Wikipedia isn’t run by a single editor or a board of directors. It’s run by Wikipedia policies and guidelines-but most people don’t know the difference between them. If you’ve ever had an edit reverted, a page protected, or a warning issued, you’ve run into this system. And if you don’t understand how it works, you’ll keep getting frustrated.
What’s the difference between a policy and a guideline?
Think of Wikipedia policies as the law. They’re mandatory. If you break a policy, your edit can be undone, your account can be blocked, and your content can be deleted. Policies are written in clear, imperative language: must, shall, should not. They’re not suggestions-they’re rules.
Guidelines, on the other hand, are advice. They’re not enforced the same way. You can ignore them without immediate consequences. But if you keep ignoring them, you’ll start getting pushback from experienced editors. Guidelines help you avoid common mistakes. They’re the unwritten rules of good editing.
For example, Wikipedia:No original research is a policy. You cannot add unpublished theories, personal opinions, or unpublished data to articles. That’s not up for debate. But Wikipedia:Writing better articles is a guideline. It tells you how to write clearly, organize sections, and use neutral tone. It’s helpful-but not a violation if you skip it.
Where do policies come from?
Wikipedia policies aren’t written by staff. They’re created by the community. Any editor can propose a new policy, but it has to go through a long, public process. First, it’s discussed on a talk page. Then, it’s tested as a guideline. If it works well over months or years, editors start treating it as a standard. Eventually, it’s formally adopted as a policy.
This is why some policies feel outdated. Wikipedia:Verifiability was written in 2005. It still holds up because it’s simple: if it can’t be checked, it shouldn’t be on Wikipedia. But other policies, like Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons, were created after real-world problems-like false death reports or libelous edits-forced the community to act.
Policies evolve slowly because changing them requires consensus. That’s intentional. It stops one person or a small group from rewriting the rules on a whim.
Guidelines are the hidden engine of quality
Most of the best Wikipedia articles follow guidelines, not just policies. The Wikipedia:Manual of Style isn’t a policy, but it’s why articles look consistent. It tells you how to format dates, cite sources, use capitalization, and structure infoboxes. If you ignore it, your article won’t be deleted-but it’ll look messy, and editors will keep fixing it.
Another key guideline is Wikipedia:Neutral point of view. It’s not a policy, but it’s the foundation of every good article. You can’t just say “this is true” and expect it to stay. You have to present all major viewpoints fairly, based on reliable sources. This guideline is why Wikipedia doesn’t become a platform for propaganda, conspiracy theories, or personal bias.
Guidelines are where experience matters. New editors often think, “I followed the policy, so my edit is fine.” But experienced editors know that following the policy is the minimum. The real work is in following the guidelines that make articles useful, readable, and trustworthy.
The hierarchy: policies above guidelines
Wikipedia’s rules aren’t flat. There’s a clear hierarchy:
- Policies - Enforceable rules. Violations can lead to blocks or deletions.
- Guidelines - Recommended practices. Not enforced, but strongly encouraged.
- Essays - Personal opinions. Not official. Can’t be used to justify edits.
Essays are tricky. They’re written by editors to explain their views. They’re useful for understanding context, but they’re not rules. If someone says, “This essay says you should do X,” you can reply, “Essays aren’t policy.”
There are only about 20 core policies on Wikipedia. The rest are guidelines. The Wikipedia:List of policies page is the official catalog. The Wikipedia:List of guidelines page has over 100 entries. That’s because guidelines cover every possible scenario: how to handle disputed topics, how to write about sports teams, how to cite obscure sources, how to name articles about people.
What happens when policies and guidelines conflict?
They rarely do. But when they seem to, it’s usually because someone misapplies a guideline as if it were a policy. For example, some editors insist that every article must have exactly three sources. That’s not a policy. It’s a bad guideline interpretation. The real policy is Wikipedia:Verifiability: sources must be reliable and sufficient to support claims. Three sources might be enough-or not enough.
If a guideline contradicts a policy, the policy wins. Always. If a guideline says “don’t use bold in article titles,” but a policy says “article titles should be clear and unambiguous,” the policy takes precedence. You can’t use a guideline to override a rule.
This is why experienced editors often say: “Don’t argue with the guideline. Argue with the policy.” If you think a guideline is wrong, don’t ignore it. Go to the talk page and propose a change. Or, if it’s clearly outdated, suggest turning it into a policy or retiring it.
Why this matters for editors
If you’re new to editing Wikipedia, this hierarchy is your roadmap. Don’t waste time arguing about guidelines. Focus on learning the policies. If you know the five core policies, you’ll avoid 90% of conflicts.
