Wiktionary:About
A dictionary with Simple English definitions
We are different, and we like you to be part of it.
Changing pages
The idea of a wiki is to make pages changeable by everyone. To change a page, click on the "Change" tab on the top right-hand corner of the page (pictured) to enter the editing box and make your changes.
We use a special markup, called wikitext, to format our pages. You might want to take a look at a little guide to understand the basic formatting of pages as you change the pages.
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Bonus: If you have an account and you are logged in, you can keep track of your changes and increase your edit count! |
Creating new pages
Pages can be created using the "Create" link at the top of the page (if the page does not exist). You can also click on red links to enter the edit box and begin writing your definition.
While it is okay to just jump in and write your definition for a word, we have a little styling guide that we follow so that we can make our pages more descriptive. This way, your readers can easily understand what you are trying to say, and makes the dictionary better for everyone!
Using images
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| Isn't it clearer for the reader to learn how a lighter looks like with images like these? |
Images are important in making a page more lively, but do use them sparingly. We generally add around one or two images in a page and select the best ones that describe the word clearly.
We do not allow uploading of images on this wiki, but you can use one of the millions available on Wikimedia Commons directly in the pages on this wiki. Search for one that you like and follow the steps when you click on the picture icon in the edit window.
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Tip: If you have an image that you think looks much better than what is available, feel free to upload it on Wikimedia Commons and use it here! |
Writing definitions neutrally
At Wiktionary, it is very important to write definitions from a neutral point of view. This means that all definitions should not be biased towards or against a person or a group of people, even if you have such views. Definitions should explain views of different people and not judge who is correct or not.
Generally, you should be writing definitions as you are trying to teach someone, but not to influence how he/she thinks of an issue.
Things that should and should not be here
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Wiktionary is a dictionary with the goal of providing definitions in a freely-accessible and open way. Pages you see on this wiki are all definitions in simpler English that explain the different words we have in the English Language. |
Write things that are...
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Occasionally, we get things that do not fit well into this dictionary. While we try to make all contributions become better as definitions, some may be too off-topic to fix. Such content may be discussed about with the community or even deleted. We want to provide simple definitions in the nicest way possible, removing all the unnecessary content around it. |
Don't write things that are...
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Have questions? Check the help portal or ask us!