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mw-fr-message-box cdx-message--inline cdx-message--notice mw-fr-mobile-message-inline"><span class="cdx-message__icon"></span><div class="cdx-message__content">This is the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Pending_changes" title="Wikipedia:Pending changes">latest accepted revision</a>, <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log&type=review&page=Wikipedia:CREEP">reviewed</a> on <i>17 November 2024</i>.</div></div></div></div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="content"> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><script>function mfTempOpenSection(id){var block=document.getElementById("mf-section-"+id);block.className+=" open-block";block.previousSibling.className+=" open-block";}</script><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><section class="mf-section-0" id="mf-section-0"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output 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For creep in articles, see <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:ACREEP" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:ACREEP">WP:ACREEP</a>. For creep of templates, see <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:TCREEP" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:TCREEP">WP:TCREEP</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238436933">.mw-parser-output .ombox{margin:4px 0;border-collapse:collapse;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;background-color:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa);box-sizing:border-box;color:var(--color-base,#202122)}.mw-parser-output .ombox.mbox-small{font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ombox-speedy{border:2px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ombox-delete{border:2px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ombox-content{border:1px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ombox-style{border:1px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ombox-move{border:1px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ombox-protection{border:2px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.9em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ombox .mbox-invalid-type{text-align:center}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ombox{margin:4px 10%}.mw-parser-output .ombox.mbox-small{clear:right;float:right;margin:4px 0 4px 1em;width:238px}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output table.ombox img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .ombox-speedy{background-color:#310402}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .ombox-speedy{background-color:#310402}}</style><table class="plainlinks ombox ombox-notice" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1d/Information_icon4.svg/40px-Information_icon4.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1d/Information_icon4.svg/60px-Information_icon4.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1d/Information_icon4.svg/80px-Information_icon4.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="620" data-file-height="620"></span></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><div style="padding-top: 6px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><b>This is an <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Project_namespace#How-to_and_information_pages" title="Wikipedia:Project namespace">explanatory essay</a> about the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines#Content" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">procedural policy regarding policies and guidelines</a></b>. <br><div style="font-size:90%;"> This page provides additional information about concepts in the page(s) it supplements. This page is not one of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">Wikipedia's policies or guidelines</a> as it has not been <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus#Levels_of_consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">thoroughly vetted by the community</a>.</div></div></td><td class="mbox-imageright"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1252059228">.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxplain{float:right;margin:0 0 0 1em;border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);background-color:var(--background-color-base,#fff);padding:0.3em 0.6em 0.2em 0.6em;text-align:center;font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxleft{float:left;margin:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutlist{display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);margin-bottom:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxplain ul{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutanchordiv{position:relative;top:-3em}.mw-parser-output li .module-shortcutanchordiv{float:right}.mw-parser-output .mbox-imageright .module-shortcutboxplain{padding:0.4em 1em 0.4em 1em;line-height:1.3;margin:0}</style><div class="module-shortcutanchordiv"><span id="WP:CREEP"></span><span id="WP:KUDZU"></span></div><div class="module-shortcutboxplain noprint" role="note"><div class="module-shortcutlist"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Shortcut" title="Wikipedia:Shortcut">Shortcuts</a></div><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><span class="plainlinks"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:CREEP&redirect=no">WP:CREEP</a></span></li><li><span class="plainlinks"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:KUDZU&redirect=no">WP:KUDZU</a></span></li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Explanatory essay</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238436933"><table class="plainlinks ombox ombox-notice nutshell" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/30px-Walnut.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/45px-Walnut.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/60px-Walnut.png 2x" data-file-width="192" data-file-height="192"></span></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><b>This page in a nutshell:</b> When editing guidance, keep in mind the risk that increasingly detailed instructions will result in bloated pages that new editors find intimidating and experienced editors ignore.