Wikipedia question

Is there any simple way for a non-Wikipedian, who doesn't want to get into writing or editing for Wiki, to point out a factual error in an article? (The article in question has a note saying that it may need cleanup, but this error isn't addressed in the Discussion.)

One could point it out on the article's discussion page. Particularly if you have references to show the error.

Once or twice I've wanted to make very minor edits or additions to Wikipedia and in spite of all the hype it's not too clear how to go about it. I wrote my first web pages way back in 1997 when you basically had to have some idea of html coding. Somewhere in Wikipedia there must be a page that tells you what tags can be used but I couldn't find it. A pity because there must be a lot of people with limited IT/html skills but good writing skills or insight into a particular topic who are being side-lined. I think you may just want to bring a point to somebody's attention but again there seems no easy way to do that.

I don't know if unregistered users have this, but if you click an "edit" link, you get a window with a buch of buttons at the top and a bunch of text descriptions for tags below. Though really, the most important thing to remember is that links to other Wikipedia articles take two square brackets, and links to outside websites take one bracket. (No examples, because LT uses the brackets for its own markup.) Italicising is two single quotes on either side, ''like this'', and bolding is three, '''like this'''.

For an official discussion on how to edit at Wikipedia have a look at this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page

#2
Er . . . how does one post to the discussion page? Looked to me as if I had to become a full-fledged Wikipedian.

I was feeling chuffed that I actually found the discussion. :-)

#3
Exactly!

I don't want to "edit." And I don't do HTML. I don't want to learn how to navigate the system. I just want a simple way to bring one glaring little factual error to someone's attention.

The page you are speaking of should have a discussion page. The top of the page you are looking at should have an 'article' tab, a 'discussion' tab next to it, and then an 'edit this page' tab. First, click on the discussion tab, then click on the edit this page tab. Now, Scroll down to the bottom of the editing area to insert your comments.

First, since you are starting a new topic on the page give it a header:

==Your Header Here== (This creates a new 'section' on the discussion page.)

Then point out your factual error.

Finally, 'sign' your article with:

~~~~ (This signs the article with either your Wiki username or your IP, I believe.)

It is considered bad form not to sign in this manner. If you leave ~~~~ off I assume the article will be entirely unsigned. I am uncertain because I've never done it.

#7
So you'll be "editing" the discussion page, then?

Not to be stupid --- but I am about this --- do you mean to type "~~~~" or is that a substitute for something you are supposed to type? (Like
"Yourname," which many new people don't know to change.)

Signs the "article"? Is it different from a "post"? HTML skills required?

Yes you will be editing a discussion page, not a content page. The 'typical' Wiki users generally do not look at the discussion pages. The only alternative to editing the discussion page is to find a user who has an extraordinary interest in the page you have spotted the error on. You can do this by going to the article tab of your page and clicking on it. Then click the 'History' tab, you will see a record of changes to the article page. Identify the user with the most edits (=changes) and click on his name. This will bring you to this specific contributors 'user page'; now, click on the discussion page of this user and follow the instructions I gave in my previous post. You will now be editing a users discussion page. Be nice! Note that not all users are happy with this; he will likely tell you to "Be Bold" (the Wiki mantra) and edit the article yourself. And yes, typing exactly ~~~~ 'signs' your edit, on whatever page you edit, with a datestamp and your username or, if you don't have a user name, datestamp and your IP. This last is a supposition, my few edits have always been while I was signed in. But on history pages I have seen IP's so I assume that what I am seeing is edits made by users not signed in or people without a Wiki username.

#9

Thanks for the explanations. I may give it a try.

I still wish there were a "simple" way. :-)

There is a small bar above the edit box with icons that are almost WYSIWYG.

Many thanks to argyrion and pomonomo2003 for their posts - I'll take a boldness pill and have another go.