Wikipedia Article Quality Classes Explained for Editors

Ever opened a Wikipedia article and wondered why some look polished and professional while others feel rough, incomplete, or even suspicious? That’s not random. Every article on Wikipedia is officially rated for quality - and if you’re editing, you need to know what those ratings mean and how to move an article up the ladder.

What Are Wikipedia’s Article Quality Classes?

Wikipedia doesn’t just let anyone publish anything and call it done. There’s a formal system to rate articles based on completeness, accuracy, sourcing, and writing quality. These ratings aren’t just for show - they help editors prioritize work, guide new contributors, and signal to readers how much trust they can place in the content.

There are six main quality classes, ranked from lowest to highest:

• Stub
• Start
• C-Class
• B-Class
• Good Article (GA)
• Featured Article (FA)

Each class has specific criteria. You can’t just say an article is "good" - you have to meet measurable standards. And yes, these ratings are assigned by other editors, not automated bots.

Stub: The Bare Minimum

A Stub is the starting point. It’s a single paragraph, maybe two, with no references. You’ll see these on obscure towns, minor characters, or niche scientific terms. For example, an article on "The 1987 Maple Grove Fire Department" might be a Stub if it just says, "The Maple Grove Fire Department was established in 1987. It has 12 volunteers." Stubs aren’t bad - they’re just incomplete. The goal isn’t to delete them, but to expand them. Add context: Why was the department created? What equipment do they use? Who were the founding members? A Stub becomes a Start when it has a basic structure and at least one reliable source.

Start: Getting Organized

A Start-class article has more than a paragraph. It usually has a clear lead section, a few subsections, and maybe a timeline or list. It still lacks depth, but it’s structured. For example, an article on "Lithium-ion batteries" might explain what they are, list common uses, and mention a few manufacturers - but without citations for each claim.

The key difference between Stub and Start is organization. Start articles have a logical flow. They’re not just a pile of facts. You’ll often see these on topics that have been created recently but haven’t been worked on yet. To improve a Start, focus on adding references. Every factual claim needs a source. Wikipedia doesn’t accept personal knowledge or blog posts.

C-Class: Solid, But Not Polished

C-Class is where most active articles live. It’s the "good enough" tier. A C-Class article has:

• Comprehensive coverage of the main topic
• Multiple reliable sources for all key claims
• Clear structure with headings and subheadings
• No obvious factual errors

But it still has gaps. Maybe it lacks images. Maybe one section is too short. Maybe the tone is inconsistent. For example, an article on "The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election" might be C-Class if it covers candidates, results, and major events - but doesn’t explain the Electoral College in depth or include analysis of voter turnout trends.

C-Class is the target for most editors. It’s achievable without being a subject expert. You don’t need to write a thesis - just fill in the missing pieces with citations from books, academic journals, or reputable news outlets.

B-Class: Close to Professional

B-Class articles are what you’d expect from a decent encyclopedia entry. They’re well-researched, well-written, and balanced. They include:

• Thorough coverage of all major aspects
• Multiple high-quality sources per section
• Clear, neutral tone
• Relevant images or media
• Proper citations using Wikipedia’s citation templates

A B-Class article on "The Human Microbiome" would explain what it is, how it develops, its role in health and disease, recent research, and controversies - all with peer-reviewed studies backing each point. It would also have a "See also" section and internal links to related articles.

The jump from C to B is about depth and polish. It’s not just about adding more text - it’s about making sure every part of the topic is covered with equal care. Many B-Class articles are maintained by WikiProjects - groups of editors who focus on specific topics like medicine, history, or film.

Good Article: The Gold Standard Before Featured

Good Article (GA) status is a big deal. It’s awarded only after a formal review process. To qualify, an article must:

• Meet all B-Class criteria
• Be stable (no edit wars or frequent major changes)
• Have no copyright violations
• Be written in clear, engaging prose
• Include a well-written lead section that summarizes the entire article

GA articles are reviewed by experienced editors who check every citation, every claim, every sentence. You can’t just ask for it - you have to submit it to the Good Article Nomination page. The process takes days or weeks. If it fails, you get detailed feedback on what’s missing.

