Wikipedia:Update/1/Content policy changes during April 2009


  • Wikipedia:Naming conventions
    • In WP:NAME#Use common names of persons and things, changed "Except where other accepted Wikipedia naming conventions give a different indication, use the most common name of a person or thing that does not cause ambiguity with other people or things. Use the naming conflict guideline when there is disagreement ..." to "Except where other accepted Wikipedia naming conventions give a different indication, title an article using the most common name of the person or thing that is the subject of the article (making the title unique when necessary as described in the following section and in the disambiguation guideline). The naming conflict guideline may help resolve disagreements ..."
    • In WP:NAME#Be precise when necessary, changed "Avoid giving an article an ambiguous title (unless it is unlikely that the other meanings deserve their own article). If all possible titles have multiple meanings, go with the rule of thumb of naming conventions and use common names of persons and things." to "Name an article as precisely as is necessary to indicate accurately its topical scope; avoid over-precision. If there are other articles with the same name, then the title should include a disambiguator in parentheses, unless the article concerns the primary topic for that name. If alternative common names exist for a topic, sometimes a less ambiguous option may be chosen in order to avoid the need for a disambiguator."




  • Wikipedia:Non-free content criteria
    • In WP:NFCC#Enforcement, changed every occurrence of "image" to "file".
    • After "Image description page", changed "Attribution of the source of the material and, if different from the source, of the copyright holder." to "Identification of the source of the material, supplemented, where possible, with information about the artist, publisher and copyright holder; this is to help determine the material's potential market value."



  • Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not
    • Added to WP:NOT#Wikipedia is not a dictionary: "Exceptions include terms with encyclopedic disputes connected with them, such as Macedonia (terminology): The use of "Macedonia" as the name of a country is disputed by Greece, which uses it as the name of a region, and the debate is well-covered in many reliable sources."
    • Added to WP:NOT#Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information: "Source texts generally belong on Wikisource. Excerpts of lyrics may be used within an article for the purpose of direct commentary upon them, or to illustrate some aspect of the style." Also changed "Wikipedia treats fiction in an encyclopedic manner, discussing the reception, impact, and significance of notable works. A concise plot summary is appropriate as part of the larger coverage of a fictional work." to "The coverage of a fictional work should not be a mere plot summary.[dubiousdiscuss] A summary should facilitate substantial coverage of the work's real-world development, reception, and significance."