Wikipedia calls itself a “free encyclopedia that anyone can edit” and anyone who has spent time online is most likely familiar with it.
The online encyclopedia has a worldwide reach, and hundreds of thousands of articles are published every day in many different languages. Since its creation, Wikipedia has grown into a comprehensive knowledge source used by millions of people throughout the world. Today, the English version alone includes over 3.5 million articles with new content added on a daily basis.
At first glance, the amount of information available on Wikipedia seems overwhelming. It’s a complex web of facts and definitions with every article containing many links to relevant content. You would be hard-pressed to find a topic that isn’t already explored on one of the encyclopedia pages.
So, who is responsible for this massive effort? And, can you contribute your own knowledge to be published on Wikipedia?
The answer is millions of people have played a role in creating Wikipedia, and you too can participate in its continuous expansion. The millions of articles available on the website today are the result of collaboration by mostly anonymous Internet users all over the world. What makes Wikipedia unique is that anyone with an Internet connection can contribute new content or edit an already existing article. Here’s how.
You don’t need a user account to edit a page, but you will need one if you want to create a new one. Creating a Wikipedia account is free and easy. Having an account gives you more capabilities such as the ability to create a page about yourself. You can also add new content and your username will appear next to any changes or additions that you work on. You can edit pages by clicking on the edit link on top of an article. If you want to add a new article, Wikipedia will guide you through the process, which isn’t complicated, but you will have to read the rules and guidelines along the way.
Wikipedia is truly one-of-a-kind knowledge source. It is perhaps the biggest collaboration that exists on the Internet today with millions of users editing and adding content daily. One of the best things about Wikipedia is that anyone can take part in its creation. If you have something to share with the rest of the world, Wikipedia is a great way to do so.