Wikipedia:Very short featured articles

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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This page in a nutshell: It is somewhat open to debate whether very short articles can become Featured Articles, but consensus tends to be against a set minimum length for FAC.

There has often been discussion about whether very short articles can attain Featured article (FA) status.

Some editors are opposed to short articles at Featured article candidates (FAC). Many bring up fair arguments, such as potential overflow of FACs, lack of reviewers, and loss of quality main page TFAs. Other FAC reviewers argue that any article which meets Wikipedia's notability requirements can become featured. So, should a 500-word (or less) article be able to make FA?

Featured articles under 400 words have been proposed. WP:GA was initially designed for such articles, but Wikipedia has appeared to have moved beyond that concept.

Examples

Some examples of current very short featured articles:

Miss Meyers, FA, 9,417 bytes
Nico Ditch, FA, 10,645 bytes
How Brown Saw the Baseball Game, FA, 11,207 bytes
Hurricane Irene (2005), FA, 11,006 bytes
Tropical Storm Brenda (1960), FA, 11,516 bytes
Si Ronda, FA, 11,422 bytes

For a complete list, see Featured articles by size.

Criteria

From the featured article criteria:

A featured article exemplifies our very best work and ... It is—
(b) comprehensive: it neglects no major facts or details;

The length of an article doesn't determine its quality; it's the thoroughness, accuracy, and relevance of its content that matters most. Wikipedia's Featured Article status reflects this emphasis on quality over quantity. While achieving this status relies on comprehensive coverage and adherence to strict editorial guidelines, simply adding material to lengthen an article isn't advisable. Instead, the focus should be on presenting clear and concise information that effectively communicates the subject matter. Collaborative efforts by knowledgeable editors can ensure that articles attain Featured status by accurately representing all relevant facts and details without unnecessary padding. Ultimately, whether short or long, an article's value lies in its ability to inform and engage readers effectively.

Wikipedia:Very short featured articles

Examples

Criteria

See also

Further reading