| Revision as of 23:34, 27 August 2004 view sourcePetersam (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users7,388 edits changed subheads to headings which is the term used in Manual of Style← Previous edit | Revision as of 09:32, 11 September 2004 view source Mav (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users77,874 edits add references (with a caveat) requirment per talk on Misplaced Pages talk:Featured article candidatesNext edit → | ||
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| * Include '''images''' (pictures, maps and diagrams, with ]) where appropriate. Please be sure of the images' ]. | * Include '''images''' (pictures, maps and diagrams, with ]) where appropriate. Please be sure of the images' ]. | ||
| * Include '''headings''' (see ]) and have a substantial, but not overwhelming, table of contents (see ]). | * Include '''headings''' (see ]) and have a substantial, but not overwhelming, table of contents (see ]). | ||
| * Include '''references''' when and where appropriate either by extensive use of inline references or by using a ==References== section (see ]). | |||
| * Comply with the '''standards''' set by any relevant ], as well as those in the ]. | * Comply with the '''standards''' set by any relevant ], as well as those in the ]. | ||
Revision as of 09:32, 11 September 2004
A featured article should:
- Be comprehensive, factually accurate, and well-written. Please read Great Writing and The Perfect Article to see how high the bar can be set.
- Accurate: support facts with specifics and external citations (beware vague justifications such as "some people say").
- Well-written: compelling, even "brilliant" prose--the former name for featured articles.
- Be uncontroversial in its neutrality and accuracy (no ongoing edit wars).
- Exemplify Misplaced Pages's very best work. Represent what Misplaced Pages offers that is unique on the Internet.
- Include a lead section which is brief but sufficient to summarize the entire topic (see Misplaced Pages:Lead section).
- Include images (pictures, maps and diagrams, with good captions) where appropriate. Please be sure of the images' copyright status.
- Include headings (see Misplaced Pages:Manual_of_Style_(headings)) and have a substantial, but not overwhelming, table of contents (see Misplaced Pages:Section).
- Include references when and where appropriate either by extensive use of inline references or by using a ==References== section (see wikipedia:Cite your sources).
- Comply with the standards set by any relevant WikiProjects, as well as those in the style manual.
Some people feel that every featured article should have a certain length, and if not enough can be said about the article's subject to reach that length, it should in most cases be merged into another article. However excellent short articles are also accepted.
An article does not have to have a picture to be featured; however, even if the subject does not have any obvious images associated with it, a suggested picture which could be used to represent it on the Main Page (it can be an abstract symbol that would be too generic for the article itself) is helpful.