Wikipedia:Training/For educators/Pillar 2
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Wikipedia's Five Pillars: Number 2
Wikipedia has a neutral point of view.
Strive for articles that document and explain the major points of view in a balanced and impartial manner. Avoid false balance. Wikipedia's neutrality policy requires that articles fairly represent all significant viewpoints that have been published by reliable sources, in proportion to the prominence of each viewpoint in the published, reliable sources. Giving due weight and avoiding giving undue weight means that articles should not give minority views or aspects as much of or as detailed a description as more widely held views or widely supported aspects. Generally, the views of tiny minorities should not be included at all.
- Avoid advocacy. Characterize information and issues, don't debate them. Let the facts speak, and the reader to make up their own mind.
- In some areas there may be just one well-recognized point of view; in other areas we describe multiple points of view, presenting each accurately and in context, and NOT presenting any point of view as "the truth" or "the best view".
Tip: If a sentence begins with "This means that...", "I think...," "The benefits of..." or something like it, you're submitting something that probably doesn't belong on Wikipedia. Likewise, words such as "Interestingly," "Actually," etc, are a form of editorializing, and should be avoided. "Interesting" to whom? "Actually," compared to what?
