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{{short description|Policy of the English Misplaced Pages about deletion}}
{{policy|]<BR>]<BR>]}}
<noinclude>{{pp-semi-indef}}</noinclude>
{{redirect-multi|2|WP:DP|WP:DEL}}
{{policy|WP:DP|WP:DEL|WP:DELETE}}
{{nutshell|Administrators have the ability to delete and undelete articles and other Misplaced Pages pages. These powers are exercised in accordance with ] and ], and community consensus. There are often ].}}
{{deletion policy list}}
{{deletion debates}}


The '''deletion policy''' describes how articles, media, and other pages that do not meet the relevant criteria for content of the encyclopedia are identified and removed from Misplaced Pages. On Misplaced Pages, many pages are deleted each day through the processes outlined below.
{{nutshell2
|Deletion is performed by administrators based on policy, not personal likes and dislikes
|There are three main processes for deleting articles —- other types of deletion have similar processes
|Articles that can be improved should be edited or tagged, not nominated for deletion}}


Deletion of a Misplaced Pages article removes the current version and ] from public view. ] can be performed (or reverted) by any user, but only ] can perform deletion,<ref>Note that there is a way for a non-admin to appear in the ], see ].</ref> ], and ]. All such actions (other than viewing) are recorded in the ], and deletion statistics are recorded at ]. If in doubt as to whether there is ] to delete a page, administrators will not normally delete it.
{{Policylist Deletion}}


==Reasons for deletion==
The '''Misplaced Pages deletion policy''' describes how material which does not meet the relevant content criteria is identified and removed from Misplaced Pages.
{{anchor|REASON}}
{{policy shortcut|WP:DEL-REASON|WP:DEL#REASON}}
{{see also|Misplaced Pages:Notability#Article content does not determine notability}}
Reasons for deletion include, but are not limited to, the following (subject to the condition that improvement or deletion of an offending section, if practical, is preferable to deletion of an entire page):
#{{Anchor|1}} Content that meets at least one of the ]
#{{Anchor|2}} ] and other material violating Misplaced Pages's ]
#{{Anchor|3}} ], including inflammatory ], ], ], or gibberish
#{{Anchor|4}} Advertising or other ] without any relevant or encyclopedic content
#{{Anchor|5}} ] (unless a merger or redirect is appropriate)
#{{Anchor|6}} Articles that cannot possibly be attributed to ], including ], ], and ]
#{{Anchor|7}} Articles for which thorough attempts to find ] to ] them have failed
#{{Anchor|8}} Articles with subjects that fail to meet the relevant ] (], ], ], ], ], and so forth)
#{{Anchor|9}} Articles that breach Misplaced Pages's policy on ]
#{{Anchor|10}} Redundant or otherwise useless ]
#{{Anchor|11}} Categories representing ]
#{{Anchor|12}} ] that are unused, obsolete, or violate the ] policy
#{{Anchor|13}} Any other use of the ], ], ], or ] namespace that is contrary to the established separate policy for that namespace
#{{Anchor|14}} Any other content ] for an encyclopedia


==<span id="ATD"></span>Alternatives to deletion==
All text created in the Misplaced Pages main ] is subject to several important rules covering criteria for articles (]), encyclopedic quality (] and ]), editorial approach (]), as well as the Misplaced Pages ]. Articles and text which are capable of meeting these should usually be remedied by editing, but content which fails inclusion criteria for Misplaced Pages, is incapable of verification with reputable sources, or is in breach of copyright policy, is usually deleted.
{{policy shortcut|WP:ATD|WP:DEL-CONTENT}}


===Editing and discussion===
Deletion of a Misplaced Pages article removes the current version and ] from view. Unlike ], which can be performed (or reverted) by any user, deletion can be performed only by ]. In the normal operations of Misplaced Pages, more than one thousand articles are ] each day, either summarily or after discussion, in accordance with a deletion process that is open to all users.
{{anchor|CONTENT}}
{{main article|Misplaced Pages:Editing policy}}


If editing can address all relevant ], this should be done rather than deleting the page. ] to a page's content can be ] by any user.
This page describes how articles which are believed to be suitable for deletion should be handled, explains the various deletion options and processes, and summarizes a number of common problems with Misplaced Pages articles that may call for deletion as well as alternatives to deletion.


Disputes over page content are usually not dealt with by deleting the page, except in severe cases. The content issues should be discussed at the relevant talk page, and other methods of ] should be used first, such as listing on ] for further input. Deletion discussions that are really unresolved content disputes may be closed by an uninvolved editor, and referred to the talk page or other appropriate forum.
:* ''For deletion due to copyright issues, when and how this should be done, and alternatives, see: ].''


{{policy shortcut|WP:ATD-E}}
<div style="padding: 5px; float: right;">
<div style="padding: 5px; border: 1px solid black;">
<tt style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">
&#123;{]|...}}
<br/>
&#123;{subst:]|...}}
<br/>
&#123;{subst:]}}
</tt>
</div>
<span style="font-size: 8pt;">
Three common tags typed to propose that <br> an entry on Misplaced Pages be deleted
</span>
</div>


If an article on a ] topic severely fails the ] or ] policies, it may be reduced to a ], or completely deleted by consensus at ].
:* ''For a guide to deletion discussions, especially if your content is listed for deletion, see ].''


Disagreement over a policy or guideline is not dealt with by deleting it. Similarly, issues with an inappropriate ] can often be resolved through discussion with the user.
:* ''For the administrators' deletion guide, see ].''


== Background== ===Tagging===
{{policy shortcut|WP:ATD-T}}
<!-- before correcting grammar, note that "Anyone is welcome" is correct whereas "Anyone are welcome" is not, if there is an exception stated mid-sentence the subject-verb pairing does not change. -->
] can be added to articles to note the problem. Tags, however, are not intended as permanent solutions; they are intended to warn the readers and to allow interested editors to easily locate and fix the problems. Tags are listed ]. Some of the more common ones include:
Anyone except a ] user is welcome to participate in nominating articles for deletion or discussion of current nominations. Participants in the deletion process should read (and be familiar with) the core Misplaced Pages policies of ], ] and ] first, since deletion is based upon policy and not personal likes and dislikes.
* {{tl|copyedit}} for ]
* {{tl|Expert needed}} for articles needing ]
* {{tl|Not English}} for articles written in a ]
* {{tl|POV}} for ]
* {{tl|Stub}} for a ]
* {{tl|More citations needed}} for lack of ]
* {{tl|Merge}} for a small article that could be merged into a larger one
* {{tl|Cleanup}} for other issues.


Pages with incorrect names can simply be ]. Naming disputes are discussed on the articles' talk pages or listed at ].
They should also bear in mind ], and not abuse the deletion processes.


Be mindful when adding tags to ]. Certain tags are known to produce ] complaints from the article's subject; for instance {{tl|notability}}, because it may be interpreted as Misplaced Pages passing judgement on the person. An alternative is nominating the article for deletion so that ] may be more quickly established.
Finally, it's worth noting that (as with all Misplaced Pages ] decisions) the purpose of a discussion is to bring out a "sense of the community" and the valid points for or against each view. So deletion is not a strict "count of ]s", but rather a judgement based upon experience and taking into account the policy-related points made by those contributing.


