Wikipedia:Minimum coverage

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A subject is appropriate for a stand-alone article if it is based on significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject. The notability of the subject can only be verified in reliable and independent sources that explain the subject's significance and provide enough coverage to verify a substantial article. This coverage needs to be significant in quantity and quality, providing enough verifiable material to write a substantial article, and giving the reader a clear understanding of why the subject is significant to human knowledge.

Quantity and quality

Significant coverage is measured in both quantity and quality. There is a strong relationship between quantity and quality: a subject that is significant to human knowledge will usually receive more coverage, and more coverage will eventually describe how the subject is significant to human knowledge.

  • Quantity of coverage is essential, as you need enough appropriate material to write a stand-alone article. If there is not enough reliable third-party coverage about a subject, it will become impossible to write a substantial article. This essential quantity of coverage cannot come from
    proportional
    additions.
  • Quality of coverage needs to include
    independent sources. An article that does not independently establish the subject's significance to human knowledge is not appropriate for Wikipedia. Further, the minimum quality for an article should be consistent with Wikipedia's essential content policies, including what Wikipedia is not
    .

Is there enough coverage for a stand-alone article?

It is impossible to maintain a

trivial mention
, and this applies to both the quality and quantity of coverage. A high quality mention, such as an award, still might lack enough quantity of coverage to write a separate and substantial article. Vice versa, a lengthy quote may be trivial if it is repetitive and/or lacking any analysis, evaluation, or interpretation.

It is easier to evaluate the significance of coverage after

consensus
to do so.

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