The five most important policies:
- Wikipedia:No original research
- Wikipedia:Verifiability
- Wikipedia:Neutral point of view
- Wikipedia:No censorship
- Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons
Master these, and you’ll stop getting your edits reverted. You’ll understand why your changes were flagged. And you’ll be able to defend your edits calmly and confidently.
Guidelines come later. They’re not barriers-they’re upgrades. Once you’re comfortable with policies, guidelines help you make your edits better. They turn good edits into great ones.
Common mistakes new editors make
Most conflicts on Wikipedia happen because people confuse guidelines with policies. Here are the top three mistakes:
- “This guideline says I can’t do that.” - But it doesn’t. It just says it’s not recommended. You’re not breaking the rules.
- “I followed the policy, so my edit is fine.” - Maybe. But if it’s poorly written, unformatted, or lacks context, it’s still a bad edit.
- “This essay says it’s okay.” - Essays are opinions. They’re not rules. Never use them to justify edits.
Another mistake is assuming that every rule has a policy behind it. Some editors create their own “rules” based on personal preference. “We always use British spelling.” “We never use passive voice.” Those aren’t policies. They’re habits. If they’re widely accepted, they might become guidelines. But until then, they’re just suggestions.
How to find the right rule
If you’re unsure whether something is a policy or guideline, check the page title:
- Policies are labeled: Wikipedia:Policy
- Guidelines are labeled: Wikipedia:Guideline
- Essays are labeled: Wikipedia:Essay
Also look at the top of the page. Policies have a red banner that says “This is a policy.” Guidelines have a yellow banner that says “This is a guideline.” Essays have a blue banner that says “This is an essay.”
If you’re still confused, ask on the article’s talk page. Use the phrase: “Is this a policy or a guideline?” Most experienced editors will point you to the right page.
What happens when policies change?
Policies don’t change often. But when they do, it’s usually because of a major event. In 2017, after a wave of false edits about public figures, Wikipedia updated Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons to require even stricter sourcing. In 2021, after debates over gender-neutral language, Wikipedia:Manual of Style was updated to recommend “they” as a singular pronoun for unknown or nonbinary subjects.
These changes don’t happen overnight. They’re debated for months. Editors submit proposals. They test them on real articles. They look at the impact. Only then do they vote.
That’s why Wikipedia’s rules feel stable. They’re not designed to be trendy. They’re designed to last.
Why this system works
Wikipedia’s hierarchy of rules is one of the most successful self-governance systems on the internet. It balances freedom with order. It allows anyone to edit, but prevents chaos. It lets new people in, but protects quality.
It’s not perfect. There are too many guidelines. Some are contradictory. Some are ignored. But the core structure-policies first, guidelines second, essays last-keeps the whole thing from falling apart.
When you understand this system, Wikipedia stops feeling arbitrary. It starts making sense. You’re not fighting the system-you’re learning how to work with it.
Are Wikipedia guidelines legally binding?
No. Wikipedia guidelines are not legally binding. They’re community standards, not laws. They’re enforced by editors, not courts. Violating a guideline won’t get you sued-it might get your edit reverted or your account temporarily blocked. But only policies can lead to formal sanctions like page protection or account bans.
Can a guideline become a policy?
Yes. Many policies started as guidelines. For example, Wikipedia:Verifiability began as a guideline in 2004. After years of use and consensus, it was formally adopted as a policy in 2005. If a guideline is widely followed and solves a recurring problem, editors may propose turning it into a policy through a formal discussion.
What’s the difference between a policy and an essay?
A policy is an enforceable rule. An essay is a personal opinion. Essays explain ideas, share experiences, or offer advice-but they’re not official. You can’t use an essay to justify removing content or blocking an editor. Only policies have that authority. Essays are for learning, not enforcing.
Why does Wikipedia have so many guidelines?
Because Wikipedia covers every topic imaginable. Guidelines help editors handle specific cases: how to write about movies, how to cite obscure sources, how to name articles about people with unusual names. They’re not meant to be universal. They’re meant to be practical. You don’t need to know all of them-just the ones relevant to your edits.
Can I create my own policy?
You can propose one, but you can’t create one alone. All policies must go through community consensus. Start by writing a guideline on a talk page. If it’s used widely and solves a real problem, other editors may support turning it into a policy. The process takes months. Patience and collaboration are required.
Next steps for new editors
Don’t try to learn everything at once. Start with the five core policies. Read them once. Then, make five edits. See what gets reverted. Check the reason. Was it a policy? A guideline? An essay?
When you see a red banner saying “policy,” pause. That’s your signal to stop and understand. When you see a yellow banner saying “guideline,” think: “This could make my edit better.”
Wikipedia’s system isn’t about control. It’s about quality. The more you understand the hierarchy, the more you’ll contribute-not just to articles, but to the whole project. You’re not just editing a website. You’re helping build a knowledge system that millions trust.
