Wikipedia:Relevance of content
This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
This page in a nutshell: Stay on topic! |
This essay addresses the relevance of content within individual articles. For guidance on the encyclopedic suitability of subjects or articles as a whole, refer to Wikipedia:Notability. For the suitability of certain types of content, see Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not. For the relevance of links to outside websites, see Wikipedia:External links.
Keep articles focused
Building Wikipedia articles is a constant process of revision. The focus of an article may change over time as editors add information, and context, from appropriate sources. Some sections of an article may grow beyond a discussion of the subtopic, in relation to the main topic. It is important that the focus of an article remains on its main subject and that information is placed in the appropriate article.
Use summary style
Wikipedia articles should be written in
Article scope
Articles on very general subjects should serve as an introduction to the entire subject, and avoid going into detail on topics for which more specific articles exist. Articles on very specific subjects can treat their subject in depth.
The topics an article covers should match the article's title. An article titled
Content
All of Wikipedia's content must be
The bulk of Wikipedia's content consists of:
- Basic description – which explains what the subject is, what it does (or did), and what it is article lead, or in the first lines of the section to which it is most relevant.
- Factors that have influenced subject's form, role, history, public perception, or other noteworthy traits. The effects of these factors on the subject should be plainly apparent; if they are not, additional context is needed. Groups of disparate facts lack such context, and should be avoided.
More specific guidance on content may be provided by a WikiProject whose scope includes the article in question.
Interactions between subjects
A fact that connects two subjects may be appropriate for mention in the article of one, but not the other. This is often the case with creative works: what is important within the creative work may not exert a measurable influence on the other subject.
For instance, comedian
Biographical details
- For more information, see Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons
There are particular considerations to keep in mind concerning Biographical subjects. Some people are only famous for their connection to notable events, without having any fame beyond those events. As such, they are not public figures, and details of their personal lives are not relevant to what has made them of encyclopedic interest. See Wikipedia:Avoiding harm (pseudo-biographies) for more details.
See also
- Wikipedia:Only make links that are relevant to the context
- Wikipedia:Relevance
- Wikipedia:Coatrack articles
- Wikipedia:What claims of relevance are false