===Deletion processes === ===Merging===
{{policy shortcut|WP:ATD-M}}
There are three main processes for deleting articles, in order:
Articles that are short and unlikely to be expanded could be ] into larger articles or lists. For example, information about family members of a celebrity who are not otherwise ] is generally included in, or merged into, the article on that celebrity. Pages about non-notable fictional elements are generally merged into list articles or articles covering the work of fiction in which they appear.


If two pages are duplicates or otherwise redundant, one should be merged and redirected to the other, using the most common, or more general page name. This does ] process or formal debate beforehand.
:{| class="wikitable"
! Process !! Usage !! How to do it
|-
| ] || Pages that are suitable for immediate deletion and which can obviously be deleted on sight (see ]; examples include ], advertising, ] and certain housekeeping situations). || Flag the article for speedy deletion using a ], e.g. {{tlp|db|Reason}}, {{tl|db-nonsense}}, {{tl|db-vandalism}}, {{tl|db-author}}.
|-
| ] || Articles whose deletion should be uncontroversial but which don't meet the "utter rubbish" criteria for speedy deletion. This is often used for articles which appear to have genuine content but which the deleter feels are ] for Misplaced Pages, such as advertising, vanity articles, and the like. || Flag with {{tlsp|prod|Reason}} which will also place it into ]; if the deletion is not contested by anyone for five days it can be deleted at an administrator's discretion. Contested prods may be moved to ] for fuller discussion.
|-
| ] || A five-day public debate and discussion on the merits of the article and its best treatment. Applicable to all articles where deletion is unsure, seriously contested, or may need debate, and all borderline or controversial cases. || List page on ], following the process on that page.
|}


Note that an outcome of "merge and delete" may potentially cause ] problems if ] is lost in the process. The essay ] discusses this, whereas the essay ] discusses a different case that causes no such licensing problems.
<span id="Deletion categories" />
Other types of deletion have their own similar processes, described on pages such as:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
{{col-2}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
{{col-end}}
Collectively, these processes, together with ], are
sometimes referred to as the XfD processes.


===Redirection===
{{policy shortcut|WP:ATD-R}}
A page can be ] if there is a suitable page to redirect to, and if the resulting redirect is not ]. If the change is disputed via a ], an attempt should be made to reach a ] before blank-and-redirecting again. Suitable venues for doing so include the article's talk page and ].<ref>The current wording is from ]. The suitability of AfD was clarified in ] and further discussed ].</ref>


===Incubation<span class="anchor" id="Misplaced Pages:ATD-I"></span>===
{{policy shortcut|WP:ATD-I}}
{{see also|Misplaced Pages:Drafts#Moving articles to draftspace}}
Recently created articles that have potential, but do not yet meet Misplaced Pages's quality standards, may be moved to the ] ("draftified") for improvement, with the aim of eventually moving them back to the main namespace, optionally via the ] (AfC) process. If drafts are not edited for a period of six months, they are eligible for deletion under ] ]. In comparison to ] drafts, the draft namespace makes these proto-articles easier to find and work on collaboratively. Moving to user space is still preferred for ] that seem to serve a single editor's needs or ] that only reflect a particular editor's viewpoint. Drafts in user space are not subject to G13 deletion unless submitted to AfC.
{{Anchor|NOTBACKDOOR}}{{policy shortcut|WP:NOTBACKDOOR}}
Incubation must not be used as a "backdoor to deletion". Because abandoned drafts are deleted after six months, moving articles to draft space should generally be done only for newly created articles (typically as part of ]) or as the result of a deletion discussion.<ref>See ], as well as {{section link|Misplaced Pages:Drafts|Moving articles to draft space}}.</ref> Older articles—as a rule of thumb those older than 90 days—should not be draftified without prior consensus at AfD.<ref>Discussed in ].</ref>


===Other projects===
===Problem articles where deletion may be needed===
{{policy shortcut|WP:ATD-TRANS}}
{| class="wikitable"
{{see also|Misplaced Pages:Transwiki log}}
|+<big>'''Problems that may require deletion'''</big>
Some articles do not belong on Misplaced Pages but fit one of the ]. They may be copied there using ] functionality before considering their merger or deletion. If an article to be deleted is likely to be re-created under the same name, it may be ] to a more appropriate sister project's article.
!Problem with page
!Solution
!Add this tag
|-
|<div id="afd">
* Is not suitable for Misplaced Pages (see ] )
* ] (including the coining of ]s) - but if it's a source text, it should be ] to ] (see below).
* ]
* Advertising or other ]</div>
|Use ] or List on ] (WP:AFD).
|See ] or ] for instructions and tags.
|-
|<div id="afd">
Subject of article clearly cannot meet one of the following ] accepted guidelines:
*] (WP:MUSIC) (for bands)
*] (WP:BIO) (for biographies)
*] (WP:FICT) (for fictional characters)
*] (WP:WEB) (for Internet content)
*] (WP:NEO) (for neologisms)
*] (WP:CORP)
</div>
|Use ] or List on ] (WP:AFD).
|See ] or ] for instructions and tags.
|-
|<div id="nfd">
* ] in excessive or stubborn cases.
* Wholly inappropriate pages in the project (Misplaced Pages:), Help:, MediaWiki:, Portal:, and various talk ]s, where discussion, ], ], or simple ] ''cannot'' resolve the problem.
|List on ] (WP:MfD).
|See ] for instructions and tags.
|-
|<div id="copyvio">Article is possible copyright infringement</div>
|List on ].
||<tt>&#123;{]}}</tt> ''or''<br><tt>&#123;{]}}</tt>
|-
|Image is possible copyright infringement
|List on ].
|<tt>&#123;{]}}</tt> ''or''<br><tt>&#123;{]}}</tt>
|-
|Image or other media needs deleting (but not because of copyright violation)
|List on ] (WP:IfD).
|See ] for instructions and tags.
|-
|<div id="redirect">A useless redirect</div>
|Don't worry; redirects are cheap. <br>
If you must, list on ] (WP:RfD) but only after reading our ].
|See ] for instructions and tags.
|-
|<div id="category">A category scheme gone awry</div>
|List on ] (WP:CfD).
|See ] for instructions and tags.
|-
|A redundant or misguided series box.
|List on ].
|<tt>&#123;{]}}</tt> (Put in the box itself.)
|-
|A redundant or misguided stub template or category.
|List on ].
|<tt>&#123;{]}}</tt> for stub categories<br><tt>&#123;{]}}</tt> for stub templates
|-
|<div id="dicdef">Can never be other than a ] ("dicdef")</div>
|Turn the article into a redirect (or rename and refactor it) as per ] and ].


