ConRunnerAdmin at 00:17, 7 July 2005

2005-07-07T00:17:14Z

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{{Shortcut|[[WP:DP]]<br>[[WP:DEL]]}}
{{policy}}

{{divbox|red|Note|An amendment to the Speedy Deletion policy is presently up for a vote at [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion/Proposal]].}}

In the normal operations of Wikipedia, several hundred articles are [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion|deleted]] each day. While it is possible for any user to blank a page, the original content will still be available in the page history for others to view and put back if they wish. When pages are deleted, this removes not only the current version but also all previous versions.

Only [[Wikipedia:Administrators|administrators]] have the ability to delete and undelete pages within the system. With our current deletion system administrators necessarily must use their best judgment in making this decision. You can expect administrators to follow the '''process''' detailed below to aid them in their judgment.

Deleted pages can be restored, by administrators, if and only if there is support on [[Wikipedia:Votes for undeletion]], or the page was speedily deleted out-of-process. If deletions are made too casually, it is easy to lose track. Hence, the decision to permanently delete an article is not taken lightly, and the deletion process is followed. See [[Wikipedia:Undeletion policy]] for the guidance on undeletion.

If an article is repeatedly re-created by unassociated editors after being deleted, this should be seen as evidence for the need for an article. Administrators should always be responsible with the power that they have. If in doubt... don't delete!

== Procedure for deletion ==
If a page does ''not'' fall into one of the categories listed under [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion]], then you cannot delete it without it spending five days on [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion]] (or the analogous pages for [[Wikipedia:Images and media for deletion|images and media files]], [[Wikipedia:Categories for deletion|categories]], [[Wikipedia:Templates for deletion|templates]], [[Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|redirects]]) first.

=== What to do with a problem page/image/category ===
Does the page really belong on VfD? Read the following two tables to find out what to do with a problem page.

{| {{prettytable}}
|+<big>'''Problems that don't require deletion'''</big>
!Problem with page
!Solution
!Add this tag
|-
|<div id="foreign">Article written in a foreign language</div>
|List on [[Wikipedia:Pages needing translation]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{notenglish}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="stub">A stub (but with potential)</div>
|[[Wikipedia:Guide to improving articles|Expand it]]!
|<tt><nowiki>{{stub}}</nowiki></tt>, or preferably the topic-specific one from [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Stub sorting/Stub types]]
|-
|<div id="minor">Such a minor branch of a subject that it doesn't deserve an article</div>
|[[Wikipedia:Merge|Merge]] the useful content into a more comprehensive article and [[Wikipedia:Redirect|redirect]]
| 
|-
|<div id="duplicate">Article duplicates information in some other article</div>
|Merge and [[Wikipedia:Redirect|redirect]]. If you can't figure out how to do the merge, list on [[Wikipedia:Duplicate articles]] and add the tag:
|<tt><nowiki>{{merge|article}}.</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="cleanup">Article needs improvement</div>
|List on [[Wikipedia:Cleanup]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{cleanup}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|Article needs a ''lot'' of improvement
|List on [[Wikipedia:Pages needing attention]]
| 
|-
|<div id="POV">Article is biased or has lots of [[Point of view|POV]]</div>
|List on [[Wikipedia:Pages needing attention]].
|<tt><nowiki>{{npov}} or {{POV check}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="disputed">Dispute over article content</div>
|List on [[Wikipedia:Requests for comments]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{disputed}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="disambig">Two subjects have the same name</div>
|Make a [[Wikipedia:Disambiguation|disambiguation]] page
|<tt><nowiki>{{disambig}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="verify">Can't verify information in article</div>
|Follow the procedure on [[Wikipedia:Verifiability]]; if that doesn't work, come back here. If they are truly ''unverifiable'', they may be deleted.
| 
|-
|[[Wikipedia:User page|Inappropriate user page]]
|Talk to the user; if that doesn't work, come back here
| 
|-
|<div id="vandalism">[[Wikipedia:vandalism|Vandalism]] or inaccuracy</div>
|[[Wikipedia:How to revert a page to an earlier version|Revert]] it and mention it on [[Wikipedia:Vandalism in progress]]
| 
|-
|Annoying user
|Add user to [[Wikipedia:Requests for comment]]. But [[Wikipedia:Staying cool when the editing gets hot|stay cool]].
| 
|}

