Wikipedia edits go through a review process before they appear to readers
You can edit almost any Wikipedia article by clicking the "Edit" or "Edit source" button at the top of the page. Your changes do not appear when ready. Instead, they go into a queue where other editors — volunteers, not Wikipedia staff — read them and decide whether to keep, reject, or change them. Some edits appear within minutes. Others sit for days or get reverted without explanation. Understanding how this works saves you frustration and makes your edits more likely to survive.
Wikipedia's review system exists because the site is open to anyone. Without it, articles would fill with spam, false information, and arguments between editors. The system is not perfect — it can be slow, and some volunteer reviewers are stricter than others — but it is the reason Wikipedia remains broadly reliable despite being written by strangers on the internet.
Key Takeaways
- Click "Edit" or "Edit source" at the top of any article, make your changes in the text box, and click "Publish changes" to submit your edit for review.
- Your edit is more likely to survive if you add a source — a link to a news article, academic paper, or other published work that supports what you wrote.
- Edits that remove information, change facts, or add opinions get rejected more often than edits that fix typos or clarify existing text.
- If your edit is reverted, check the "Talk" page for that article to see why other editors rejected it, then revise and try again.
- Creating a free Wikipedia account takes two minutes and makes your edits easier to track and gives you access to more editing tools.
The steps to make and submit an edit
Go to the Wikipedia article you want to change. At the top right, you will see a button labeled "Edit" or "Edit source" — the exact label depends on which editing mode Wikipedia is showing you. Click it. The article text will open in an editing box where you can add, delete, or rewrite anything.
Make your changes directly in the text. If you are new to Wikipedia's editing format, you may see brackets, curly braces, or other symbols around certain words — these are formatting codes that tell Wikipedia how to display the text. Leave them in place unless you are specifically trying to change how something looks. When you are done, scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see a box labeled "Edit summary" — this is where you briefly explain what you changed and why. Write something like "Fixed typo in opening paragraph" or "Added citation for population figure." This summary helps other editors understand your intent. Then click the blue "Publish changes" button.
Your edit is now submitted. If you are not logged in, Wikipedia will ask for your IP address to track the change. If you created an account first, your username appears instead, which is better for your editing history and reputation.
Why edits get rejected and how to avoid it
The most common reason edits are reverted is lack of a source. Wikipedia's core rule is that information must come from published sources — news outlets, books, academic journals, government reports. If you add a fact without a source, another editor can remove it. You do not need to be a researcher; a link to a news article or a Wikipedia article that already cites the information is usually enough.
Edits that change the tone or remove information also get rejected often. Wikipedia articles are supposed to be neutral — they present facts and different viewpoints without taking sides. If you rewrite a sentence to make it sound better or to emphasize one perspective, other editors may see it as bias and undo your work. Stick to factual changes: fixing grammar, clarifying confusing sentences, adding missing information that has a source.
Edits to articles about living people face extra scrutiny. Wikipedia has strict rules about what can be said about real people who are still alive. If you add negative information about someone, you will need a strong source, and your edit may be rejected anyway if other editors think it is unfair or unnecessary.
Vandalism and spam are removed when ready by automated systems and human editors. Do not test this — edits that are clearly meant to damage the article or promote something will get you blocked from editing.
What happens after you publish your edit
Your edit appears in the article when ready, but it is marked as "unreviewed" or "pending review" depending on the article's protection level. Other editors can see it in the article's edit history — a log of every change ever made. Some editors patrol recent changes and look for problems. If they find one, they click "undo" and your edit disappears. If no one objects within a few days, your edit becomes permanent.
If your edit is reverted, do not assume you did something wrong. Check the article's "Talk" page — a discussion board attached to every Wikipedia article — to see if anyone left a note explaining why. Click the "Talk" tab at the top of the article. Read through the conversation. If you do not see an explanation, you can add a message asking why your edit was removed. Most editors will respond, and you can revise your edit based on their feedback.
Some articles are "protected," meaning only experienced editors can change them. If you try to edit a protected article and cannot, that is why. These are usually high-traffic articles about famous people or controversial topics where vandalism is common.
Creating an account and building credibility
You can edit Wikipedia without an account, but creating one takes two minutes and is worth it. Go to the Wikipedia homepage, click "Create account" in the top right, choose a username and password, and confirm your email address. That is all.
An account gives you several advantages. Your edits are attached to your username instead of your IP address, which makes it easier for other editors to see your history and judge whether you are trustworthy. You get access to more editing tools, like the ability to watch articles and get notified when they change. Over time, if your edits are good, you build a reputation. Editors are more likely to trust and support your changes if you have a track record of careful, well-sourced work.
You do not need special permissions to start editing. Anyone with an account can edit most articles. Some editors earn "rollback" or "administrator" status after years of good work, but that is not necessary to contribute.
How to find and add sources to support your edits
Before you add a new fact to Wikipedia, find a published source that says the same thing. This can be a news article, a book, a government website, or an academic paper. Wikipedia prefers sources that are reliable and well-known — major newspapers, university presses, peer-reviewed journals. A random blog or a social media post does not count.
Once you have a source, add it to the article using Wikipedia's citation format. At the end of the sentence you are sourcing, add <ref> tags with the source information inside. For example: <ref>Smith, John. "Article Title." News Site, January 1, 2024.</ref> Wikipedia has templates that make this easier — you can type {{cite news}} or {{cite web}} and fill in the blanks. Do not worry about getting the format perfect on your first try. Other editors will clean it up if needed.
If you are adding a source to an existing fact that did not have one, that is a valuable edit. Wikipedia has thousands of unsourced claims, and adding citations makes the whole site more trustworthy. Other editors usually appreciate this work.
Common mistakes that get edits rejected
Adding your own opinion or analysis is the fastest way to get reverted. Wikipedia is not the place to argue that one politician is better than another or that a movie is overrated. Stick to facts that can be verified in published sources.
Changing an article to promote a product, company, or cause is considered spam and will be removed. If you work for a company and want to improve its Wikipedia article, disclose that conflict of interest on the Talk page and let other editors make the changes.
Removing negative information about a person or organization without a good reason looks like bias. If you think something is unfair or inaccurate, explain why on the Talk page and suggest a source that contradicts it. Let other editors decide whether to change it.
Making many small edits in a row to the same article can trigger automated systems that flag you as a bot or vandal. If you need to make several changes, try to combine them into one or two edits instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit Wikipedia on my phone?
Yes. The Wikipedia mobile site has an edit button, though the editing experience is less smooth than on a computer. The text box is smaller, and formatting codes are harder to work with. For your first edits, a computer is better, but you can make straightforward changes like fixing typos on a phone.
What if I make a mistake in my edit?
You can fix it yourself. Go back to the article, click Edit again, find your mistake, correct it, and publish. Your correction will appear as a new edit in the history. Other editors will see both versions, but that is normal and not a problem.
How long does it take for my edit to be reviewed?
It depends on the article. Edits to popular articles may be reviewed within minutes. Edits to less-visited articles might sit for days or weeks. Some edits are never formally reviewed — they just stay because no one objects. If your edit is important, you can mention it on the Talk page to draw attention to it.
Can I edit articles about myself or my company?
You can, but you should disclose the conflict of interest on the Talk page. Other editors will be skeptical of edits from people with a personal stake in the article. It is better to suggest changes on the Talk page and let neutral editors make them.
What does "neutral point of view" mean?
It means presenting facts without bias or opinion. If an article covers a controversial topic, it should explain different viewpoints fairly, not argue for one side. Your edits should follow the same principle — add information that is factual and sourced, not arguments about what is right or wrong.