Please note that articles that seem transwiki-appropriate to editors of the English Misplaced Pages may not be:
Check that Wiktionary does not already have a dictionary article. If a Wiktionary article does not already exist, ] the article to Wiktionary. Afterwards, either replace with a soft redirect or list the article for deletion.
*Wiktionary ]
|See ] for instructions and tags.
*Wikinews ], the latter of which rules out transwiki closes in virtually all cases
|-
*Wikivoyage ]; destinations should be either places or, rarely, exceptionally high-profile attractions, neither of which are likely to be deleted from Misplaced Pages
|<div id="source">Article is a source text (but not a copyvio)</div>
|] text to ] and replace it with a stub and a ].
|&nbsp;
|-
|Article is a ] (not an article ''about'' a hoax)
|List on Suspected hoax articles and/or propose deletion.
|{{]}} and/or use ].
|-
|<div id="speedy">Article is a ] including:</div>
* ] (total gibberish)
* Pages created just to ] or disrupt
|List on ]. <br>
In simple cases, just add the &#123;{]}} tag and the page will automatically be listed in ] (CAT:CSD).
|<tt>&#123;{]}}</tt>
|}


==Processes==
==Alternatives to deletion==
{{anchor|PROCESSES}}
===Merging===
{{main article|Misplaced Pages:Deletion process}}
Articles that are short and unlikely ever to be expanded can often be ] into a larger article, or list article, that gives context. For instance, information about the family of a celebrity that is not otherwise famous is generally merged into the article on the celebrity. Information about minor characters or recurring jokes in works of fiction is generally merged into a list article.
{{see also|Misplaced Pages:Guide to image deletion}}{{policy shortcut|WP:DEL-PROCESSES|WP:DEL#PROCESSES}}
There are four basic processes for deletion and two to review and overturn the outcome of these processes and other deletions.


===Copyright violations===
If two pages are duplicates or otherwise redundant, one can likewise be merged and redirected to the other. Generally the shorter or newer article is so merged.
For legal reasons, Misplaced Pages cannot host content that is in ].
* '''Where to find them''': ] and ]
* '''How to do this''': See ]. For other pages, remove the violation if possible, or edit the page to ''replace'' its entire content with {{tlxs|copyvio|3=url=''address of copied material''}}. For blatant, whole-page copyright violation, you can simply tag it for speedy deletion with {{tlx|db-copyvio|2=url=...}} after checking that there are no non-copyvio versions in the page history.
* '''If you disagree''': Try to contact the authors of the text or image and see if they are willing to release their work (1) under an ] (for text, this is CC BY-SA and GFDL co-licensed, CC BY-SA alone, or CC BY-SA-compatible), or (2) into the ]. Permission to use a work "on Misplaced Pages only" or "for non-commercial use only" isn't enough, as it is incompatible with our license.
* '''Renominations''': Recreations of copyrighted content are speedily deleted, as below. It is ] to persist in recreating such content.


===Editing=== ===Speedy deletion===
Pages can be deleted without any discussion if they meet one or more of the ]. Speedy deletion is meant to remove pages that are so obviously inappropriate for Misplaced Pages that they have no chance of surviving a deletion discussion. Speedy deletion should not be used except in the most obvious cases.
If the problem with an article is that it is ], ], ], or ], this should be solved through regular editing rather than deletion. If necessary, a variety of tags can be used to indicate the problem, including {{tl|stub}} (for short articles), {{tl|cleanup}} for cleanup, {{tl|npov}} for bias, and {{tl|verify}} for sources.

Article written in a foreign language should be listed on ], or tagged with {{tl|notenglish}}.

Pages with an incorrect name can simply be ] by any user. If there is a dispute over the name, the ] process can be used.

===Discussion===
Disputes over article content are not dealt with by deleting the article. Likewise, disagreement over a policy or guideline is not dealt with by deleting it. The issue should instead be listed on ] for further input. Similarly, issues with an inappropriate user page can often be resolved through discussing it with that user.

===Other projects===
Articles that can never be other than a ] ("dicdef") can be merged as above, or moved to ]. See ] for instructions. Likewise, articles that are source text (other than copyright violations) should be moved to ].


If a page has survived a prior deletion discussion, it must not be speedy deleted except for newly discovered copyright violations. Pages currently on proposed deletion or deletion discussion (see below) may be deleted through speedy deletion.
==Nominating an article for deletion ==
* '''Where to find them''': A list of all pages flagged for speedy deletion can be found in ].
See the instructions at ], ], or ] accordingly. Following the procedures properly will place a warning at the top of the article to notify readers that the article is being considered for deletion. If no such notice is added please add one yourself as appropriate.
* '''How to do this''': Administrators can delete such pages on sight. Other editors can request speedy deletion by editing the relevant page to add a ] to the top of the page.
* '''If you disagree''': Anyone except a page's creator may contest the speedy deletion of a page by removing the deletion notice from the page. If a page you created is tagged for speedy deletion, you may either improve the page or explain your reasoning on the relevant talk page. The page may still be deleted if it meets the ]. If a page has been speedily deleted and there is disagreement over whether or not it should have been, this is discussed at deletion review, described below.
* '''Renominations''': Either a page fits the speedy deletion criteria or it does not. If there is a dispute over whether a page meets the criteria, the issue is typically taken to deletion discussions, mentioned below, rather than being deleted.


===Proposed deletion===
Please note warning notices may vary for ], and they may not be required for pages that have no content (blank pages or ]) ''and'' have no significant history ("significant history" includes any history of content being added or removed, excepting ]).
An editor who believes a page obviously and uncontroversially does not belong in an encyclopedia can ]. Such a page can be deleted by any administrator if, after seven days, no one objects to the proposed deletion. Once there is an objection or a deletion discussion, a page may not be proposed for deletion again. This process only applies to pages in the ] (article namespace) and the ]. Redirects are not eligible for proposed deletion (for information on deleting redirects, see {{section link|Misplaced Pages:Redirect|When should we delete a redirect?}}).
* '''Where to find them''': A list of all pages flagged for proposed deletion can be found in ], as well as in an automatically generated ].
* '''How to do this''': Edit the page to add the following text to the top: {{tlxs|prod|2=''reason''}}, writing your reasoning in the "reason" field.
* '''If you disagree''': Any editor who disagrees with a proposed deletion can simply remove the tag. Even after the page is deleted, any editor can have the ] by any administrator simply by asking. In both cases, the editor is encouraged to fix the perceived problem with the page. It is also desirable to add {{tl|old prod}} at the top of the article's talk page (or beneath WikiProject banners).
* '''Renominations''': Once the proposed deletion of a page has been objected to by anyone, it may not be proposed for deletion again. If an editor still feels the page ought to be deleted, a deletion discussion should be used, as indicated below.


====Proposed deletion of biographies of living people====
See also: ] and ].
{{further information|Misplaced Pages:Proposed deletion of biographies of living people}}
The ] requires all ] to have at least one source in ''any'' form (as references, external links, etc., reliable or otherwise). Once the article is tagged in this manner, the {{tl|prod blp}} tag may not be removed until at least one ] that supports at least one statement about the subject is provided. If none is forthcoming, the article may be deleted after seven days. This does not affect any other deletion process.


===Deletion discussion===
===Renominations and recurring candidates===
{{main|Misplaced Pages:Articles for deletion#How to nominate a single page for deletion}}
Think carefully. Renomination costs additional volunteer time and server resources, on top of the original nomination.
{{shortcut|WP:DPAFD|WP:DELAFD}}
Pages that do not fall in the above three categories may be deleted after community discussion at one of the ], the results of which may be reviewed after the fact at ] (see below). This includes contested speedy or proposed deletions. Here, editors who wish to participate can give their opinions on what should be done with the page.


