Wikipedia:Please do not bite the newcomers

This page documents an English Wikipedia behavioral guideline. Editors should generally follow it, though exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on this guideline's talk page.

Shortcuts WP:BITE WP:NOBITING WP:DONTBITE WP:NEWBIES WP:NOOB

This page in a nutshell: Don’t be hostile toward fellow editors, newcomers in particular. Assume good faith and respond to problematic edits in a clear and polite manner.

Wikipedia is improved through the work of both regular editors and newcomers. All of us were new editors once, and in some areas, even the most experienced are still newcomers. Treat newcomers with kindness and patience—nothing scares valuable contributors away faster than hostility.

The first edits of many now-experienced editors were test edits, or unsourced and unencyclopedic additions. It is unlikely for a new editor to be familiar with Wikipedia's markup language and its policies, guidelines, and community standards. Not having a clue is a normal stage in the editor lifecycle. We want editors to survive this process.

Initial interactions set the expectation for the entire community. A welcoming atmosphere invites new editors to learn and grow. A harsh one fosters an idea that Wikipedia is unkind and rigid.

So next time you feel frustrated with a newcomer’s mistake, see it as an opportunity to nurture future contributors. Wikipedia needs a constant stream of new information, experience, and ideas.^[a] Guide newcomers patiently and thoroughly: kindness and patience is a necessity for Wikipedia's survival.

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