Common Reasons Wikipedia Pages Get Rejected

Introduction

Developing a Wikipedia page may be an effective method for increasing credibility, visibility and authority on the web. However, if you've ever had a wiki page rejected, you understand how frustrating it can be. Pages tend to be rejected for reasons that aren't immediately apparent to the typical contributor. No matter if you're creating a brand page, composing a biography or submitting a piece of content for an organization, knowing Wikipedia rejection causes may greatly improve your odds of having it accepted. Here are the most frequent rejection reasons and how to fix wiki submission properly.

1. Lack of Notability

Lack of notability is one of the leading Wikipedia rejection causes. Wikipedia accepts only topics that qualify under its notability criteria. This requires the subject to have been widely covered in independent, reliable sources.

If your article lacks third-party sources such as major news outlets, books or academic journals, it will almost certainly be rejected. Press releases, blogs, and company websites don’t count.

How to correct it:

Before submitting a page, gather at least three to five reliable sources that cover the subject in detail. Avoid trivial mentions. Think in-depth profiles, features, or analyses from reputable media outlets.

2. Promotional Tone

The other frequent reason a wiki page is rejected is because the writing is too much like an ad. Wikipedia requires a neutral, encyclopedic style. Adjectives used in excess, brand slogans or one-sided flattery will prompt an instant rejection.

For instance, the use of words such as "leading expert" or "the industry's best" must be avoided except when quoting a source.

How to correct it:

Read other Wikipedia articles to understand the tone. Use neutral language. Report only facts and let the sources do the talking. Recall that Wikipedia is not a marketing platform.

3. Conflict of Interest

Wikipedia does not encourage individuals to write about themselves, their organizations or anything they are closely related to. In case editors identify a conflict of interest, your page can be marked or deleted.

Even if your article passes the notability criteria, if it's authored by an individual with an evident interest in the topic, it will be rejected. 

How to correct it:

If you can't write the article yourself, disclose it on your user page. Or ask a neutral third party or a seasoned editor to pen or proofread the draft for you. 

4. Lack of adequate Citations

Another large cause of Wikipedia rejection is poor sourcing. All factual statements on Wikipedia must be supported by a source that is verifiable. A couple of sources at the start is not sufficient if the rest of your content lacks sources. Unsourced or weakly sourced material leaves your page open to deletion.

How to correct it:

Cite your sources properly. Use inline citations to back up every important fact. Include links to articles, books, or databases whenever possible. Wikipedia prefers formatted citations, so follow existing examples to get it right.

5. Original Research

Wikipedia is not the place for personal theories, unpublished information or firsthand accounts. If your submission contains information that hasn’t been published elsewhere, it’s considered original research, and that’s grounds for immediate rejection.

How to correct it:

Include only information that is previously published by a trusted source. Do not insert insights, interpretations or new analyses, even if you think them to be correct. Wikipedia is based wholly on secondary sources.

6. Draft Not Reviewed Properly

Other times, your article may be technically correct but rejected due to minor formatting issues or forgotten details. Wikipedia submissions are reviewed, and reviewers can reject pages if they are not according to community standards.

How to correct it:

Double-check Wikipedia's Manual of Style and read comparable articles before you submit so you understand what formatting is expected. Ensure you add an infobox, lead section, references, and proper categories.

Final Thoughts

It is not the end of the world to have your wiki page denied. Most of the rejections can be reversed with proper edits, proper sourcing and better tone. Knowing the most frequent Wikipedia rejection reasons allows you to handle the process like a pro.

If the submission has been rejected before, don't lose hope. Give yourself some time to rework, refine and resubmit. Wikipedia is tough, but it's fair with those who are willing to follow the rules. All your hard work will be worthwhile when you receive that acceptance notification.