These processes are ''not'' decided through a head count, so participants are each encouraged to explain their opinion and refer to policy. The discussion lasts at least seven full days. If there is consensus to delete pages, this is done afterwards by an administrator. A nomination that gets little response after the discussion period has ended can be ] if the closing editor believes that more time would be likely to generate a clearer consensus.
Repeated re-creation of an article by previously unassociated editors may be evidence of a need for an article, but repeated nominations for deletion are not necessarily evidence that an article should be deleted, and in some cases, repeated attempts to have an article deleted may even be considered ]. '''If in doubt, don't delete.'''
If an article has been on ] before but users want to start another iteration of a deletion debate, they should consider using this template, <nowiki>{{subst:afdx|2nd}}</nowiki>. This creates a link to a new debate page and prevents the old one from being overwritten or re-used.


It is considered inappropriate to ask people outside of Misplaced Pages to come to the discussion to sway its outcome; such ] comments may be ignored. They are not removed, but may be tagged with {{tl|spa|Username}}, noting that a user "has made few or no other edits". In extreme cases, a deletion debate can be ].
A process that resulted in article deletion or keeping, should generally be respected and the article not immediately re-nominated for deletion (if kept) or re-created (if deleted). The most common reason for a repeat nomination is that there was marked lack of discussion or lack of consensus in the original decision and the second vote is required to clarify opinion. Otherwise:


It is also inappropriate to request deletion because of an editorial dispute. Such disputes are not resolved by deleting the whole page; instead, use ].
:{| border="0" cellpadding="4"
* '''Where to find them''': There are separate processes for ], ], ], ], ], and ].
|-
* '''How to do this''': Follow the instructions at the top of the relevant process page.
| ''Repeated nomination for deletion'' || In general, although there is no strict policy or consensus for a specific time between nominations, articles that have survived a nomination for deletion should not be immediately renominated. Please ensure that nominations to delete an article which was previously voted "keep", are carefully considered, and are based upon policy. Repeated attempts to have an article deleted for non-policy reasons may sometimes be considered abuse of process and/or ], and the article may be '']''.
* '''If you disagree''': Go to the relevant process page and explain why you disagree. Do not remove the tag from the page. For more information on this process, read the ].
|-
* '''Renominations''': After a deletion debate concludes and there is no consensus or the consensus is in favor of keeping the page, users should allow a reasonable amount of time to pass before nominating the same page for deletion again, to give editors time to improve the page. Renominations shortly after the earlier debate are generally closed quickly. It can be ] to repeatedly nominate a page in the hope of getting a different outcome.
| ''Repeated recreation of deleted article'' || If it is believed that a significantly better researched article would be verifiable and otherwise meet Misplaced Pages article criteria, then recreation for good cause and in ] may well be reasonable. This underlines that research and good writing is part of creating good articles. Also repeated re-creation of an article by previously unassociated editors may at times be evidence of a need for an article. But recreation of articles which should clearly remain deleted may result in the page being permanantly ] with a &#123;{]}} tag to prevent its recreation.
|}


===Page deletion===
Renomination of an article previously considered on ] should include this template, <nowiki>{{subst:afdx|2nd}}</nowiki>, which will prevent overwriting of the previous discussion:
The deletion of a page based on a deletion discussion should be done only when there is consensus to delete. Therefore, if there is no ], the page is kept and is again subject to normal editing, merging, or redirecting as appropriate. In certain circumstances,<ref name="NOQUORUM"/> poorly-attended deletion discussion may be ] (PRODs).
:<!-- Please do not remove or change this AfD message until the issue is settled -->{{#if:{{{nosubst|}}}|<div style="display:none;">}} {{#ifeq:{{NAMESPACE}}|Misplaced Pages| |{{error:not substituted|AFD}}<div style="display:none;">}}{{#if:{{{nosubst|}}}|</div></div>}}
<div class="boilerplate metadata" id="afd" style="margin: 0 5%; padding: 0 7px 7px 7px; background: #EDF1F1; border: 1px solid #999999; text-align: left; font-size:95%;">
'''This article is being considered for deletion''' for the 2nd time in accordance with Misplaced Pages's ].<br />
Please share your thoughts on the matter at ''']''' on the ] page.<br />
You are welcome to edit this article, but please do not blank this article or remove this notice while the discussion is in progress. For more information, particularly on merging or moving the article during the discussion, read the ].<br/>
''<small>Steps to ]: {{tls|afd}} <nowiki>{{</nowiki>subst:afd2|pg={{PAGENAME}}|text=}} <nowiki>{{</nowiki>subst:afd3|pg={{PAGENAME}} (2nd nomination)}} </small></div>


===<span class="anchor" id="BIODEL"></span>Deletion of biographies and BLPs===
<!-- End of AfD message, feel free to edit beyond this point -->
<!--Don't remove ] (or edit the name within their doubled, curly brackets).--> {{see also|Misplaced Pages:Biographies of living persons#Summary deletion, creation prevention, and courtesy blanking}}{{shortcut|WP:BIODEL|WP:BIODELETE}}
Discussions concerning ] of relatively unknown, ], where the subject has requested deletion and there is {{tq|no clear consensus to keep}} may be closed as delete. Poorly sourced ] of unknown, non-public figures, where the discussions have no editor opposing the deletion, ''may'' be deleted after discussions have been completed. If a deletion discussion of any biographical article (of whether a well-known or less-known individual) has received few or no comments from any editor besides the nominator, then the closing editor may generally ].<ref name="NOQUORUM">Exceptions include discussions that appear controversial and articles that have previously been subject to proposed deletion (PROD). See {{section link|Misplaced Pages:Deletion process|No quorum}} for full details.</ref>


===Transwikied articles=== ===Deletion of drafts===
{{Further|Misplaced Pages:Drafts#Deleting drafts}}
Please note that if the original discussion result was to "]", the page becomes a candidate for speedy deletion once the transwiki is completed, and does not need to go through AfD again.
If an article isn't acceptable{{clarify|What are the criteria for this?}} in mainspace, it can be ]; and if it sits there without being worked on for six months, it will be eligible for speedy deletion.


===Abuse of deletion process=== ===Deletion review===
If you believe that a page was wrongly deleted, or should have been deleted but wasn't, or that a deletion discussion was improperly closed, you should discuss this with the person who performed the deletion, or closed the debate, on their talk page. If this fails to resolve the issue, you may be able to request review of the closure at ].
The deletion processes all focus on whether an article meets the criteria for existence on Misplaced Pages; that is, they are to determine whether it is not original research, its central information is verifiable, and it is capable of achieving a neutral point of view with good editorship. XfD (deletion) processes are ''not'' a way to complain or remove material that is personally disliked, whose perspective is against ones beliefs, or which is not yet presented neutrally. Using XfD as a "protest strategy" in an editorial or Neutral Point of View (NPOV) debate is generally an abuse of process and the article will usually be '']''.