{| {{prettytable}}
|+<big>'''Problems that may require deletion'''</big>
!Problem with page
!Solution
!Add this tag
|-
|<div id="vfd">
* Is not suitable for Wikipedia (see [[WP:NOT]])
* [[Wikipedia:No original research|Original research]] (including the coining of neologisms)
* [[Wikipedia:User page|Inappropriate user pages]] in excessive or stubborn cases.
* [[Wikipedia:Vanity page|Vanity page]]
* Advertising or other spam
* [[Hoax]]
* Completely idiosyncratic non-topic</div>
|List on [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{subst:vfd}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="copyvio">Article is possible copyright infringement</div>
|List on [[Wikipedia:Copyright problems]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{copyvio}}</nowiki></tt> ''or''<br><tt><nowiki>{{copyvio|url=Alleged source of material}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|Image is possible copyright infringement
|List on [[Wikipedia:Copyright problems]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{imagevio}}</nowiki></tt> ''or''<br><tt><nowiki>{{imagevio|url=Alleged source of image}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|Image or other media needs deleting (but not because of copyright violation)
|List on [[Wikipedia:Images for deletion]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{ifd}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="redirect">A useless redirect</div>
|Don't worry, redirects are cheap. If you must, list on [[Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion]] but only after reading our [[Wikipedia:Redirect#When_should_we_delete_a_redirect?|recommendations on deleting redirects]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{rfd}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="category">A category scheme gone awry</div>
|List on [[Wikipedia:Categories for deletion]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{cfd}}</nowiki></tt>
|-
|A redundant or misguided series box.
|List on [[Wikipedia:Templates for deletion]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{tfd}}</nowiki> (Put in the box itself)</tt>
|-
|A redundant or misguided stub template or category.
|List on [[Wikipedia:Stub types for deletion]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{sfd-c}}</nowiki> for stub categories; <nowiki>{{sfd-t}}</nowiki> for stub templates</tt>
|-
|<div id="dicdef">Can never be more than a [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not a dictionary|dictionary definition]] ("dicdef")</div>
|List on [[Wikipedia:Things to be moved to Wiktionary]]
|<tt><nowiki>{{move to Wiktionary}}
</nowiki></tt>
|-
|<div id="source">Article is a source text</div>
|[[m:Transwiki|Move]] text to [[Wikisource]] and replace it with a stub and a [[Wikipedia:soft redirect|soft redirect]].
| 
|-
|<div id="speedy">Article is a [[Wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion|candidate for speedy deletion]] including:</div>
* [[Wikipedia:Patent nonsense|Patent nonsense]] (total gibberish)
* Pages created just to [[Wikipedia:vandalism|vandalize]] or disrupt
|List on [[Wikipedia:Speedy deletions]]. In simple cases, just add the <nowiki>{{deletebecause}}</nowiki> tag and the page will automatically be listed in [[CAT:CSD]].
|<tt><nowiki>{{db|</nowiki>''reason''}}</tt>
|}

See also: [[Wikipedia:Template messages#Deletion]]

Each deletion category has a slightly different procedure. See the page for that category for details. '''Give the reason why you think it should be deleted'''. It will remain there for a time, giving other users the chance to comment on whether they think deletion is in fact appropriate. After an appropriate lag time, an administrator will delete the page if a rough consensus is reached - see [[Wikipedia:Deletion guidelines for administrators#Rough_consensus]].

For [[wikipedia:candidates for speedy deletion|candidates for speedy deletion]], [[wikipedia:Administrators|Administrators]] do not have to request deletion - they may delete them on sight, though some choose to use [[Wikipedia:Speedy deletions]] in some cases.

=== How to list a page for deletion ===
The 3 steps to listing a page for deletion: [[Wikipedia:Votes_for_deletion/Log/Today#VfD_footer]]

=== "Listed for deletion" notice ===
When you list a page on [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion]], it is courteous to let people know it might be deleted. The suggested way is to place <nowiki>{{subst:vfd}}</nowiki> (''not'' <nowiki>{{vfd}}</nowiki>) '''above''' the page's content, which expands to:

{{vfd}}

Hopefully, this notice will prevent readers and new users from becoming confused as to why a page was removed. ''Please note: [[Wikipedia:Copyright problems|copyright problems]] have a different suggested notice.'' ''See also: [[Wikipedia:Boilerplate_text#Listed_for_deletion]]''

The notice is not needed for pages which a) have no content (such as [[Wikipedia:Redirect|redirects]]), '''and''' b) also have no significant history. (E.g. a redirect whose entire history is that it used to redirect from "Foo" to "Foobar", and has been changed to redirect to "FooBar", because the target page was moved, does not have any significant history.) A history which shows '''any''' content being added or removed that is not a [[Wikipedia:candidates for speedy deletion|candidate for speedy deletion]] is significant history.

If an article has been on [[VfD]] before but users want to start another iteration of a deletion debate, they should consider using this template, <nowiki>{{subst:VfDx|2nd}}</nowiki>.

