Wikipedia:Compare Criteria Good v. Featured
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here are the standards for good articles and featured articles lined up, side-by-side.
A good article is a satisfactory article that has the following attributes:
- 1. Well written. Clear prose and layout that complies with certain aspects of the manual.
- 2. Accurate and verifiable. Sources are referenced, and cited where necessary.
- 3. Broad. Major topics are covered without going into unnecessary detail.
- 4. Neutral.
- 5. Stable.
- 6. Images. Appropriate with fair use rationale. Images are provided where possible, but lack of images is not failing criterion.
A featured article exemplifies our very best work and professional standards of writing and presentation. It has the following attributes:
- 1. Professionally written. Engaging/brilliant prose, comprehensive, factually accurate, neutral and stable.
- 2. Style standards. Complies with the manual; has (a) a concise summarizing lead, (b) hierarchical headings, (c) consistently formatted inline citations.
- 3. Images. Appropriate with fair use rationale.
- 4. Length. Appropriate length, staying focused on the main topic without going into unnecessary detail.
[edit] Similarities
- The neutrality and stability requirements are identical.
- Both articles should stay focused on the main topic without going into unnecessary detail.
- There is no length requirement in either set of criteria. FAs tend to be long, and the GA system was originally designed to recognise excellent short articles.
- Both require factual accuracy and verifiability.
[edit] Differences
- Featured articles must be our very best work; good articles are merely satisfactory.
- A good article must be reasonably well written; a featured article must have a professional standard of writing that is engaging, even brilliant.
- A good article must comply with only six style guidelines; featured articles must comply with all style standards.
- A featured article must be comprehensive; a good article must be broad. The comprehensive standard requires that every main point have elaboration and detail; the broad standard merely requires coverage of main points.
- Featured articles are usually subject to greater scrutiny in regard to factual accuracy and verifiability. In particular the inline citation requirements are stricter.