If a page was obviously deleted "out of process" (per this policy), an administrator may choose to undelete it immediately. In such a case, the administrator who deleted the page should be informed. However, such undeletions without gaining consensus may be viewed as disruptive, so they should be undertaken with care.
It should also be noted that packing the discussion with ] (multiple accounts) and ] (advertising or soliciting of desired views) does not reflect a genuine consensus, and usually doesn't raise much in the way of novel policy considerations. A deletion debate is not a popular vote, but a way of obtaining editors' views as to whether an article meets policy guidelines or not, so these kind of activities don't achieve much. Often, where sock-puppetry is suspected, only editors with a significant history of contributions to Misplaced Pages will be counted in the rough consensus.


If an article was deleted for lacking content or for having inappropriate content (which applies to most ]) and you wish to create a better article about the same subject, you can simply go ahead and do so, with no need for review. It is especially wasteful to go to deletion review over an unsourced stub when the alternative of creating a sourced article is available.
== Deletion discussions, closure, reviewing==


The deletion review process is not decided solely by head count but by consensus. The review normally lasts for seven days, sometimes longer if the outcome is unclear.
===Commenting on a listing for deletion ===
Please see the appropriate instructions at ], ], or ] accordingly. In general, when someone has listed an article for deletion, anyone else may comment on the request. Please include ''your opinion'' and ''your reasoning'' and ] with <tt><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></tt>. Typical comments include
"delete," "keep," "comment:", "redirect to <nowiki>]</nowiki>," "merge into <nowiki>]</nowiki> and redirect," "move to / / other GFDL site", "keep and relist in 4 weeks" ''et al.''


Overturned deletions may go to a deletion discussion if someone still wishes to delete and chooses to nominate.
Commonly used shorthands can be found at the ]. Note that "merge into <nowiki>]</nowiki> and delete" cannot be performed simply by copying and pasting text from the original article into the target unless the information on authorship of the content is somehow preserved, or the text is public domain. Otherwise, only the ''facts'' may be merged by ''completely rewriting'' the relevant text, so that none of the original copyrightable expression is used.
* '''Where to find them''': ]
* '''How to do this''': Follow the instructions at the top of the page.
* '''If you disagree''': Go to the review page and explain why you disagree.
* '''Renominations''': As with deletion discussions, a certain amount of time should pass between repeated requests for deletion review, and these requests should be carefully considered in light of policy. Renominations that lack new arguments or new evidence are likely to be closed quickly.


====Undeletion====
Normally you should not remove ''any'' statements from any deletion discussion. If you suspect a user of adding multiple comments using ], feel free to comment and provide pertinent links. The admin who reviews the discussion will investigate and decide whether or not to take that opinion into account.
{{shortcut|WP:UDP}}
{{redirect|WP:UDP|undisclosed paid editing|Misplaced Pages:Paid-contribution disclosure}}
In the case of pages deleted as a result of summary decisions and not following community discussions, undeletion may be requested at ]. This serves two primary functions: the restoration of content deleted without discussion, and the ] of content that is unfit for restoration. Requests for undeletion should be used to appeal most instances of ] and some ]s. However, appeals of the outcomes of deletion discussions and other deletion matters requiring community review should be made at ]. Be aware that pages restored to ] may immediately be subject to a ].
* '''Where to find them''': ]
* '''How to do this''': Follow the instructions at the top of the page.
* '''If you disagree''': Take the matter to ]
* '''Renominations''': Unlike deletion discussions, there is no suggested waiting period between requests, although requests that have been declined should not be resubmitted unless circumstances such as undeletion norms or the motivation for undeletion have changed.


==Process interaction==
This restriction does not apply to ] and derogatory comments about living people:
* Issues that are on the wrong process (e.g., templates on the article-deletion page) are simply moved to the proper one.
:''Editors should remove any negative material about living persons that is either unsourced, relies upon sources that do not meet standards specified in ], or is a conjectural interpretation of a source.''
* A page on deletion review should not be listed on a deletion discussion page until the review closes, and a page on a deletion discussion page should not be listed on deletion review until the discussion closes.
* Deletion discussion trumps proposed deletion, so for a page listed on both, deletion discussion takes precedence.
* Pages that meet the ] can be deleted regardless of other circumstances. If a page on a deletion debate is ], the debate is closed.
* If it is doubtful whether a page is or is not speedily deletable, a deletion discussion takes precedence. In practice, this means that a page that had a deletion discussion resulting in "keep" or "no consensus" should not be speedily deleted, although some criteria are exempt from this rule.
* Pages that violate copyright can be deleted regardless of circumstances or earlier discussion.


==Other issues==
=== Decision policy ===
===Access to deleted pages===
At the end of the discussion, if a ] for deletion has been reached, the page will be removed per ]; otherwise the page remains.
{{policy shortcut|WP:DELACCESS}}
{{further information|Misplaced Pages:Viewing and restoring deleted pages}}
]
Because many deleted articles are found to contain defamatory or other legally suspect material, deleted pages are not permitted to be generally viewed. However, they remain in the database (at least temporarily) and are accessible to ], along with their edit history unless they are ], a form of enhanced deletion which, unlike normal deletion, expunges information from any form of usual access even by administrators. Any user with a genuine reason to view a copy of a deleted page may request a ] (or simply ] to supply a copy of the page). Note that these requests are likely to be denied if the content has been deleted on legal grounds (such as defamation or copyright violation), or if no good reason is given for the request.


===<span class="anchor" id="Courtesy blanking"></span>Courtesy blanking of talkpage or deletion debates===
] expands on this and provides a little rationale.
{{policy shortcut|WP:CBLANK}}
From time to time, a discussion will have its content hidden from view based on the judgment of the community, an administrator, or another functionary. This generally is not done except under rare circumstances, such as where public view of the discussion may cause harm to some person or organisation. To avoid having such text in the most recent version and thus being ], the debate will be blanked out of courtesy. For ], the entire debate can be replaced with the {{tl|xfd-privacy}} template. When either courtesy blanking or xfd-blanking is used, the actual content remains accessible via the edit history. In more serious cases, the entire history of the page may be deleted. Courtesy blanking, history blanking, or oversighting should be rare, and should be performed only after due consideration.


On occasion, pages in the ], such as ] and ], will be blanked as a courtesy, for reasons similar to those outlined above.
===Early closure===
If a clear consensus for non-deletion is quickly reached, discussion may be closed before the end of the typical period, for example, a clear consensus for speedy deletion, a clear consensus for a speedy keep, or a consensus for a redirect. The debate should remain ]d on the appropriate deletion page. If the proposed solution has not achieved a very clear consensus, the listing should remain for the full five-day period. Any substantial debate, regardless of how lopsided the keep/delete count may be, implies that an early closing would be a bad idea.


'''How to do this:''' Remove all text from the subpage and then add {{tlxs|Courtesy blanked}}; for deletion discussions, use {{tlxs|xfd-privacy|''article''|''result''}} with the correct parameters.
=== Deletion review and undeletion ===
{{main|Misplaced Pages:Undeletion policy}}


===Revision deletion===
] discussions can lead to ], a task performed by Administrators if there is support or if a page has obviously been deleted out of process. Undeletion of pages is limited to those pages that are kept in the archive. Some older deleted pages are completely inaccessible.
It is possible to delete some parts of a page's history, while leaving the current revision of the page intact, so that readers are unaware of the partial deletion (unless they attempt to visit a deleted ]). Administrators have access to the ] tool, which makes it possible for them to remove selected old revisions of a page (and/or edit summaries or user names). The Revision Deletion policy strictly covers the circumstances in which this is permitted.


