A Wikipedia page, of course! But hold up… It’s not just a “type and publish” kind of deal. Wikipedia has its system—a quirky but smart process powered by volunteers, bots, and community rules. And yep, it can take some time. But don’t worry! In the next few scrolls, we’ll break it all down, step by step. Ready to unlock the mystery of Wikipedia article approval? Let’s dive in!

So, who approves Wikipedia articles?

Now, if we take it like that, then honestly, there’s no one single person or official “approver.” The thing is that Wiki is a community-run platform. Hence, this means articles are approved (or rejected) by a mix of experienced

●      volunteer editors

●      automated bots

So, let's understand how it works in simple terms:

1. Experienced Wikipedia Editors

Firstly, these are volunteers who’ve made a lot of good edits. So, they review new articles to see if they meet Wikipedia’s standards. For instance,

●      neutral tone

●      reliable sources

●      notability, etc.

So, if your article looks solid, they might move it from “Draft” to “Live.”

2. New Page Reviewers (NPRs)

This is a special group of editors. Ones who have the permission to review and approve new page submissions. So, they double-check everything. Also, they decide if the page should

●      stay

●      be improved

●      be deleted

They are in charge!

3. Bots (But Friendly Ones)

Some bots scan new pages for spam, copyright issues, or weird formatting. They don’t make final decisions, but they do flag problems and help editors catch issues faster.

4. The Community

Sometimes, if there’s disagreement about an article, other editors jump in. Moreover, they handle it with patience. For instance,

●      Discussions happen

●      Votes are cast

Basically, together, the community decides the fate of the article.

So, TL;DR:
Wikipedia articles are

●      approved by trusted volunteers

●      supported by bots

●      guided by community rules

And not just one person or a company. So, it's teamwork, wiki-style!

Wikipedia Article Approval Process (Explained Simply)

Want to publish a Wikipedia article? Awesome! But before it goes live, your article needs to go through a few checkpoints. Here’s how the process works—from writing to approval.

1. Create an Account (Optional but Smart)

While anyone can edit Wikipedia to create a new article, it’s best to have an account.
Why? Because it makes you more trusted and gives you access to the Article Wizard (yep, it’s a real thing). It also allows others to communicate with you through your user page if improvements are needed.

2. Write Your Article in Draft Mode

So, you start by writing your article in a “Draft” space—not the live site.
This is your chance to polish it up. Hence, make sure your article:

●      Is not promotional

●      Uses neutral language

●      Includes reliable sources

●      Is about a notable topic (something important or well-known)

Also, imagine it like turning in a rough draft of an essay before the final grade.

3. Use the Article Wizard

Wikipedia’s Article Wizard helps guide you step-by-step. More especially if you're new. Also, it checks if your topic already exists. And then walks you through

●      formatting

●      references

●      final draft submission

It’s like a teacher giving you a checklist for article approval before you hand in your assignment.

4. Submit for Review

So, happy with your draft? Now, you hit "Submit" and wait.
Your article is now in the New Page Review queue. Here, experienced editors (called New Page Reviewers) take a look.

5. Review by Human Editors

Reviewers check your article for things like:

●      Notability: Is the topic worth having a page?

●      Reliable Sources: Are you backing things up with solid and retrievable references?

●      Tone: Are you staying neutral and informative?

●      Formatting: Does it look like a regular Wikipedia page?

So, if it checks all the boxes, it can get moved to the main Wikipedia space (aka published!).

6. Bots May Help Too

So, bots (automated tools) may scan your draft for quick fixes. For instance,

●      broken links

●      spammy words.

They don’t approve articles, but they can help reviewers spot issues fast.

7. Fixes and Feedback

So, your article isn’t quite ready yet? Don't worry! Reviewers will leave comments. Now, you can

●      edit your draft

●      fix the issues

●      resubmit

However, there’s no limit to how many times you can try. So, don’t worry if it’s not approved the first time!

8. Approval and Publishing

Once your article meets all the guidelines, it’s approved and published for the world to see. It now becomes a part of Wikipedia’s massive library of knowledge.

You’ll see it live at its own Wikipedia URL!

9. Watch for Edits

Went live? That's awesome! Your hard work totally paid off. And it's finally out there. Major congrats!

Now, don't worry if your article needs some tweaks. Like, for real, that's just how Wikipedia rolls. It's always evolving, always getting better. So, chill, keep an eye on your piece, and you can totally jump in and update it whenever. You got this!

10. Learn and Hustle

Seriously, every article you drop helps you get better. And trust me, the more you play by the rules and just, like, vibe with good content, the more the community trusts your moves. It's a whole thing.
Okay, bet! So, like, writing for Wikipedia is a total skill, for real.

How Long Does Wikipedia Page Approval Take?

The short answer is: it depends — but here’s what usually happens.

If You Submit a Draft Article:

When you submit your article for review through Wikipedia’s Draft system:

●      Average waiting time is like 1 to 3 weeks

●      Sometimes faster. But only if your topic is well-researched, notable, and clearly written. Then, reviewers might approve it in just a few days.

●      Sometimes slower. Like if there's a backlog of drafts (which happens often). Then, it might take a month or more.

Why the delay?

●      First of all, Wikipedia is run by volunteers, not paid staff.

●      Also, reviewers take time to check for notability and sources. Also, the neutral tone.

●      There’s often a big queue of drafts waiting to be reviewed.

Speeding Up the Process (Tips!)

So, do you want your article to be reviewed faster? Hence, here’s what helps:

1. Use strong sources (books, news outlets, academic journals)
   
   
2. Stick to the rules — no opinions or promotional tone
   
   
3. Follow formatting — use headings, references, etc.
   
   
4. Be patient but active — fix issues if reviewers leave comments
   
   

What If You Don’t Want to Wait?

Some people try skipping the Draft process and publish directly to the mainspace—but this is risky. So, your article doesn’t meet standards? Uh oh! It's getting blocked. Or worse, deleted within minutes by automated bots or editors.

So if you’re new to Wikipedia, the Draft route is safer, even if it takes time

Conclusion: From Draft to Wiki Fame!

And we are done! Here's your detailed roadmap to Wiki glory! Basically, it’s all part of the journey. Sure, it takes patience and editing. Plus, a sprinkle of formatting magic. But once your article goes live? Well, it’s totally worth it. Additionally, the more you contribute, the better you get at it.