 | This is an essay on notability. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Significant coverage cannot be measured by word count. |
The general notability guideline defines significant coverage as discussion of a topic in reliable sources that "addresses the topic directly and in detail". Coverage that is direct and in detail must cover an aspect of a topic through a description, discussion, or analysis that has enough depth to allow editors to write an article from a neutral point of view with enough context for a reader to understand the topic.
Significance cannot be based on a count of words in a single source. Even several paragraphs about a source might be trivial in context. For example, a gossip column about a celebrity may contain unimportant information or a run-of-the-mill news story might discuss a routine local event, such as a high school band concert.