Start doing research on most any topic, and it’s likely a Wikipedia page will pop up on the first page of search results. This highly-popular online encyclopedia is a vast source of information with a huge media library of audio files and visual images. It’s free to use and accepts input from anyone on the Internet. It’s a great Web site, and it’s got the traffic to prove it. But at the end of any online search, Wikipedia isn’t a truly reliable source for freelance writers who need to verify facts and research their articles. Find out why.
Wikipedia, the Online Encyclopedia
Wikipedia isn’t just a Web site - it’s a truly fantastic idea. It’s an entire community of information-sharing and knowledge-gathering, media delights and little bits of interesting information. But it’s also extremely unreliable. Because a Wikipedia entry can be created by anyone at any time and information can be changed at will, the facts might not always be accurate. In freelance writing, even a little inaccuracy is too much.
This free-for-all online encyclopedia is tempting because it’s so easy to find and known for being somewhat right most of the time, but Wikipedia isn’t a reliable source. Instead of chancing it by researching articles and other pieces of freelance writing on this site, find others that can provide accurate facts.
Tips for Freelance Writers: Finding Reliable Resources
Freelance writers must constantly prove themselves. It’s important for these professionals to present accurate, interesting and well-researched articles, blog posts and other pieces as they are commissioned. Without reliable resources, it’s impossible to create these products. It’s not good enough to trust Wikipedia and other sketchy sites - learn more about the right places to look for facts.
- Alternative online encyclopedias. While Wikipedia may not always be a clear representation of the facts, there are many alternative online encyclopedia about which the opposite can be said. Columbia online, for example, contains the same information found in the print version of their reference books.
- Reputable articles. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and many, many other publications provide online articles chock-full of factual information.
- Census Bureaus. Some governments, like the United States, provide searchable databases of their census records. When statistics are needed, there is no source more reliable than the national census.
When using specific resources to create an article or any other piece of freelance writing, it’s a good idea to include this as a source in the piece. To avoid any mistakes or misinformation, double- and triple-check information for accuracy. Good research is part of good writing, so take the time to get it done.
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