Revision Deletion replaces the previous method of ], which involved deleting the entire page and then selectively undeleting/restoring revisions. Selective undeletion still has a few valid uses that Revision Deletion cannot cover (such as complex history merges). However, due to its relative lack of transparency and poor efficiency, selective undeletion is no longer used to remove revisions from page histories.
=== Privacy ===
{{main|Misplaced Pages:Courtesy blanking}}
For privacy, a closed deletion debate may be hidden to avoid public embarassment via search engines.


=== User space === ==Notes==
{{reflist}}
Pages in the User or User Talk namespace can be deleted at that user's request, as well as via ] or ]. However, a user's main talk page and archives thereof are, as a rule, (almost) never deleted. This is because they tend to contain many debates involving or regarding that user.


==See also== ==See also==
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* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] (a failed proposal)
* ]
* ] * ]
* ], ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
{{div col end}}


{{Misplaced Pages policies and guidelines}}
{{Deletion debates navbar}}
{{Administrators' guide|state=autocollapse}}
] ]
] ]


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Latest revision as of 20:43, 18 December 2024

Policy of the English Misplaced Pages about deletion

"WP:DP" and "WP:DEL" redirect here. For other uses, see WP:DP (disambiguation) and WP:DEL (disambiguation).
This page documents an English Misplaced Pages policy.It describes a widely accepted standard that editors should normally follow, though exceptions may apply. Changes made to it should reflect consensus.Shortcuts
This page in a nutshell: Administrators have the ability to delete and undelete articles and other Misplaced Pages pages. These powers are exercised in accordance with established policies and guidelines, and community consensus. There are often alternatives to deletion.
Deletion policies
Deletion discussions
Articles
Templates and modules
Files
Categories
Redirects
Miscellany
Speedy deletion
Proposed deletion

The deletion policy describes how articles, media, and other pages that do not meet the relevant criteria for content of the encyclopedia are identified and removed from Misplaced Pages. On Misplaced Pages, many pages are deleted each day through the processes outlined below.

Deletion of a Misplaced Pages article removes the current version and all previous versions from public view. Page blanking can be performed (or reverted) by any user, but only administrators can perform deletion, view deleted pages, and reverse ("undelete") any deletion. All such actions (other than viewing) are recorded in the deletion log, and deletion statistics are recorded at Misplaced Pages:Deletion statistics. If in doubt as to whether there is consensus to delete a page, administrators will not normally delete it.

Reasons for deletion

Shortcuts See also: Misplaced Pages:Notability § Article content does not determine notability

Reasons for deletion include, but are not limited to, the following (subject to the condition that improvement or deletion of an offending section, if practical, is preferable to deletion of an entire page):

  1. Content that meets at least one of the criteria for speedy deletion
  2. Copyright violations and other material violating Misplaced Pages's non-free content criteria
  3. Vandalism, including inflammatory redirects, pages that exist only to disparage their subject, patent nonsense, or gibberish
  4. Advertising or other spam without any relevant or encyclopedic content
  5. Content forks (unless a merger or redirect is appropriate)
  6. Articles that cannot possibly be attributed to reliable sources, including neologisms, original theories and conclusions, and hoaxes
  7. Articles for which thorough attempts to find reliable sources to verify them have failed
  8. Articles with subjects that fail to meet the relevant notability guidelines (WP:N, WP:GNG, WP:BIO, WP:MUSIC, WP:CORP, and so forth)
  9. Articles that breach Misplaced Pages's policy on biographies of living persons
  10. Redundant or otherwise useless templates
  11. Categories representing overcategorization
  12. Files that are unused, obsolete, or violate the non-free policy
  13. Any other use of the article, template, project, or user namespace that is contrary to the established separate policy for that namespace
  14. Any other content not suitable for an encyclopedia

Alternatives to deletion

Shortcuts

Editing and discussion

Main page: Misplaced Pages:Editing policy

If editing can address all relevant reasons for deletion, this should be done rather than deleting the page. Vandalism to a page's content can be reverted by any user.

Disputes over page content are usually not dealt with by deleting the page, except in severe cases. The content issues should be discussed at the relevant talk page, and other methods of dispute resolution should be used first, such as listing on Misplaced Pages:Requests for comments for further input. Deletion discussions that are really unresolved content disputes may be closed by an uninvolved editor, and referred to the talk page or other appropriate forum.

Shortcut

If an article on a notable topic severely fails the verifiability or neutral point of view policies, it may be reduced to a stub, or completely deleted by consensus at Misplaced Pages:Articles for Deletion.

Disagreement over a policy or guideline is not dealt with by deleting it. Similarly, issues with an inappropriate user page can often be resolved through discussion with the user.

Tagging

Shortcut

A variety of tags can be added to articles to note the problem. Tags, however, are not intended as permanent solutions; they are intended to warn the readers and to allow interested editors to easily locate and fix the problems. Tags are listed here. Some of the more common ones include:

Pages with incorrect names can simply be renamed. Naming disputes are discussed on the articles' talk pages or listed at requested moves.

Be mindful when adding tags to biographies of living persons. Certain tags are known to produce VRT complaints from the article's subject; for instance {{notability}}, because it may be interpreted as Misplaced Pages passing judgement on the person. An alternative is nominating the article for deletion so that consensus may be more quickly established.

Merging

Shortcut

Articles that are short and unlikely to be expanded could be merged into larger articles or lists. For example, information about family members of a celebrity who are not otherwise notable is generally included in, or merged into, the article on that celebrity. Pages about non-notable fictional elements are generally merged into list articles or articles covering the work of fiction in which they appear.

If two pages are duplicates or otherwise redundant, one should be merged and redirected to the other, using the most common, or more general page name. This does not require process or formal debate beforehand.

Note that an outcome of "merge and delete" may potentially cause licensing problems if attribution for the merged content is lost in the process. The essay Misplaced Pages:Merge and delete discusses this, whereas the essay Misplaced Pages:Delete or merge discusses a different case that causes no such licensing problems.

Redirection

Shortcut

A page can be blanked and redirected if there is a suitable page to redirect to, and if the resulting redirect is not inappropriate. If the change is disputed via a reversion, an attempt should be made to reach a consensus before blank-and-redirecting again. Suitable venues for doing so include the article's talk page and Misplaced Pages:Articles for deletion.

Incubation

Shortcut See also: Misplaced Pages:Drafts § Moving articles to draftspace

Recently created articles that have potential, but do not yet meet Misplaced Pages's quality standards, may be moved to the draft namespace ("draftified") for improvement, with the aim of eventually moving them back to the main namespace, optionally via the articles for creation (AfC) process. If drafts are not edited for a period of six months, they are eligible for deletion under criteria for speedy deletion G13. In comparison to user space drafts, the draft namespace makes these proto-articles easier to find and work on collaboratively. Moving to user space is still preferred for templates that seem to serve a single editor's needs or essays that only reflect a particular editor's viewpoint. Drafts in user space are not subject to G13 deletion unless submitted to AfC.