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Avoid <b><a href="/wiki/Instruction_creep" title="Instruction creep">instruction creep</a></b> to keep Wikipedia <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">policy and guideline</a> pages easy to understand. The longer, more detailed, and more complicated you make the instructions, the less likely anyone is to read or follow whatever you write. </p> <div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none"><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div> <ul> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Problem"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Problem</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Prevention"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Prevention</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="#Fixing"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Fixing</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="#Not_every_instruction_is_creep"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Not every instruction is creep</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="#Linking_to_this_page"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Linking to this page</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </section><div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(1)"><span class="indicator mf-icon mf-icon-expand mf-icon--small"></span><h2 id="Problem" data-mw-thread-id="h-Problem"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Problem"></span>Problem<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Problem"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"> <a role="button" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Problem" class="cdx-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--icon-only cdx-button--weight-quiet "> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon--edit"></span> <span>edit</span> </a> </span> </div><section class="mf-section-1 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-1"> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta,_Georgia.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><noscript><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta%2C_Georgia.jpg/250px-Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta%2C_Georgia.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="154" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="2016" data-file-height="1242"></noscript><span class="lazy-image-placeholder" style="width: 250px;height: 154px;" data-src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta%2C_Georgia.jpg/250px-Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta%2C_Georgia.jpg" data-width="250" data-height="154" data-srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta%2C_Georgia.jpg/375px-Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta%2C_Georgia.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta%2C_Georgia.jpg/500px-Kudzu_on_trees_in_Atlanta%2C_Georgia.jpg 2x" data-class="mw-file-element"> </span></a><figcaption>Like <a href="/wiki/Kudzu" title="Kudzu">kudzu</a> vines, instructions can grow much too fast.</figcaption></figure> <p><b>Nobody reads the directions</b> from beginning to end. And increasing numbers of directions result, over time, in decreasing chances that any particular rule will be <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:TLDR" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:TLDR">read at all</a>, much less understood and followed. Spread out over many pages, excessive direction causes guidance to become less coherent and increasingly drift from actual community consensus. Further, having too many rules may <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Dig" title="Wikipedia:Dig">drive away editors</a>. To avoid these outcomes, keep <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Project_namespace" title="Wikipedia:Project namespace">Wikipedia space</a> pages broad in scope, not covering every minute aspect of their subject matter. </p> </section><div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(2)"><span class="indicator mf-icon mf-icon-expand mf-icon--small"></span><h2 id="Prevention" data-mw-thread-id="h-Prevention"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Prevention"></span>Prevention<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Prevention"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"> <a role="button" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Prevention" class="cdx-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--icon-only cdx-button--weight-quiet "> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon--edit"></span> <span>edit</span> </a> </span> </div><section class="mf-section-2 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-2"> <p><b> Principles</b>. Keep policies and guidelines <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Keep_it_short_and_simple" title="Wikipedia:Keep it short and simple">to the point</a>. It is usually better for a policy or guideline to be too lax than too strict. Detailed policies can lead to <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikilawyering" title="Wikipedia:Wikilawyering">wikilawyering</a>, impairing the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:TALKDONTREVERT" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:TALKDONTREVERT">consensus-building</a> process. If you just think that you have good advice for Wikipedians, consider adding it to an <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:ESSAY" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:ESSAY">essay</a>. </p><p><b>Editing</b>. Do not make substantive additions to a policy or guideline unless the addition solves a real and significant problem, not just a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:If_it_ain%27t_broke,_don%27t_fix_it" title="Wikipedia:If it ain't broke, don't fix it">hypothetical issue</a>. Before publishing your edit, review the text for potential unintended consequences and re-write as