Common questions

Can you get in trouble for editing a Wikipedia page?

Can you get in trouble for editing a Wikipedia page?

It is not a criminal act to vandalise Wikipedia. However, it is against the site’s terms of use to vandalise or otherwise cause disruption. Vandals are blocked from editing, and may also be further banned according to the terms of use.

What happens if you edit a Wikipedia page wrong?

Here’s what will happen next: Your vandalism will be reverted. Your acts of vandalism will always be a part of your user contributions, and will be archived in the history of the page you vandalized. It will have your username (or if you are not logged in, your IP address) in it.

How do I edit a protected article on Wikipedia?

The simplest approach for edit requests for fully protected, template-protected or semi-protected pages is to use the View source tab on that page and use the “Submit an edit request” link at the bottom right; this automatically loads the correct talk page tag.

Can you be sued for editing Wikipedia?

While you may sue in a court of law, Wikipedia is not the place for legal disputes. Posting legal threats on Wikipedia is uncivil and can cause serious problems: It severely inhibits free editing of pages, a concept that is absolutely necessary to ensure that Wikipedia remains neutral.

Can Wikipedia edits be traced?

Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. This page in a nutshell: Yes, Wikipedia can be anonymous. As an editor on Wikipedia, you have a choice: You can let everyone know who you are by using your real name.

Can anyone really edit Wikipedia?

Wikipedia is a wiki, meaning anyone can edit nearly any page and improve articles immediately. You do not need to register to do this, and anyone who has edited is known as a Wikipedian or editor. Small edits add up, and every editor can be proud to have made Wikipedia better for all.

How do you make corrections on Wikipedia?

First, you can fix it yourself! Anyone can edit Wikipedia. Just hit the “edit” button on the top right of the page, make the correction, and hit “Publish changes”. If you want to learn more about editing, try our help pages.

How do I unprotect a Wikipedia page?

Go to the article you wish to unprotect; in this case, we will use the page you just protected, Wikipedia:Administrators’ guide/Protecting/Protect. At the top of the page, click the Change protection link. On the next page, you will see several confirm protection option boxes: Edit, Move, and Pending changes.

Why did my Wikipedia edit get removed?

This may have included: Triggering the edit filter. Your edit seemed to be vandalism or disruptive editing. Removing references, even if you believe they are wrong, without explaining why.

Can you anonymously edit Wikipedia?

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Ruth Doyle