Basics of Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a multilingual, web-based, free content encyclopedia project. It is written collaboratively by volunteers from all around the world. Within a few parameters, its articles can be edited by anyone having access to the Internet.

Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. The name Wikipedia is a combination of the words wiki (a type of collaborative website) and encyclopedia. Since its creation in 2001, Wikipedia has grown rapidly into one of the largest reference Web sites on the Internet. In almost every article, links guide you to associated articles, often with additional information.

Wikipedia is an ongoing work to which in principle anybody can contribute, hence it differs from a paper-based reference source. Wikipedia can be constantly updated, often within minutes or hours or days of the occurrence of events. Though whatever added by reader is evaluated by editors who are on the job to advise and correct errors yet you have to be careful in order to obtain valid information and avoid misinformation.

  

Exploring Wikipedia    

To explore Wikipedia type: http://www.wikipedia.org/  in the address bar.

The following page will open:

Language in Wikipedia is listed according to the number of articles available to the visitor in that language. Scroll down on the page above and select the language by clicking on it or typing in the box provided for selecting a language .You will land on that particular language Wikipedia for example- Hindi.


Once you have selected the Language you can see the list of articles by clicking on Content button on the left hand panel.

Click on the list of topics/ Pictures

Select the topic of your interest ,for example Art and Culture

Then select the topic of interest which is further subdivided into subtopics and will contain multiple articles. Click on the article of interest to view its content.

One can not only edit the existing article but also add one’s own. Word of Caution: Write within the parenthesis provided on the workspace.


If you are only testing how to edit, do not save them. If you want to experiment, use the Sandbox.
Sandbox allows the user to experiment with editing and modifying the existing articles without altering the original article.

Creating Account:

Fill up the form and click on submit account button at the bottom of the form.

You will get an account created message

Now you can sign in and edit.

Basic navigation in Wikipedia    

Wikipedia articles are all linked, or cross-referenced. Wherever you see highlighted text like this, it means there is a link to a relevant article or Wikipedia page with further in-depth information. Holding your mouse over the link will often show you where a link will take you.
There are other links towards the end of most articles for more articles of interest, relevant external web sites and pages, reference material and organized categories of knowledge which you can search for further information. Some articles may also have links to dictionary definitions, audio-book readings, quotations, same article in other languages etc. You can add further links if a relevant link is missing and this is also one way to contribute.

Wikipedia Reference desk –    

It enables to get answer to any question, or in finding specific facts. Users leave questions on the reference desk and Wikipedia volunteers work to help you find the information you need.You may also try searching the reference desk archives.

For further information on topics like Using Wikipedia as a research tool; How is Wikipedia different from a paper encyclopedia?; Strengths, weaknesses and article quality in Wikipedia; Contributing to Wikipedia; Wikipedia content criteria; Community discussion; Contacting individual Wikipedia editors etc click on to : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About#Strengths.2C_weaknesses.2C_and_article_quality_in_Wikipedia