Shortcut

Incubation must not be used as a "backdoor to deletion". Because abandoned drafts are deleted after six months, moving articles to draft space should generally be done only for newly created articles (typically as part of new page review) or as the result of a deletion discussion. Older articles—as a rule of thumb those older than 90 days—should not be draftified without prior consensus at AfD.

Other projects

Shortcut See also: Misplaced Pages:Transwiki log

Some articles do not belong on Misplaced Pages but fit one of the Wikimedia sister projects. They may be copied there using transwiki functionality before considering their merger or deletion. If an article to be deleted is likely to be re-created under the same name, it may be turned into a soft redirect to a more appropriate sister project's article.

Please note that articles that seem transwiki-appropriate to editors of the English Misplaced Pages may not be:

Processes

Main page: Misplaced Pages:Deletion process See also: Misplaced Pages:Guide to image deletionShortcuts

There are four basic processes for deletion and two to review and overturn the outcome of these processes and other deletions.

Copyright violations

For legal reasons, Misplaced Pages cannot host content that is in violation of copyright.

  • Where to find them: Misplaced Pages:Copyright problems and Misplaced Pages:Files for discussion
  • How to do this: See Misplaced Pages:Files for discussion. For other pages, remove the violation if possible, or edit the page to replace its entire content with {{subst:copyvio}}. For blatant, whole-page copyright violation, you can simply tag it for speedy deletion with {{db-copyvio|url=...}} after checking that there are no non-copyvio versions in the page history.
  • If you disagree: Try to contact the authors of the text or image and see if they are willing to release their work (1) under an acceptable license (for text, this is CC BY-SA and GFDL co-licensed, CC BY-SA alone, or CC BY-SA-compatible), or (2) into the public domain. Permission to use a work "on Misplaced Pages only" or "for non-commercial use only" isn't enough, as it is incompatible with our license.
  • Renominations: Recreations of copyrighted content are speedily deleted, as below. It is disruptive to persist in recreating such content.

Speedy deletion

Pages can be deleted without any discussion if they meet one or more of the criteria for speedy deletion. Speedy deletion is meant to remove pages that are so obviously inappropriate for Misplaced Pages that they have no chance of surviving a deletion discussion. Speedy deletion should not be used except in the most obvious cases.

If a page has survived a prior deletion discussion, it must not be speedy deleted except for newly discovered copyright violations. Pages currently on proposed deletion or deletion discussion (see below) may be deleted through speedy deletion.

  • Where to find them: A list of all pages flagged for speedy deletion can be found in Category:Candidates for speedy deletion.
  • How to do this: Administrators can delete such pages on sight. Other editors can request speedy deletion by editing the relevant page to add a speedy deletion template to the top of the page.
  • If you disagree: Anyone except a page's creator may contest the speedy deletion of a page by removing the deletion notice from the page. If a page you created is tagged for speedy deletion, you may either improve the page or explain your reasoning on the relevant talk page. The page may still be deleted if it meets the speedy deletion criteria. If a page has been speedily deleted and there is disagreement over whether or not it should have been, this is discussed at deletion review, described below.
  • Renominations: Either a page fits the speedy deletion criteria or it does not. If there is a dispute over whether a page meets the criteria, the issue is typically taken to deletion discussions, mentioned below, rather than being deleted.

Proposed deletion

An editor who believes a page obviously and uncontroversially does not belong in an encyclopedia can propose its deletion. Such a page can be deleted by any administrator if, after seven days, no one objects to the proposed deletion. Once there is an objection or a deletion discussion, a page may not be proposed for deletion again. This process only applies to pages in the main namespace (article namespace) and the file namespace. Redirects are not eligible for proposed deletion (for information on deleting redirects, see Misplaced Pages:Redirect § When should we delete a redirect?).

  • Where to find them: A list of all pages flagged for proposed deletion can be found in Category:Proposed deletion, as well as in an automatically generated summary table.
  • How to do this: Edit the page to add the following text to the top: {{subst:prod|reason}}, writing your reasoning in the "reason" field.
  • If you disagree: Any editor who disagrees with a proposed deletion can simply remove the tag. Even after the page is deleted, any editor can have the page restored by any administrator simply by asking. In both cases, the editor is encouraged to fix the perceived problem with the page. It is also desirable to add {{old prod}} at the top of the article's talk page (or beneath WikiProject banners).
  • Renominations: Once the proposed deletion of a page has been objected to by anyone, it may not be proposed for deletion again. If an editor still feels the page ought to be deleted, a deletion discussion should be used, as indicated below.

Proposed deletion of biographies of living people

Further information: Misplaced Pages:Proposed deletion of biographies of living people

The proposed deletion process for unsourced biographies requires all biographies of living persons to have at least one source in any form (as references, external links, etc., reliable or otherwise). Once the article is tagged in this manner, the {{prod blp}} tag may not be removed until at least one reliable source that supports at least one statement about the subject is provided. If none is forthcoming, the article may be deleted after seven days. This does not affect any other deletion process.

Deletion discussion

Main page: Misplaced Pages:Articles for deletion § How to nominate a single page for deletion Shortcuts

Pages that do not fall in the above three categories may be deleted after community discussion at one of the deletion discussion venues, the results of which may be reviewed after the fact at Misplaced Pages:Deletion review (see below). This includes contested speedy or proposed deletions. Here, editors who wish to participate can give their opinions on what should be done with the page.

These processes are not decided through a head count, so participants are each encouraged to explain their opinion and refer to policy. The discussion lasts at least seven full days. If there is consensus to delete pages, this is done afterwards by an administrator. A nomination that gets little response after the discussion period has ended can be relisted if the closing editor believes that more time would be likely to generate a clearer consensus.

It is considered inappropriate to ask people outside of Misplaced Pages to come to the discussion to sway its outcome; such meatpuppet comments may be ignored. They are not removed, but may be tagged with {{spa}}, noting that a user "has made few or no other edits". In extreme cases, a deletion debate can be semi-protected.

It is also inappropriate to request deletion because of an editorial dispute. Such disputes are not resolved by deleting the whole page; instead, use dispute resolution.

  • Where to find them: There are separate processes for articles, categories, files, redirects, templates, and everything else.
  • How to do this: Follow the instructions at the top of the relevant process page.
  • If you disagree: Go to the relevant process page and explain why you disagree. Do not remove the tag from the page. For more information on this process, read the guide to deletion.
  • Renominations: After a deletion debate concludes and there is no consensus or the consensus is in favor of keeping the page, users should allow a reasonable amount of time to pass before nominating the same page for deletion again, to give editors time to improve the page. Renominations shortly after the earlier debate are generally closed quickly. It can be disruptive to repeatedly nominate a page in the hope of getting a different outcome.

Page deletion

The deletion of a page based on a deletion discussion should be done only when there is consensus to delete. Therefore, if there is no rough consensus, the page is kept and is again subject to normal editing, merging, or redirecting as appropriate. In certain circumstances, poorly-attended deletion discussion may be treated as proposed deletions (PRODs).

