This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

If you came here, you're probably wondering why I nominated your article for deletion. Below are some of the criteria I use when reviewing new articles that I hope will explain why I have done this:

Quick-fail list:

Ad

• If your article reads like an ad, I will nominate it for deletion. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a place to advertise your company for free. Wikipedia also has guidelines about notability that may be found here. Even if you think your personal yard work business in Kansas is notable, it probably isn't. Also, if your business does happen to be notable, it still is not acceptable to write from anything except a neutral point of view and an "ad-like" article is never, let me repeat that, never neutral. Even if you think the sentence "Joe's Computer Barn is a world-renowned provider of advanced technology solutions to hundreds of clients across the UK" is neutral, it isn't. Period. An example of an article about a business that is written correctly may be found here.

Band

• If your article is about a band that you are a member of and/or has been recently formed and/or will be making their big break onto the music scene soon, I will nominate it for deletion. First of all, Wikipedia is not a crystal ball and you have no way of knowing if your band will be successful or not (and history shows it probably won't be). Also, until your band has had recognition or coverage by high-profile music rating charts and/or the mainstream media, it fails the notability guidelines listed here. Finally, unless your band's existence and/or achievements can be verified with citations to reliable sources, I will nominate the article for deletion.

The Man/The Guy

• If your article says someone is the man/is cool/is hot/has way more girlfriends than another guy/has scored 110 points in a basketball game/has scored 350 goals in one football (soccer) season/will be doing any of the above/anything similar to the above, I will nominate it for deletion. Why? because he's not/he doesn't/he hasn't/he won't and he never will.

The Woman/The hottie

• If your article says someone is the woman/is cool/is hot/has way more boyfriends than another girl/has scored 110 points in a basketball game/has scored 350 goals in one football (soccer) season/will be doing any of the above/anything similar to the above, I will nominate it for deletion. Why? because she's not/she doesn't/she hasn't/she won't and she never will.

she/he/it sucks

• If your article disparages/attacks/makes fun of/unfavorably compares someone to someone else, I will nominate it for deletion. The only exception to this is if all the statements are cited to reliable sources.

nobodies

• If your article does not make any assertion of nobility for the subject and/or a Google search turns up little or no results on the subject, I most likely will nominate it for deletion. For this one, I leave some leeway in certain cases, but most of the time, I will nominate it for deletion according to the notability guidelines here.

other

• If your article does not fit any of the above, I probably nominated it in accordance to one of the other criteria listed at this page.

Still wondering?

If you think your article does not fit in with any of the criteria, please contact me about it on my talk page. However, if you do this, please remember to always assume good faith and keep in mind that I am human and I do make mistakes from time to time. Also, my nominating your page for deletion is not an attempt to attack you. I am simply trying to help keep Wikipedia's articles accurate and verifiable. Also, before contacting me, please read over the following things you can do to ensure that I will almost definitely not listen to your complaints:

long-time user

• If you come to me and explain that you have been writing hundreds of articles for a long period of time in another account and none of them have been deleted, I will not believe you. If what you are saying is true, you would contact me using said other account so you can demonstrate that what you are saying is true by allowing me to peruse your contributions.

attack

If you attack me for nominating your article for deletion, I will not be very inclined to help you. I think this goes pretty much without saying. Also, even if you are correct that my tagging was not appropriate, comments like this are a violation of Wikipedia's civility guidelines.