Why 90% of Wikipedia Pages Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It

Most people are surprised when they learn that nearly 90% of all newly submitted Wikipedia pages get rejected or deleted. Even CEOs, academics, and recognized industry experts face rejection—not because they aren’t notable, but because the rules of Wikipedia are misunderstood.

If you’re planning to create a biography or company page, understanding why so many pages fail is your biggest advantage. This guide explains the most common reasons Wikipedia pages get rejected and what you can do to ensure your article gets approved the first time.

1. The #1 Reason for Rejection: Lack of Notability

The most common reason pages get declined is simple: the subject is not considered “notable” according to Wikipedia’s standards.

Wikipedia requires significant coverage in reliable, independent sources.

This means:

✔ National newspapers

✔ Reputable magazines

✔ Books from established publishers

✔ Academic journals

✔ Independent media profiles

What does NOT count:

✖ Your website

✖ Press releases

✖ Sponsored content

✖ Paid PR articles

✖ Company blogs

✖ Social media

Even people with impressive careers can get rejected if journalists haven’t written about them in independent publications.

How to Avoid This

Before drafting anything, do a notability check:

• Can you list at least 8–12 reliable, published, independent articles about you or your company?

• Are these articles in respected publications?

• Do they discuss your work in depth?

If not, the page will likely be rejected.

2. Promotional Tone Triggers Instant Rejection

Wikipedia is not a place for marketing language, achievements without citations, or positive adjectives.

Common phrases that cause rejection:

❌ “renowned entrepreneur”

❌ “leading expert”

❌ “pioneer in his field”

❌ “best-selling author” (without proof)

❌ “industry leader”

Even if these statements are true, they need references. Wikipedia’s tone must always be:

✔ neutral

✔ factual

✔ evidence-based

✔ encyclopedic

How to Avoid This

Write like a journalist, not like a marketer.Replace opinions with verifiable facts.

Instead of:

❌ “She is a top researcher in neuroscience.”

Use:

✔ “Her research has been cited over 4,500 times, and she has published 32 peer-reviewed papers.”

Tone matters as much as sources.

3. Conflict of Interest Violations

Wikipedia discourages subjects from writing about themselves.Pages written by:

• the person themselves

• an employee

• a PR team without transparency

are often flagged and rejected.

Editors can tell when a page is biased or written with self-promotion in mind.

How to Avoid This

Follow these rules:

✔ Use only independent sources

✔ Stick to facts, not opinions

✔ Avoid any promotional material

✔ Allow neutral editors to review the article

If hiring a professional Wikipedia consultant, ensure they follow Wikipedia-compliant, transparent practices.

4. Poor Quality or Insufficient Sources

Even if the subject is notable, the article can still be rejected if the sources are:

• too few

• not independent

• not reliable

• not substantial enough

• press releases or paid PR

• interviews published on low-authority websites

Wikipedia editors evaluate source quality very strictly.

How to Avoid This

Prioritize strong citations:

• National newspapers

• Academic citations

• Books

• Well-known industry publications

Avoid weak sources entirely.

5. Using Information That Is Not Published Anywhere

A very common mistake:

People add details that are not mentioned anywhere online.

Wikipedia cannot include “private knowledge.” Everything must be cited.

Example: If your biography says you “grew revenue by 300%” or “won an award,” but no independent source confirms it, Wikipedia will reject the page.

How to Avoid This

Ask yourself: “Can I hyperlink every sentence to a reliable external source?” If not, don’t include it.

6. Articles That Are Too Short or Poorly Structured

Wikipedia pages need a proper structure:

✔ Lead section

✔ Early life or background

✔ Career

✔ Research or contributions

✔ Awards

✔ Publications (for academics)

✔ References section

Many rejected pages are just short bios or resume summaries.Wikipedia requires well-written, well-sourced, encyclopedic content.

How to Avoid This

Follow Wikipedia formatting and write an article that stands on its own—even if someone has never heard of you.

7. Creating the Page Too Early

This is one of the biggest hidden reasons pages get rejected.

People try to create a page before they actually qualify. If your media coverage is new, limited, or not substantial, editors mark the page as “too soon” or “not notable yet.”

How to Avoid This

Build your notability first:

• Earn independent press (not PR)

• Speak at notable events

• Publish research

• Win recognized awards

• Get interviewed by reputable outlets

Once notability is clear, the approval rate skyrockets.

Conclusion: Wikipedia Rejection Is Preventable

Most Wikipedia pages don’t fail because the person isn’t accomplished. They fail because the rules were not followed.

Here’s the simple formula for avoiding rejection:

✔ Build strong notability

✔ Use reliable sources

✔ Maintain neutral tone

✔ Avoid conflict of interest issues

✔ Follow Wikipedia structure

✔ Only include verifiable information

If you do these correctly, your page stands an excellent chance of approval.