Deletion of biographies and BLPs

See also: Misplaced Pages:Biographies of living persons § Summary deletion, creation prevention, and courtesy blankingShortcuts

Discussions concerning biographical articles of relatively unknown, non-public figures, where the subject has requested deletion and there is no clear consensus to keep may be closed as delete. Poorly sourced biographical articles of unknown, non-public figures, where the discussions have no editor opposing the deletion, may be deleted after discussions have been completed. If a deletion discussion of any biographical article (of whether a well-known or less-known individual) has received few or no comments from any editor besides the nominator, then the closing editor may generally treat the nomination as a PROD.

Deletion of drafts

Further information: Misplaced Pages:Drafts § Deleting drafts

If an article isn't acceptable in mainspace, it can be moved to the draft namespace; and if it sits there without being worked on for six months, it will be eligible for speedy deletion.

Deletion review

If you believe that a page was wrongly deleted, or should have been deleted but wasn't, or that a deletion discussion was improperly closed, you should discuss this with the person who performed the deletion, or closed the debate, on their talk page. If this fails to resolve the issue, you may be able to request review of the closure at Misplaced Pages:Deletion review.

If a page was obviously deleted "out of process" (per this policy), an administrator may choose to undelete it immediately. In such a case, the administrator who deleted the page should be informed. However, such undeletions without gaining consensus may be viewed as disruptive, so they should be undertaken with care.

If an article was deleted for lacking content or for having inappropriate content (which applies to most speedy deletions) and you wish to create a better article about the same subject, you can simply go ahead and do so, with no need for review. It is especially wasteful to go to deletion review over an unsourced stub when the alternative of creating a sourced article is available.

The deletion review process is not decided solely by head count but by consensus. The review normally lasts for seven days, sometimes longer if the outcome is unclear.

Overturned deletions may go to a deletion discussion if someone still wishes to delete and chooses to nominate.

  • Where to find them: Misplaced Pages:Deletion review
  • How to do this: Follow the instructions at the top of the page.
  • If you disagree: Go to the review page and explain why you disagree.
  • Renominations: As with deletion discussions, a certain amount of time should pass between repeated requests for deletion review, and these requests should be carefully considered in light of policy. Renominations that lack new arguments or new evidence are likely to be closed quickly.

Undeletion

Shortcut "WP:UDP" redirects here. For undisclosed paid editing, see Misplaced Pages:Paid-contribution disclosure.

In the case of pages deleted as a result of summary decisions and not following community discussions, undeletion may be requested at Misplaced Pages:Requests for undeletion. This serves two primary functions: the restoration of content deleted without discussion, and the userfication of content that is unfit for restoration. Requests for undeletion should be used to appeal most instances of proposed deletion and some speedy deletions. However, appeals of the outcomes of deletion discussions and other deletion matters requiring community review should be made at Misplaced Pages:Deletion review. Be aware that pages restored to articlespace may immediately be subject to a deletion discussion.

  • Where to find them: Misplaced Pages:Requests for undeletion
  • How to do this: Follow the instructions at the top of the page.
  • If you disagree: Take the matter to Misplaced Pages:Deletion review
  • Renominations: Unlike deletion discussions, there is no suggested waiting period between requests, although requests that have been declined should not be resubmitted unless circumstances such as undeletion norms or the motivation for undeletion have changed.

Process interaction

  • Issues that are on the wrong process (e.g., templates on the article-deletion page) are simply moved to the proper one.
  • A page on deletion review should not be listed on a deletion discussion page until the review closes, and a page on a deletion discussion page should not be listed on deletion review until the discussion closes.
  • Deletion discussion trumps proposed deletion, so for a page listed on both, deletion discussion takes precedence.
  • Pages that meet the criteria for speedy deletion can be deleted regardless of other circumstances. If a page on a deletion debate is speedied, the debate is closed.
  • If it is doubtful whether a page is or is not speedily deletable, a deletion discussion takes precedence. In practice, this means that a page that had a deletion discussion resulting in "keep" or "no consensus" should not be speedily deleted, although some criteria are exempt from this rule.
  • Pages that violate copyright can be deleted regardless of circumstances or earlier discussion.

Other issues

Access to deleted pages

Shortcut Further information: Misplaced Pages:Viewing and restoring deleted pages
Deleted pages look like this to administrators

Because many deleted articles are found to contain defamatory or other legally suspect material, deleted pages are not permitted to be generally viewed. However, they remain in the database (at least temporarily) and are accessible to administrators, along with their edit history unless they are oversighted, a form of enhanced deletion which, unlike normal deletion, expunges information from any form of usual access even by administrators. Any user with a genuine reason to view a copy of a deleted page may request a temporary review (or simply ask an administrator to supply a copy of the page). Note that these requests are likely to be denied if the content has been deleted on legal grounds (such as defamation or copyright violation), or if no good reason is given for the request.

Courtesy blanking of talkpage or deletion debates

Shortcut

From time to time, a discussion will have its content hidden from view based on the judgment of the community, an administrator, or another functionary. This generally is not done except under rare circumstances, such as where public view of the discussion may cause harm to some person or organisation. To avoid having such text in the most recent version and thus being indexed by search engines, the debate will be blanked out of courtesy. For deletion discussions, the entire debate can be replaced with the {{xfd-privacy}} template. When either courtesy blanking or xfd-blanking is used, the actual content remains accessible via the edit history. In more serious cases, the entire history of the page may be deleted. Courtesy blanking, history blanking, or oversighting should be rare, and should be performed only after due consideration.

On occasion, pages in the project namespace, such as requests for adminship and requests for arbitration, will be blanked as a courtesy, for reasons similar to those outlined above.

How to do this: Remove all text from the subpage and then add {{subst:Courtesy blanked}}; for deletion discussions, use {{subst:xfd-privacy|article|result}} with the correct parameters.

Revision deletion

It is possible to delete some parts of a page's history, while leaving the current revision of the page intact, so that readers are unaware of the partial deletion (unless they attempt to visit a deleted old page revision). Administrators have access to the Revision Deletion tool, which makes it possible for them to remove selected old revisions of a page (and/or edit summaries or user names). The Revision Deletion policy strictly covers the circumstances in which this is permitted.

Revision Deletion replaces the previous method of selective undeletion, which involved deleting the entire page and then selectively undeleting/restoring revisions. Selective undeletion still has a few valid uses that Revision Deletion cannot cover (such as complex history merges). However, due to its relative lack of transparency and poor efficiency, selective undeletion is no longer used to remove revisions from page histories.

Notes

  1. Note that there is a way for a non-admin to appear in the deletion log, see WP:MOR.
  2. The current wording is from January 2020. The suitability of AfD was clarified in a June 2018 RfC and further discussed in 2020.
  3. See this August–September 2020 Village Pump discussion, as well as Misplaced Pages:Drafts § Moving articles to draft space.
  4. Discussed in Misplaced Pages:Village Pump (policy)#Proposal to ban draftifying articles more than 90 days old without consensus.
  5. ^ Exceptions include discussions that appear controversial and articles that have previously been subject to proposed deletion (PROD). See Misplaced Pages:Deletion process § No quorum for full details.

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