How to Write a Wikipedia Article From Scratch?

Thinking about writing a Wikipedia article but not quite confident yet?

This guide, shared by ACM member Manjola Zeneli, walks through the basics of creating an article from scratch and explains what to look out for along the way. It’s meant to help new contributors understand the process and feel more confident taking that first step.

Why It’s Important to write in Wikipedia?

Computing professionals support open knowledge, fight false information, and increase global access to reliable technical information by contributing to Wikipedia—all of which are closely related to ACM’s mission.

Although Wikipedia is one of the most important knowledge platforms in the world, many computing professionals hesitate to contribute because they don’t know where to start. By following a few crucial steps, writing a new article is not as difficult as it might seem.


1. Recognize the fundamental guidelines:

Learn the following Wikipedia guidelines before you start drafting:

These serve as the cornerstones of all accepted articles.

2. Select a Prominent Subject

As long as independent sources are available, computing concepts, standards, eminent researchers, or new technologies are all good subjects. To make sure the article doesn’t already exist, start by searching Wikipedia.

3. Create Account and Utilize the Resources 

The Sandbox for drafting, the Article Wizard for step-by-step creation, and access to editing history and communication tools are all unlocked with a Wikipedia account. You can use Wikitext or VisualEditor to write.

4. Collect Trustworthy Sources

Use only reliable references, such as:

  • Peer-reviewed publications
  • Scholarly books
  • Reputable news sources
  • Technical reports

Avoid self-published content, press releases, and blogs.

5.  An encyclopedic-style draft

Each strong article includes:

  • A clear lead section
  • Well-structured main sections
  • Background or history
  • Internal links to relevant pages
  • A comprehensive list of references

Always write in a neutral, clear, and accurate manner.

6. Send in for Evaluation

Once the draft is finished, submit it using the Draft namespace. Volunteer editors will review the article for notability, sourcing, and style. Be prepared to make revisions as part of Wikipedia’s collaborative process.

7. Preserve the Article

Add it to your watchlist after it’s published. Over time, content is updated and improved, strengthening the platform and ensuring accuracy for all readers.

Good luck with your first article!