appropriate. </p> </section><div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(3)"><span class="indicator mf-icon mf-icon-expand mf-icon--small"></span><h2 id="Fixing" data-mw-thread-id="h-Fixing"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Fixing"></span>Fixing<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Fixing"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"> <a role="button" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Fixing" class="cdx-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--icon-only cdx-button--weight-quiet "> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon--edit"></span> <span>edit</span> </a> </span> </div><section class="mf-section-3 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-3"> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines#Conflicts_between_advice_pages" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines § Conflicts between advice pages</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Harvard_Square_turds.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><noscript><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Harvard_Square_turds.jpg/300px-Harvard_Square_turds.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="321" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="633" data-file-height="677"></noscript><span class="lazy-image-placeholder" style="width: 300px;height: 321px;" data-src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Harvard_Square_turds.jpg/300px-Harvard_Square_turds.jpg" data-width="300" data-height="321" data-srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Harvard_Square_turds.jpg/450px-Harvard_Square_turds.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Harvard_Square_turds.jpg/600px-Harvard_Square_turds.jpg 2x" data-class="mw-file-element"> </span></a><figcaption>An issue perhaps better left to editor discretion (though the handwash is a thoughtful touch)</figcaption></figure> <p>Since things often "creep in" without scrutiny, even longstanding instructions should be subject to review.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The amount of time an instruction has been present does not strengthen consensus behind it, though one should be wary whenever removing a longstanding part of a policy. </p><p>If you feel that a change is needed, either make your case on the talk page or <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:PGBOLD" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:PGBOLD">boldly</a> make your changes, giving your rationale in the edit summary. If you meet with disagreement, <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:FOLLOWBRD" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:FOLLOWBRD">discuss</a> the matter further. Those who oppose complete removal may still be willing to consider changes. </p> </section><div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(4)"><span class="indicator mf-icon mf-icon-expand mf-icon--small"></span><h2 id="Not_every_instruction_is_creep" data-mw-thread-id="h-Not_every_instruction_is_creep"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Not_every_instruction_is_creep"></span>Not every instruction is creep<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Not_every_instruction_is_creep"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"> <a role="button" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Not every instruction is creep" class="cdx-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--icon-only cdx-button--weight-quiet "> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon--edit"></span> <span>edit</span> </a> </span> </div><section class="mf-section-4 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-4"> <p><span class="anchor" id="Misuse"></span> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1252059228"><div class="module-shortcutanchordiv"><span id="WP:NOTCREEP"></span></div><div class="module-shortcutboxplain noprint" role="note"><div class="module-shortcutlist"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Shortcut" title="Wikipedia:Shortcut">Shortcut</a></div><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><span class="plainlinks"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:NOTCREEP&redirect=no">WP:NOTCREEP</a></span></li></ul></div></div> <p>Additional instruction can be helpful when it succinctly states community consensus regarding a significant point, but it is harmful when the point is trivial, redundant, or unclear. </p> </section><div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(5)"><span class="indicator mf-icon mf-icon-expand mf-icon--small"></span><h2 id="Linking_to_this_page" data-mw-thread-id="h-Linking_to_this_page"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Linking_to_this_page"></span>Linking to this page<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Linking_to_this_page"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"> <a role="button" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Linking to this page" class="cdx-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--icon-only cdx-button--weight-quiet "> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon--edit"></span> <span>edit</span> </a> </span> </div><section class="mf-section-5 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-5"> <p>If someone cited this page to explain their view, they mean that they think the rule is at least unnecessary and unimportant, if not downright harmful by creating a lot of burdensome <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTBURO" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:NOTBURO">bureaucracy</a> or a rule that <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Ignore_all_rules" title="Wikipedia:Ignore all rules">will be ignored</a> because it prevents editors from writing good articles. It's rare that what Wikipedia really needs is yet another rule. </p><p>If you cite this page to support your opposition to "creepy" rules, remember that some editors are dealing with a problem that seems significant to them, and they believe that writing down a rule somewhere will somehow solve their problem, even though 99.9% of