Wikipedia is a free-access, free-content online encyclopaedia hosted by the Wikipedia Foundation. It is one of the world’s most popular websites, used by millions of people worldwide daily. The Wikipedia website was created by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Launched in 2010, it initially started out as an English-only website but is today available in more than 280 languages. The English edition features more than 4.8 million articles while almost 35 million articles have been published altogether.
Navigating through the Wikipedia Website
Wikipedia is simple to understand and incredibly easy to use. No matter what language you are using the site in, the format remains the same, meaning that multilingual users can flow from one language to the next with ease.
When you enter the site’s homepage you are presented with a simple search bar followed by a language option. When you enter your search, you are then taken to the corresponding page, which features an introductory paragraph, a left-hand side contents menu and a key information box to the right-hand side.
As you scroll down, additional information is provided, including paragraphs relating to specific information about your chosen search subject. Images are featured on the right-hand side of the site as you scroll down.
Wikipedia’s Limitations
Despite being renowned for its accuracy of information, critics have accused the site of publishing inaccurate and biased information. Many claim that it is a combination of truth with half-truth, presenting the dominant viewpoint rather than the objective truth. Many have gone so far to assert that Wikipedia is not a reliable source of academic information and should not be used as a reference point.
Despite criticism, the site has a huge community of followers as well as a communication channel set up specifically for editors, who can discuss, coordinate and debate information to ensure everything is clear and cohesive. The site also acknowledges that it should not be used as a primary source for research due to a lack of authority, as it is not clear who has written an article.
Wikipedia: Summing Up
Despite the limitations, this incredible website remains one of the world’s most popular information resources. As the largest source of human knowledge featured on the internet, it has some of the best content and resources available and is renowned for its focus on relevance and accuracy. This is a genuinely useful, top-of-the-line website that gets you exactly what you need.
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