To discuss particular sources, see the reliable sources noticeboard. For vandalism, see WP:VAND. For the default Wikipedia skin, see WP:VECTOR. This page documents an English Wikipedia policy, a widely accepted standard that all editors should normally follow. Changes made to it should reflect consensus.
Shortcuts:
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WP:VERIFY
This page in a nutshell: Readers must be able to check that Wikipedia articles are not just made up. This means that all quotations and any material challenged or likely to be challenged must be attributed to a reliable, published source using an inline citation.
Core content policies
Neutral point of view
No original research
Verifiability
Other content policies
Article titles
Biographies of living persons
Image use policy
What Wikipedia is not v t e
In Wikipedia, verifiability means that people reading and editing the encyclopedia can check that the information comes from a reliable source. Wikipedia does not publish original research. Its content is determined by previously published information rather than the beliefs or experiences of its editors. Even if you're sure something is true, it must be verifiable before you can add it.[1] When reliable sources disagree, present what the various sources say, give each side its due weight, and maintain a neutral point of view.
All material in Wikipedia mainspace, including everything in articles, lists and captions, must be verifiable. All quotations, and any material whose verifiability has been challenged or is likely to be challenged, must include an inline citation that directly supports the material. Any material that needs a source but does not have one may be removed. Please remove unsourced contentious material about living people immediately.
For how to write citations, see citing sources. Verifiability, no original research and neutral point of view are Wikipedia's core content policies. They work together to determine content, so editors should understand the key points of all three. Articles must also comply with the copyright policy.
Contents [hide]
1 Burden of evidence
2 Reliable sources
2.1 What counts as a reliable source
2.2 Newspaper and magazine blogs
2.3 Reliable sources noticeboard and WP:IRS
3 Sources that are usually not reliable
3.1 Questionable sources
3.2 Self-published sources
3.3 Self-published or questionable sources as sources on themselves
3.4 Wikipedia and sources that mirror or use it
4 Accessibility
4.1 Access to sources
4.2 Non-English sources
4.2.1 Citing non-English sources
4.2.2 Quoting non-English sources
5 Other issues
5.1 Verifiability does not guarantee inclusion
5.2 Tagging a sentence, section, or article
5.3 Exceptional claims require exceptional sources
6 Verifiability and other principles
6.1 Copyright and plagiarism
6.2 Neutrality
6.3 Notability
6.4 Original research
7 See also
8 Notes
9 Further reading
Burden of evidence

Policy shortcuts:
WP:UNSOURCED
WP:CHALLENGE
WP:BURDEN
WP:PROVEIT
WP:ONUS
"WP:PROVEIT" redirects here. For the editing tool, see User:ProveIt GT.
Attribute all quotations and any material challenged or likely to be challenged to a reliable, published source using an inline citation. Cite the source clearly and precisely (specifying page, section, or such divisions as may be appropriate). The citation must clearly support the material as presented in the article. See Citing sources for details of how to do this.
Any material lacking a reliable source directly supporting it may be removed. Whether and how quickly this should happen depends on the material and the overall state of the article. Editors might object if you remove material without giving them time to provide references; consider adding a citation needed tag as an interim step.[2] When tagging or removing material for lacking an inline citation, please state your concern that there may not be a published reliable source for the content, and therefore it may not be