Examples include articles like "Tuberculosis" or "The Beatles" - articles that are so complete, they’re used as teaching examples in university courses.

Featured Article: The Pinnacle

Featured Article (FA) is the highest honor on Wikipedia. Less than 0.1% of articles ever reach this level. To become Featured, an article must:

• Be a Good Article first
• Be exceptionally comprehensive and well-written
• Have outstanding prose - clear, engaging, and free of jargon
• Include high-quality images with proper licensing
• Have no outstanding issues - no stubs, no unsourced claims, no formatting inconsistencies
• Pass a rigorous peer review with zero objections

Featured Articles are selected from thousands of nominations. They’re often used as the model for how Wikipedia should look. Articles like "Dinosaur", "World War II", and "Quantum mechanics" are Featured. They’re not just informative - they’re a pleasure to read.

How to Improve an Article’s Class

If you want to raise an article’s quality class, here’s how:

1. Check its current class on the article’s talk page. Look for the {{Stub}}, {{Start}}, or {{C-Class}} template.
2. Read the assessment criteria for the next level. Each class has a detailed checklist on Wikipedia’s help pages.
3. Find gaps. Look for claims without sources. Look for sections that are too short. Look for outdated information.
4. Add reliable sources. Use Google Scholar, JSTOR, books from libraries, or trusted news sites like BBC, Reuters, or The New York Times.
5. Improve structure. Use clear headings. Break long paragraphs. Add lists where helpful.
6. Write in neutral tone. Avoid phrases like "in my opinion" or "everyone knows." Stick to facts.
7. Ask for feedback. Post a note on the article’s talk page asking experienced editors to review your changes.

Don’t try to jump from Stub to Featured in one edit. Progress is step-by-step. One solid edit at a time builds a better article - and a better Wikipedia.

Why Quality Matters

You might think, "Who cares if an article is C-Class or B-Class? It’s just Wikipedia." But quality affects real people. Students use Wikipedia for research. Doctors check it for medical info. Policymakers read it for background on complex topics.

A poorly sourced article on vaccine side effects can spread misinformation. A well-written, fully sourced article can save lives. Wikipedia’s quality system exists because the stakes are real.

When you improve an article, you’re not just editing text - you’re helping build a trusted public resource. That’s why editors who focus on quality are among the most respected on Wikipedia.

Common Mistakes Editors Make

Even experienced editors stumble. Here are the top errors that block articles from rising in quality:

• Using blogs, forums, or personal websites as sources - these aren’t reliable.
• Adding original research - Wikipedia doesn’t publish new findings, only summaries of published work.
• Writing in a promotional tone - "This is the best smartphone ever" is not allowed.
• Ignoring citations for common knowledge - even "The Earth orbits the Sun" needs a source if it’s part of a larger claim.
• Not updating outdated information - an article on "2020 election results" that doesn’t mention the 2024 certification is incomplete.

Avoid these, and you’ll quickly move up the quality ladder.

Tools to Help You

Wikipedia has tools built right into the interface to help you assess and improve articles:

• The Article Assessment tool on talk pages lets you see current ratings and suggested improvements.
• The ClueBot NG bot flags unsourced claims and potential copyright issues.
• WikiProject pages (like WikiProject Medicine or WikiProject History) offer checklists, templates, and mentorship.
• The Pageviews Analysis tool shows how many people are reading the article - helping you prioritize high-traffic topics.

Use these tools. They’re free, built-in, and made by editors who’ve been where you are.

What Happens After Featured?

Once an article becomes Featured, it doesn’t stop evolving. New research comes out. Events change context. A Featured article on "Climate Change" in 2020 might need updates in 2026 based on new IPCC reports.

Featured status isn’t permanent. Articles can be demoted if they fall out of date or lose quality. That’s why ongoing maintenance matters. The best editors don’t just create Featured Articles - they keep them that way.

Next Steps for New Editors

If you’re just starting out:

• Find a Stub or Start article in a topic you care about - maybe your hometown, a hobby, or a favorite book.
• Add one reliable source and expand the lead paragraph.
• Save your edit and check the talk page for feedback.
• Repeat. One edit at a time.

You don’t need to be a scholar. You just need to care enough to make sure the facts are right.