Wikipedia:Help desk/Archives/2024 June 29

Help desk
< June 28	<< May | June | Jul >>	June 30 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Help Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current Help Desk pages.

June 29

Clarification Regarding Translation Replacement

Hi there,

I'm not entirely sure if this is the correct place to ask, but maybe someone will be able to assist. I noticed that the article Egor Kreed, for example, was considerably empty in contrast to the one found on the Russian Wikipedia, and was looking to add content to it. However, when I was using the translation tool for other articles, I noticed that there is an option to replace an already existing page with a translation. My question for this is: what would be the potential impact of such an action? Would there need to be additional steps taken afterwards? I think it would be easier to do another translation (given how organized the tool is) but at the same time, I do not want to mess things up if that makes sense. Thanks in advance for the help. Losipov (talk) 03:10, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Despite what the notice says at the top of Egor Kreed, expanding an English Wikipedia article with a translation from an article in another language is a bad idea, unless you are satisfied that the text you are translating is supported by citations to the standard required in English Wikipedia (which tends to be a higher standard than many others).

If the text you are translating is so supported, then that's fine: you translate it, and cite the original sources (unless you can find equally good English ones, which are preferred if they exist). But if it is not, then what you will be doing is adding unsourced information to the article, which is generally not acceptable (and especially not when it is an article about a living person).

Looking at ru:Крид, Егор, at first sight it has lots of citations. But looking at them, an awful lot of them appear to be either to his own work, or to VK (service), which is a social media site: the bulk of citations in an article should each meet the triple criterion of reliability, independence from the subject, and having significant coverage of the subject. There may be some citations in the Russian article that meet these criteria, but if so, they are swamped by the refbombing of inferior or worthless sources.

Also, I notice that several claims in the first paragraphs are tagged with "источник не указан 423 дня", which I believe means "unsourced for xxx days". ColinFine (talk) 15:46, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Text size

Hello, I am having difficulty reading the Wikipedia pages. how do I increase the screen text size? Thanks Chris. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Chriswv3 (talk • contribs) 03:46, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

In most browsers, pressing ctrl and + on your keyboard will increase the displayed font size for most websites, (ctrl and - to decrease it). -- D'n'B-t -- 04:05, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

If you have a Mac on Safari, this should be Option-Command-Equal Sign (=) for zooming in, and Option-Command-Minus Sign (-) for zooming out. Cheers! Hanoi2020 (talk) 17:15, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

In addition to what DandelionAndBurdoch says, there's also a icon that you can click at the top of the page, which generates a dropdown menu that allows you to adjust text size and width. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 04:27, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Tenryuu, at the top of which page? In what browser? I've never seen that icon; though admittedly I've never searched for it, as I know to use ctrl +.   Maproom (talk) 11:03, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

@Maproom: The above assumes that one is on Vector 2022. Frankly I don't like using it as there are a few namespaces that are exempted from it. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 13:56, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

@Tenryuu I was wondering what the default is on that appearance icon (oo). I always have it set at the following: text: small, and width: wide. But that's only because it works best that way on my desktop. It's confusing when editing because putting in a "soft hyphen" tag (at end of a sentence) depends on one's settings. JimPercy (talk) 15:17, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

@JimPercy: It's been a while since I've fiddled with it, but I think the default text size is Medium and the width is Standard. —Tenryuu 🐲 ( 💬 • 📝 ) 15:34, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Import from another language Wiki

I have seen that my article de:Fadenwurminfektionen des Hundes was transferred (and translated) per c&p to Nematode infection in dogs, without using Wikipedia:Requests for page importation and therefore without article history. In the German WP this procedure is not allowed because it violates Wikipedia:Copyrights. I have no idea how it is handled in the English WP. Uwe Gille (talk) 11:16, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Uwe Gille, Wikipedia copyright policy allows reuse of text, but says that credit to the authors should be provided, for example by including "a hyperlink (where possible) or URL to the page or pages you are re-using". This is also explained at Help:Translation#English Wikipedia policy requirements. Unlike in de Wikipedia Wikipedia:Requests for page importation are not required and appear to be unusual. Nematode infection in dogs has followed the en Wikipedia policy. TSventon (talk) 12:15, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Uwe Gille, attribution was included in the initial edit summary for the English page. Also, a slightly incomplete attribution for the work of editors on de.wp was added to the talk-page with this edit. Ideally that would include the exact revision number for the translated content. Alemedicen, would you kindly add that, for this page and for any other that you have translated? Thank you, Justlettersandnumbers (talk) 15:11, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

@Justlettersandnumbers, Alemedicen has been blocked since last November. ColinFine (talk) 15:51, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Thanks, ColinFine! I'm gradually learning that the Open Knowledge Association is even less well-liked than I had thought. I've added to the attribution for the translation. Regards, Justlettersandnumbers (talk) 16:23, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Images

what kind of picture can i upload? im writing about a celebrity and it says i cant upload it Y2kash (talk) 11:29, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

New users aren't allowed to upload photos to Wikipedia. When trying to upload images, please keep Wikipedia:Image use policy in mind. If you don't own the copyright to the image, and it isn't freely licensed, please don't upload such images. See Wikipedia:Uploading images § Determine copyright status for details. —⁠andrybak (talk) 14:44, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Greetings! Can you help me?

