Wikipedia Edit-a-thon: Getting Started

Wikipedia is designed to make editing very approachable for new users. When you create your account, Wikipedia will automatically offer to take you to a suggested article for editing.

If you do decide to edit the article that is suggested for you, this will launch a guided tour of the editing process, which can make the process easier if you aren't sure how you can contribute. This process also emphasizes how you can become a Wikipedia editor without needing extensive background knowledge in any particular field.

Do you prefer to learn through games? Check out the Wikipedia Adventure to learn to edit while you play!

Creating a User Page will help you to get involved with the community of Wikipedia editors

• A User Page is also a helpful step in ensuring that other Wikipedia users can contact via your User Page to discuss changes you make.
• It is also the first step to ensuring that your edits are not deleted. 
• Create a User Page by clikcing on your username and then clicking on the first option, which says "Start the User:______ page."  

The simplest way to edit Wikipedia content is using the Visual Editor. This tool allows you to edit Wikipedia articles by clicking on the Edit tab to the right of the Edit Source tab. 

If you would prefer, you can edit Wikipedia content using the Edit Source tab that appears at the top of each page.

You can do this even without creating an account, though if you do not log into an account, your IP Address will be recorded and made public with your edits. If you choose to edit Wikipedia this way, you will need to use wiki markup or wikicode to make changes. Wikipedia maintains a list of basic wiki markup syntax in their help section and there's also this great cheatsheet. While the learning curve for this approach is greater, it will also give you somewhat greater control over your edits.