Frequently Asked Questions: Difference between revisions
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This page addresses some frequently asked questions about Wikimedia UK. For frequently asked questions about Wikipedia, see [[:wikipedia:Wikipedia:FAQ|Wikipedia:FAQ]]. | This page addresses some frequently asked questions about Wikimedia UK. For frequently asked questions about Wikipedia, see [[:wikipedia:Wikipedia:FAQ|Wikipedia:FAQ]]. | ||
== What is Wikipedia? == | |||
Wikipedia is an online free-content encyclopedia that anyone can contribute to. It is the most popular general reference work on the internet. <ref name="AlexaStats">{{cite web|url=http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/wikipedia.org?range=5y&size=large&y=t|title = Five-year Traffic Statistics for Wikipedia.org|publisher=[[Alexa Internet]]|accessdate=2008-07-15 }}</ref><ref name=Tancer>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1595184,00.html|title=Look Who's Using Wikipedia|author=Bill Tancer|date=2007-05-01|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''|accessdate=2007-12-01|quote=The sheer volume of content [...] is partly responsible for the site's dominance as an online reference. When compared to the top 3,200 educational reference sites in the U.S., Wikipedia is #1, capturing 24.3% of all visits to the category}} [[Cf.]] Bill Tancer (Global Manager, Hitwise), [http://weblogs.hitwise.com/bill-tancer/2007/03/wikipedia_search_and_school_ho.html "Wikipedia, Search and School Homework"], ''[[Hitwise]]'': An [[Experian]] Company ([[Blog]]), March 1, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2008.</ref> The [[meta:vision|vision]] of Wikipedia is "Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment". | |||
There are separate versions of Wikipedia in [[wikipedia:List of Wikipedias|over 250 different languages]]. The English language Wikipedia has over 3,000,000 articles and is in the top ten most visited websites both in the world and in the UK. <ref>[http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/GB Alexa Rankings GB] and [http://www.alexa.com/topsites Alexa Global Rankings]<ref/> | |||
== Who owns Wikipedia? == | |||
Wikipedia is a collaborative website operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Content on Wikipedia is owned by the individual contributors and licensed under a free copyright license. | |||
== Who are the Wikimedia Foundation? == | |||
The Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit charitable organisation based in the United States. The Foundation operates the Wikipedia projects as well as eight other projects: | |||
* Wiktionary, a dictionary <--! 958 !--> | |||
* Wikibooks | |||
* Wikiquote | |||
* Wikisource | |||
* Wikinews | |||
* Wikimedia Commons | |||
* Wikiversity | |||
* Wikispecies | |||
<--! List order based on Alexa traffic rank 958 !--> | |||
== Is Wikimedia UK a charity? == | == Is Wikimedia UK a charity? == | ||
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== How reliable is Wikipedia? == | == How reliable is Wikipedia? == | ||
You shouldn't trust content just because it's on Wikipedia - it could have been written by anyone. The best approach is to trust information that has references attached to it - ideally by checking those references. From an academic perspective, Wikipedia may not be an acceptable source; indeed, some professors and teachers may reject Wikipedia-sourced material completely, however if you check the sources listed yourself you can cite them instead. ([[:wikipedia:Wikipedia:CITEWIKI|More information]].) | You shouldn't trust content just because it's on Wikipedia - it could have been written by anyone. The best approach is to trust information that has references attached to it - ideally by checking those references. From an academic perspective, Wikipedia may not be an acceptable source; indeed, some professors and teachers may reject Wikipedia-sourced material completely, however if you check the sources listed yourself you can cite them instead. ([[:wikipedia:Wikipedia:CITEWIKI|More information]].) | ||
== References == | |||
<references/> | |||
== Got a different question? == | == Got a different question? == | ||
Please leave a message on [[Talk:Frequently Asked Questions|the talk page]], or [[Contact us|get in touch]]! | Please leave a message on [[Talk:Frequently Asked Questions|the talk page]], or [[Contact us|get in touch]]! | ||
Revision as of 20:47, 22 September 2009
This page addresses some frequently asked questions about Wikimedia UK. For frequently asked questions about Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:FAQ.
What is Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is an online free-content encyclopedia that anyone can contribute to. It is the most popular general reference work on the internet. [1][2] The vision of Wikipedia is "Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment".
There are separate versions of Wikipedia in over 250 different languages. The English language Wikipedia has over 3,000,000 articles and is in the top ten most visited websites both in the world and in the UK. <ref>Alexa Rankings GB and Alexa Global RankingsCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Who owns Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is a collaborative website operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Content on Wikipedia is owned by the individual contributors and licensed under a free copyright license.
Who are the Wikimedia Foundation?
The Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit charitable organisation based in the United States. The Foundation operates the Wikipedia projects as well as eight other projects:
- Wiktionary, a dictionary <--! 958 !-->
- Wikibooks
- Wikiquote
- Wikisource
- Wikinews
- Wikimedia Commons
- Wikiversity
- Wikispecies
<--! List order based on Alexa traffic rank 958 !-->
Is Wikimedia UK a charity?
Wikimedia UK is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. We are in the process of applying for charity status; for the latest information see Charity status application.
What area the relationships between Wikimedia UK, Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation?
Wikimedia UK is an independent organisation that has been recognised as a local chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation. The Wikimedia Foundation operates Wikipedia, among other projects. Wikimedia UK supports the local activities around Wikipedia, including running events, talking to the press and providing funding to support Wikimedia activities locally.
How popular are the Wikimedia projects?
- The English Wikipedia has over 3 million files (More)
- Wikimedia Commons has over 5 million freely licensed media files, used on Wikipedia (More)
- Over a quarter of internet users in the UK use Wikipedia (More)
- Wikipedia is one of the top ten most popular websites on the internet
Who edits Wikipedia?
You can! Wikipedia is constructed and maintained by millions of volunteers. There is no barrier to editing Wikipedia - you can simply click on the "edit" button and get started! (More information.)
How reliable is Wikipedia?
You shouldn't trust content just because it's on Wikipedia - it could have been written by anyone. The best approach is to trust information that has references attached to it - ideally by checking those references. From an academic perspective, Wikipedia may not be an acceptable source; indeed, some professors and teachers may reject Wikipedia-sourced material completely, however if you check the sources listed yourself you can cite them instead. (More information.)
References
- ↑ "Five-year Traffic Statistics for Wikipedia.org". Alexa Internet. http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/wikipedia.org?range=5y&size=large&y=t. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ↑ Bill Tancer (2007-05-01). "Look Who's Using Wikipedia". Time. http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1595184,00.html. Retrieved 2007-12-01. "The sheer volume of content [...] is partly responsible for the site's dominance as an online reference. When compared to the top 3,200 educational reference sites in the U.S., Wikipedia is #1, capturing 24.3% of all visits to the category" Cf. Bill Tancer (Global Manager, Hitwise), "Wikipedia, Search and School Homework", Hitwise: An Experian Company (Blog), March 1, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
Got a different question?
Please leave a message on the talk page, or get in touch!