editors would never even read the rule they're proposing, much less follow it. So don't say "Oppose per CREEP"; instead, say "Oppose the creation of this unnecessary and complicated rule for a very uncommon situation that could just as easily be solved by editors using their best judgment to apply the relevant existing rules as explained at WP:CRYPTIC" – or whatever the facts of the case at hand are. </p> </section><div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(6)"><span class="indicator mf-icon mf-icon-expand mf-icon--small"></span><h2 id="See_also" data-mw-thread-id="h-See_also"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-See_also"></span>See also<span data-mw-comment-end="h-See_also"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"> <a role="button" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: See also" class="cdx-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--icon-only cdx-button--weight-quiet "> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon--edit"></span> <span>edit</span> </a> </span> </div><section class="mf-section-6 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-6"> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col"> <p><b>Essays against instruction creep</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Asshole_John_rule" title="Wikipedia:Asshole John rule">Wikipedia:Asshole John rule</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Avoid_writing_redundant_essays" title="Wikipedia:Avoid writing redundant essays">Wikipedia:Avoid writing redundant essays</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Don%27t_stuff_beans_up_your_nose" title="Wikipedia:Don't stuff beans up your nose">Wikipedia:Don't stuff beans up your nose</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:If_MOS_doesn%27t_need_a_rule_on_something,_then_it_needs_to_not_have_a_rule_on_that_thing" title="Wikipedia:If MOS doesn't need a rule on something, then it needs to not have a rule on that thing">Wikipedia:If MOS doesn't need a rule on something, then it needs to not have a rule on that thing</a> (WP:MOSBLOAT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Notability_(mailboxes)" title="Wikipedia:Notability (mailboxes)">Wikipedia:Notability (mailboxes)</a> (humor)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Overlink_crisis" title="Wikipedia:Overlink crisis">Wikipedia:Overlink crisis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Practical_process" title="Wikipedia:Practical process">Wikipedia:Practical process</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_process" title="Wikipedia:Requests for process">Wikipedia:Requests for process</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:The_rules_are_principles" title="Wikipedia:The rules are principles">Wikipedia:The rules are principles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Silence_does_not_imply_consent_when_drafting_new_policies" title="Wikipedia:Silence does not imply consent when drafting new policies">Wikipedia:Silence does not imply consent when drafting new policies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Too_much_detail" title="Wikipedia:Too much detail">Wikipedia:Too much detail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/User:Isaacl/Address_problems_without_creating_new_specialized_rules" title="User:Isaacl/Address problems without creating new specialized rules">Address problems without creating new specialized rules</a></li></ul> <p><b>Essays <em>encouraging</em> redundancy</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Abundance_and_redundancy" title="Wikipedia:Abundance and redundancy">Wikipedia:Abundance and redundancy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Redundancy_is_good" title="Wikipedia:Redundancy is good">Wikipedia:Redundancy is good</a></li></ul> <p><b>Wikipedia articles</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Criticism_of_Wikipedia#Excessive_rule-making" title="Criticism of Wikipedia">Criticism of Wikipedia § Excessive rule-making</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Feature_creep" title="Feature creep">Feature creep</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Instruction_creep" title="Instruction creep">Instruction creep</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law" title="Parkinson's law">Parkinson's law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Red_tape" title="Red tape">Red tape</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scope_creep" title="Scope creep">Scope creep</a></li></ul> <p><b>Templates</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Simple_help_page" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:Simple help page">Template:Simple help page</a> (edit notice)</li></ul> </div> </section><div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(7)"><span class="indicator mf-icon mf-icon-expand mf-icon--small"></span><h2 id="References" data-mw-thread-id="h-References"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-References"></span>References<span data-mw-comment-end="h-References"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"> <a role="button" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: References" class="cdx-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--icon-only cdx-button--weight-quiet "> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon--edit"></span> <span>edit</span> </a> </span> </div><section class="mf-section-7 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-7"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Calcification in rule-making drives away new editors. <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFVergano2013" class="citation web cs1">Vergano, Dan (January 3, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/01/03/wikipedia-rules-new-editors/1801229/">"Study: Wikipedia is driving away newcomers"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/USA_Today" title="USA Today">USA Today</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 