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1053:
1051:
1038:
1032:
1029:
1025:
1021:
1015:
1012:
1008:
1002:
999:
992:
985:
978:
976:
972:
971:
969:
963:
961:
957:
954:
942:
938:
935:
932:
931:
927:
923:
920:
916:
909:
902:
898:
896:
891:
888:
885:
882:
878:
874:
871:
868:
864:
863:
859:
856:
852:
851:
847:
846:
845:
839:
834:
830:
827:
824:
821:
820:
816:
815:
814:
812:
806:
804:
798:
795:
793:
788:
786:
776:
772:
768:
765:
761:
757:
753:
749:
748:
745:
741:
737:
733:
729:
726:
717:
712:
709:
708:
704:
703:
702:
700:
695:
690:
688:
684:
675:
671:
668:
659:
654:
651:
650:equally valid
647:
644:
643:
639:
638:
637:
635:
631:
626:
622:
617:
615:
611:
602:
601:
597:
588:
583:
580:
577:
574:
573:
569:
568:
567:
565:
564:summary style
561:
557:
552:
548:
544:
538:
534:
529:
527:
516:
515:summary style
512:
509:
505:
504:
501:
498:
489:
487:
482:
479:
475:
472:
469:
463:
460:
458:
454:
450:
447:
443:
440:
437:
436:
432:
431:
430:
428:
424:
418:
416:
411:
409:
404:
402:
398:
394:
390:
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
369:
368:
365:
363:
352:
348:
344:
341:
337:
334:
330:
326:
322:
319:
315:
314:
311:
307:
306:
302:
293:
288:
285:
281:
278:
275:
271:
268:
265:
264:
261:
258:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
236:
235:
229:
225:
222:
221:
220:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
195:lead sections
192:
188:
185:
181:
180:
177:
174:
165:
163:
161:
153:
151:
149:
144:
142:
136:
132:
130:
126:
122:
118:
114:
110:
96:
92:
89:
85:
82:
78:
75:
71:
70:
67:
62:
57:
53:
47:
45:
39:
32:
31:
19:
1036:
1031:
1024:copy editing
1019:
1014:
1001:
983:
955:
936:
924:
900:
892:
886:
873:Legal issues
872:
860:
848:
843:
807:
802:
799:
796:
789:
782:
731:
727:
698:
693:
691:
687:copy editing
682:
680:
669:
633:
618:
607:
598:
559:
553:
549:
530:
522:
508:main aspects
499:
486:
419:
412:
407:
405:
400:
396:
386:
366:
358:
329:cited inline
309:
303:
233:
218:
176:Well-written
175:
160:good article
157:
145:
137:
133:
128:
113:Good article
106:
41:
754:with their
728:Illustrated
634:information
630:word choice
625:word choice
589:(4) Neutral
445:unchecked.)
374:statistics,
42:This is an
1050:Categories
833:MOS:IMAGES
785:sound clip
660:(5) Stable
614:due weight
457:WP:DEADREF
453:WP:Linkrot
351:plagiarism
305:Verifiable
95:WP:GACRNOT
1020:proposals
950:|class=GA
926:Infoboxes
897:guideline
683:proposals
533:coatracks
284:red links
143:quality.
66:Shortcuts
939:for the
919:See also
908:linkfarm
771:relevant
734:such as
674:edit war
248:captions
129:standard
117:reviewed
88:WP:GANOT
946:|class=
621:species
600:Neutral
556:WP:SIZE
207:fiction
74:WP:GACN
941:WP:1.0
811:WP:ALT
758:, and
752:tagged
736:images
670:Stable
209:, and
199:layout
81:WP:WGN
964:needs
917:, or
766:; and
744:audio
742:, or
740:video
732:media
699:major
342:; and
308:with
44:essay
928:and
543:Main
455:and
327:are
323:(b)
250:and
243:(a).
162:is—
123:the
107:The
1037:not
984:the
901:not
899:is
694:not
560:may
427:G12
408:and
401:one
349:or
1052::
979:do
970:.
911:}}
905:{{
805:.
738:,
566:.
541:{{
517:).
429:.
364:.
205:,
201:,
197:,
158:A
883:.
869:.
777:.
746::
652:.
502::
353:.
320:;
312::
276:.
230:.
213:.
178::
46:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.