{{VfDx|2nd}}

=== Lag times ===
Once a page is listed for deletion by listing on one of the different pages, the nomination is kept open for a period of time to allow for community comment. The different pages have different "lag times" (the length of time that the page should normally be listed before the article can be deleted). This gives other users the chance to comment on whether they think deletion is in fact appropriate. The lag times are discussed at [[Wikipedia talk:Votes for deletion/lag time]] and are currently set at:

* [[Wikipedia:Copyright problems]] - about a week (in practice, more like two)
* [[Wikipedia:Images for deletion]] - about a week
* [[Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion]] - about a week
* [[Wikipedia:Templates for deletion]] - seven days
* [[Wikipedia:Speedy deletions]] - no lag
* [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion]] - five days

=== Commenting on a listing for deletion ===
When someone has listed an article for deletion on one of the lists, anyone else may comment on the request. When expressing an opinion, please include ''your opinion'', ''your reasoning'', and sign with <tt><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></tt> (four consecutive tilde characters). The following are some suggested wordings. There is a list of these and other commonly used shorthands at the [[Wikipedia:Guide to Votes for deletion]].
* delete
* keep
* comment (not a vote)
* other (some other action) such as
** redirect to <nowiki>[[article]]</nowiki>
** merge into <nowiki>[[article]]</nowiki> and redirect
** move to [http://www.wiktionary.org/ Wiktionary] / [http://meta.wikipedia.org/ Meta] / other GFDL site

Note that merge into <nowiki>[[article]]</nowiki> and delete is only a valid option if the information on authorship of the content is somehow preserved, or for public domain text.

=== Decision Policy ===
To request that a page (or image) be permanently deleted, the request made on VfD, and any votes or comments relating to a listed page must be made in good faith. At the end of five days, if a [[Wikipedia:Deletion guidelines for administrators#Rough_consensus|rough consensus]] ('''what constitutes a rough consensus is not set in stone''', some do consider a 2/3 majority a "rough consensus", while others believe consensus implies a higher ratio) has been reached to delete the page, the page will be removed. Otherwise the page remains.
The page will also remain if it has been improved enough since the initial listing that the reason for the listing no longer applies. This requires a reason to be given initially when requesting that a page be deleted.

Please do not remove ''any'' votes from any VfD or like discussion. If you suspect a vote of being a sockpuppet or otherwise invalid, mark it as such with a comment, and any pertinent links, and leave it there. The admin who reviews the discussion will investigate and decide whether or not to take that vote into account. By not removing any votes, we ensure that there can be no arguments over who removed what and why.

[[Wikipedia:Deletion guidelines for administrators]] expands on this and provides a little rationale.

{{Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/Policy consensus}}

=== Unlisting a page from VfD ===
If another solution has been found for some of these pages than deletion, leave them listed on [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion]] for a short while, so the original poster can see why it wasn't deleted, and what did happen to it. This will prevent reposting of the same item. After the original poster has seen the explanation, or in any case after about a day, the page can be delisted from VfD.

=== When the Lag Time runs out ===
At the end of the five days, the VfD discussions may be moved off the main VfD page onto a "holding page" called [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/Old|Votes for deletion/Old]] where they will stay until an administrator has time to act on the consensus decision. When carrying out those duties, please follow the process at [[Wikipedia:Deletion process]] which describes where and how the discussion should be archived. While the page itself may be deleted, the discussion about the deletion should be preserved.

Always give a good [[edit summary]] when editing the VfD page, especially when unlisting an article, so that the page history of the VfD page can be used as backup archive for discussions that have not been properly archived.

=== Help with deletions ===
'''The votes for deletion page gets very busy. Please join the [[Wikipedia:Cleaning department]] to help in maintaining it on a regular basis!

===See also===
* [[/Shortcuts]] for an easy way to refer to this page in discussions
* [[Wikipedia:Deletion process]]
* [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/Precedents]]
* [[Wikipedia:Blankpages]], [[Wikipedia:Shortpages]]
* [[Wikipedia:Bad jokes and other deleted nonsense]]
* [[Wikipedia:Things to be moved to Wiktionary]]
* [[Wikipedia:Pages needing attention]]
* [[Wikipedia:Deletion guidelines for administrators]]
* [[Wikipedia:Archived delete debates]] - please link /deletion pages and talk pages on which debates took place to here.
* [[Wikipedia:Transwiki log]] for articles that have been moved to another project
* [[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/Maintenance]] - untranscluding or refactoring VfD discussions
* [[Wikipedia:Neologism]]

[[Category:Wikipedia deletion|Deletion policy]]
[[Category:Wikipedia official policy|Deletion policy]]

[[ms:Wikipedia:Memadam Laman]]
[[de:Wikipedia:Löschregeln]]
[[it:Wikipedia:Regole per la cancellazione]]
[[ja:Wikipedia:削除の方針]]
[[ko:위키백과:문서삭제 지침]]
[[zh:Wikipedia:删除守则]]

ConRunner:Deletion policy - Revision history

ConRunnerAdmin at 00:17, 7 July 2005