17,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=USA+Today&rft.atitle=Study%3A+Wikipedia+is+driving+away+newcomers&rft.date=2013-01-03&rft.aulast=Vergano&rft.aufirst=Dan&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Ftech%2F2013%2F01%2F03%2Fwikipedia-rules-new-editors%2F1801229%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWikipedia%3AAvoid+instruction+creep" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> </section><div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section section-heading" onclick="mfTempOpenSection(8)"><span class="indicator mf-icon mf-icon-expand mf-icon--small"></span><h2 id="External_links" data-mw-thread-id="h-External_links"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-External_links"></span>External links<span data-mw-comment-end="h-External_links"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"> <a role="button" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: External links" class="cdx-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--icon-only cdx-button--weight-quiet "> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon--edit"></span> <span>edit</span> </a> </span> </div><section class="mf-section-8 collapsible-block" id="mf-section-8"> <ul><li><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Instruction_creep" class="extiw" title="m:Instruction creep">Instruction creep at Meta-Wiki</a></li></ul> </section></div> <noscript><img src="https://login.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1&mobile=1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&oldid=1257874653">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&oldid=1257874653</a>"</div></div> </div> <div class="post-content" id="page-secondary-actions"> </div> </main> <footer class="mw-footer minerva-footer" role="contentinfo"> <a class="last-modified-bar" href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Avoid_instruction_creep&action=history"> <div class="post-content last-modified-bar__content"> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon-size-medium minerva-icon--modified-history"></span> <span class="last-modified-bar__text modified-enhancement" data-user-name="2A00:807:D1:D843:64EB:F08D:8C8B:6B6C" data-user-gender="unknown" data-timestamp="1731807824"> <span>Last edited on 17 November 2024, at 01:43</span> </span> <span class="minerva-icon minerva-icon-size-small minerva-icon--expand"></span> </div> </a> <div class="post-content footer-content"> <div id="p-lang"> <h4>Languages</h4> <section> <ul id="p-variants" class="minerva-languages"></ul> <ul class="minerva-languages"><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE:%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF_%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8" title="উইকিপিডিয়া:নির্দেশনার বন্যা সৃষ্টি এড়ান – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="উইকিপিডিয়া:নির্দেশনার বন্যা সৃষ্টি এড়ান" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Avvitamenti_burocratici" title="Wikipedia:Avvitamenti burocratici – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Wikipedia:Avvitamenti burocratici" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-arz mw-list-item"><a href="https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A7:%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A8_%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%81_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA" title="ويكيبيديا:تجنب زحف التعليمات – Egyptian Arabic" lang="arz" hreflang="arz" data-title="ويكيبيديا:تجنب زحف التعليمات" data-language-autonym="مصرى" data-language-local-name="Egyptian Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>مصرى</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:%E6%8C%87%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AE%E8%82%A5%E5%A4%A7%E5%8C%96%E3%82%92%E9%81%BF%E3%81%91%E3%82%8B" title="Wikipedia:指示の肥大化を避ける – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="Wikipedia:指示の肥大化を避ける" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Evite_o_excesso_de_instru%C3%A7%C3%B5es" title="Wikipédia:Evite o excesso de instruções – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Wikipédia:Evite o excesso de instruções" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq mw-list-item"><a href="https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Mos_e_tepro_me_udh%C3%ABzimet" title="Wikipedia:Mos e tepro me udhëzimet – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq" data-title="Wikipedia:Mos e tepro me udhëzimet" data-language-autonym="Shqip" data-language-local-name="Albanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Shqip</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-si mw-list-item"><a href="https://si.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%93%E0%B6%A9%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%8F:Avoid_instruction_creep" title="විකිපීඩියා:Avoid instruction creep – Sinhala" lang="si" hreflang="si" data-title="විකිපීඩියා:Avoid instruction creep" data-language-autonym="සිංහල" data-language-local-name="Sinhala" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>සිංහල</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D1%96%D0%BA%D1%96%D0%BF%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D1%8F:%D0%A3%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%82%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F_%D1%96%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%86%D1%96%D0%B9" title="Вікіпедія:Уникайте надмірного нагромадження інструкцій – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Вікіпедія:Уникайте надмірного нагромадження інструкцій" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:%E9%81%BF%E5%85%8D%E8%AA%AA%E6%98%8E%E6%B0%BE%E6%BF%AB" title="Wikipedia:避免說明氾濫 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="Wikipedia:避免說明氾濫" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li></ul> </section> </div> <div class="minerva-footer-logo"><img src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg" alt="Wikipedia" width="120" height="18" style="width: 7.5em; height: 1.125em;"/> </div> <ul id="footer-info" class="footer-info hlist hlist-separated"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 17 November 2024, at 01:43<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Content is 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