I need help with this 81.107.43.180 (talk) 12:17, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Whether we can help you or not will clearly depend on what 'this' refers to. AndyTheGrump (talk) 12:22, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

I can't login to my account in wikipedia!

Hello, I have been a member of Wikipedia for years.

For the past few days, I have been trying to log into my Wikipedia account, but after entering my username and password, I receive an error message. I am sure that I am entering both my username and password correctly, but each time I get the same response that either the username or the password is wrong!

When I click on the "Forgot password" option, it asks for my username and email address, but I do not receive any email in my inbox for resetting my password!!

What should I do? 185.125.249.18 (talk) 12:20, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

BTW, my user-id in wikipedia is: mjdtjm 185.125.249.18 (talk) 12:36, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

If you can't recall your password and the email is not working, then nothing more can be done. You will need to create a new account. You can add a note to the new account's user page that you previously edited under the old name. RudolfRed (talk) 16:08, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Hello. The account in question is User: Mjdtjm with a capital M. Check whether that may be the source of the problem. That account does not have email access enabled, so the software cannot send you anything by email. You should enable email if you regain access, or on your new account if it comes to that. Cullen328 (talk) 18:34, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Abrupt GA Delist - Florida State University - No Discussion, no cooperation

I am requesting help with another editor who abruptly delisted the main Florida State University from GA status (which the article has had for years) while a GA Reassessment works through the process. I need to resolve concerns with non-free use in a couple sections, mainly and perhaps a style preference or two. Otherwise, the editor proposing the GAR is helpful and generally cooperative. However, a third editor entered the matter abruptly and delisted the article, with no explanation or collaboration. Thank you for any help! Sirberus (talk) 15:12, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Sirberus, you should probably follow the process for Disputing a reassessment at Wikipedia:Good article reassessment. I see you have raised your concerns with the closing editor on their talk page. The steps are

1. A GAR closure should only be contested if the closure was obviously against consensus or otherwise procedurally incorrect. A closure should only be disputed within the first seven days following the close.
2. Before disputing a GAR closure, first discuss your concerns with the closing editor on their talk page.
3. If discussing does not resolve concerns, editors should post at Wikipedia talk:Good article nominations and ask for review from uninvolved editors and the coordinators. TSventon (talk) 15:48, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

   Thank you. I will follow up within the required period. I see we are three days into the seven, so time is of the essence.Sirberus (talk) 17:23, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

   I went ahead and requested GA reassessment and explained what has occurred. I want to stay within the seven-day period if at all possible. Other editors are welcome to join the GAR (once the delist matter is reversed or addressed) and rework. Sirberus (talk) 17:44, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

   The delisting editor (Real4jyy) shows up and says the reason the delisting was made is that no additional edits were made in two weeks...while the two active editors were waiting for a subject matter expert in non-free material to contribute to the review. Pardon me, but I live in the real world, and Wikipedia is a low priority for me and others who want to make Wikipedia better. It may takes months to finish the work. Frankly, the pattern of this individual appears to be to move from one GA review to another and delist whatever falls under their cursor. That is absurd. It takes substantial work to bring an article to GA status. I suggest if any editor want the authority to delist a GA, they should at least bring an article to the GA standard.Sirberus (talk) 10:15, 30 June 2024 (UTC)

Turnertown, Texas wrong categories

Turnertown is in Rusk County, Texas, but on my Kindle, it is listed as being in the Categories: Unincorporated communities in Cherokee County, Texas. How do I correct this on the desktop? It isn't the only one. DMc75771 (talk) 19:57, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

@DMc75771: On your desktop, when you are in edit mode, the category is all the way at the bottom: [[Category:Unincorporated communities in Cherokee County, Texas]]. You can remove that and replace it with the correct category. RudolfRed (talk) 22:09, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Account deletion

How do I delete a Wikipedia account created in error? D16sinclair (talk) 22:33, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

@D16sinclair: Accounts cannot be deleted. Just stop using the account you don't need. RudolfRed (talk) 22:35, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Adding "et al." to references

How would I add "et al." to references if there are more than three authors? 2003 LN6 23:27, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

According to Help:Citation Style 1 |display-authors=etal in a template displays all authors in the list followed by et al. TSventon (talk) 23:47, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Use |display-authors=3 if you want to have all authors after the third one displayed as "et al.". A made-up Example: Renerpho (talk) 07:30, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

Thank you! 2003 LN6 20:51, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

References