Wikipedia:IRC help disclaimer
Before you continue, you should know...
- Live help is offered via a public Internet Relay Chat(IRC) channel. This channel is not private or one-on-one. Multiple users might be receiving help at the same time, and you will all be able to see everybody's messages. Messages which are intended for you will often start with your nickname (visible in the bottom-left corner when connected).
- Joining the help channel may disclose your IP address to other users. Clicking the button below will redirect you to a third-party website which has a different privacy policy than Wikipedia.
- If you have a common question, it is probably already answered in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
- Help is provided by volunteers, so it might take a few minutes before someone replies to your question. Try leaving the chat window open for a bit. If you don't get a reply before you need to leave, consider asking your question at the Teahouse or other support venuesinstead.
- This service is only for assistance with editing or using the English language Wikipedia.
How do I ask a question?
Once you join, just type out your question and send it. For example, if you are wondering what you can put on your
Can you help me with...?
Probably! But bear in mind that the IRC channel is only for questions about editing the English Wikipedia. Any other questions, such as if you need to find information about a topic, or help with other things, should go to
Can you review my draft?
Please be aware that all drafts will be reviewed when a volunteer editor is available to do it. Drafts are not necessarily reviewed in order of submission and the more diverse the draft, the longer it may take to be reviewed. There are currently 2,077 pending submissions awaiting a review.
Can you write an article for me?
No, but we can point you in the right direction to get started. Check out the
How can I keep my article from being deleted?
Articles that do not comply with
How do you decide what's notable?
Notability is determined, essentially, by what reliable sources say about a subject. Basically, whether the subject has been significantly "noted", rather than simply being potentially "noteworthy". Sources need to be independent of the subject of the article, with a reputation for fact-checking and oversight, because sources close to the subject might naturally be biased or promotional.
Every subject has specific guidelines in addition to general notability. If the subject of your article is a person, you might want to briefly look at the guidelines for
What about this other article?
When their article is deleted, people often point to an existing article, about a similar subject. This article may have similar problems and is used as a reason that their article should be kept. This is the "
Why was my draft declined?
There should be a reason on the draft's page in a pink box or on your talk page. Live help volunteers can help if you can't find the reason or still don't understand why it was declined.