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{{notability essay}}
{{nutshell|There are three common mistakes you should avoid when sourcing an article or proposed article to demonstrate that the topic is notable: i) adding citations but to ''unreliable'' sources; ii) adding citations to ''connected'' (non-independent) sources; and iii) adding citations to sources that ''merely mention'' the topic.|shortcut=WP:NERROR|shortcut2=WP:CSMN}}
Wikipedia is an [[WP:ENC|encyclopedia]], a specific type of reference work properly containing articles on topics of knowledge. Wikipedia employs the concept of [[WP:N|notability]] to avoid [[WP:IINFO|indiscriminate inclusion]] of topics by attempting to ensure that the subjects of articles are "worthy of notice" – by only including articles on topics that the world has taken ''note'' of by substantively treating them in reliable sources unconnected with the topic. The general notability standard thus presumes that topics are notable if they have "received '''significant coverage''' in '''[[WP:reliable sources|reliable sources]]''' that are '''[[WP:Independent sources|independent]] of the subject'''".

Wikipedia's notability standards works hand in glove with its policy on [[Wikipedia:Verifiability|verifiability of information]]. In short the "right way" to write an article is to gather the right types of sources first<ref name="Primary">[[WP:PRIMARY|Primary sources]] may only be used to support: "straightforward, descriptive statements of facts that can be verified by any educated person with access to the primary source but without further, specialized knowledge." In addition to a number of other prohibitions on their use set out at the linked policy page, additional restrictions are provided on the use of primary sources in articles that are biographies of living persons. See [[WP:BLPPRIMARY]] and [[WP:BLPPRIVACY]].</ref> (as explained below), and, if and only if they they exist, write only what they verify, [[WP:REFB|citing those sources]] as you write for the information they provide (''without'' copying the words used<ref>''Short'' quotations of copyrighted material [[Wikipedia:Non-free content#Acceptable use of text|are allowed under fair use]], but any such quotations ''must'' be marked as such using [[Quotation mark|quote marks]] (or by less common methods, such as block-indenting), and must by policy be immediately followed by an [[WP:IC|inline citation]] to the source of the quotation.</ref>). At the same time such sources verify the information content, they act to demonstrate the notability of the topic by their substantive treatment of it. If notability cannot be established for an article it is likely to be [[Wikipedia:Merging|merged]], [[Wikipedia:Redirect|redirected]] or [[Wikipedia:Deletion policy|deleted]].

In order to establish notability, we ask that users [[WP:REFB|cite]], using [[WP:IC|inline citations]], to: published, [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources|reliable]], [[WP:SECONDARY|secondary]] sources that are entirely [[Wikipedia:Independent sources|independent]] of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond its mere trivial mention.

There are a number of common mistakes seen in addressing this issue:
*'''Adding citations but to unreliable sources''': We are looking for treatment in sources like mainstream newspaper articles, non-vanity books, established magazines, scholarly journals, television and radio documentaries, etc. – sources with editorial oversight and a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. This means generally ''not'' random personal websites, blogs, forum posts, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, [[WP:SPS|self-published sources]] like open wikis (including [[WP:CIRCULAR|other Wikipedia articles]]), etc. In short, read and understand [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources]].
*'''Adding citations to connected (non-independent) sources''': While [[WP:PRIMARY|primary]] and other connected sources may be useful to verify certain facts, they must be used with caution<ref name="Primary" /> and do nothing to establish notability. In short, we are looking for [[WP:SECONDARY|secondary sources]] written by [[Wikipedia:Secondary does not mean independent|third parties]] to a topic that have no vested interest in the subject of their writing or coverage. This means generally ''not'' anything written by or on behalf of the subject or anyone connected with the person or organization in any way; not the subject's own website, not the subject's social media, not interviews (with the person, or of an organization's employees, officers or other insiders), and not press releases, regardless of where they are republished. An unconnected source is, for example, a newspaper reporter covering a story that they are not involved in ''except in their capacity as a reporter''.
*'''Adding citations to sources that merely mention the topic''': You can cite numerous, published, reliable, secondary, independent sources and it will not help establish notability if they do not treat the topic substantively – think generally two or more paragraphs of text focused on the topic at issue. Remember: it is much better to cite two good sources that treat a topic in detail, than twenty that just mention it in passing. Moreover, [[Wikipedia:Citation overkill|citation overkill]] to sources containing mere passing mentions of the topic is a badge of a non-notable topic and, if good sources are actually present in the mix, they will be hidden among these others from those seeking to assess a topic's demonstration of notability.

If insufficient reliable, secondary and independent sources exist treating a topic in substantive detail, then Wikipedia should not have an article on the topic. Remember that [[Wikipedia:No amount of editing can overcome a lack of notability|no amount of editing can overcome a lack of notability]].

== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Wikipedia essays|notability}}

[[Category:Wikipedia essays about building the encyclopedia]]
[[Category:Wikipedia essays about notability]]

Wikipedia:Common sourcing mistakes (notability) - Revision history

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