Wikipedia:Avoiding common mistakes

This is an essay. 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.

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The easiest way to avoid making common mistakes is to know what they are. Some of the most common recurring errors in Wikipedia articles have been documented below for your convenience.

However, not all errors are covered here. Keep in mind that newcomers to Wikipedia may find that it is easy to commit a faux pas. Don't worry about that. Remember, Wikipedia is unbreakable (every edit is recorded and retrievable). Also, even though there are many protocols, perfection is not required, as Wikipedia is a work in progress. You are encouraged to be bold and start editing.