Is wikipedia a reliable source?

@Jacruz25 (1124)
Philippines
October 28, 2011 11:50pm CST
I always use wikipedia first if I want to know something because it contains almost any article. But sometimes other articles has wrong grammar or spelling, I know that the information from wikipedia are from it's members and some members can even edit certain articles. I'm not a member of wikipedia but I do believe most of its articles are accurate. What do you think about wikipedia? Do you thrust this site?
2 people like this
17 responses
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
Yes there are a lot of articles in wiki that can be trusted and contains reliable information. I am not a wiki member as well and most of the time I do check out wikipedia whenever I need to know information on things. However, I also find errors in grammars as well as information that was provided. One example was the movie plot about Harry Potter 7 where one contributor actually mixed and messed the story up by combining and integrating the characters and story of Twilight series with Harry Potter. That was the first time I thought wikipedia isn't always a reliable one. I would now search other articles as well to to check wiki's accuracy.
1 person likes this
@mantis36 (4219)
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
there are plenty secrets that happened on this earth that must be kept secret as always..... or adding some information's that are not true in order to fill the missing gap...
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
29 Oct 11
It is touch and go on Wikipedia since most if updated by regular people like you and me. I would read it but then read a few more sites to make sure it is correct.
1 person likes this
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
26 May 12
YEs, i think it is a very reliable source. I even get my answers for definition assignment and research assignment there. they are very fast in updating facts and topics are well explained.
@Jacruz25 (1124)
• Philippines
11 Jun 12
well most information in wiki is reliable indeed. members of wiki are the one responsible in providing, editing and updating the information so sometimes other information might not be accurate.
@mantis36 (4219)
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
Wikipedia is in the cyberspace reliable source of information.... but in the traditional book reliable source of information is the Book of Britannica Encyclopedia....
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
True, I still find the Encyclopedia more reliable than any other source of information especially those we found on the net. Wiki has to have a moderator before allowing someone to publish something on it.
@vasumathi (436)
• India
29 Oct 11
According to me " Wikipedia is the most reliable site with trusted information "
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
29 Oct 11
Now I feel I should cite at least three sources (one being wikipedia) before quoting info on something. But how I can be sure the first three hits on the search engine are the ones to us; should that be 4,5,6 sources. How do I know they are correct? I guess it depends on the example. Examples? - well perhaps that will come up in discussions :-)
@wulania (1524)
• Indonesia
29 Oct 11
i think 90% reliable. most article is good and hve well known source. but some, 10% may be, have no good source written for cheating by some writer
@Jacruz25 (1124)
• Philippines
31 Oct 11
Or maybe around 90-95% reliable. You are right other articles are just made by members and i don't think those are really reliable.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
31 Oct 11
Hi Jacruz! I trust Wikipedia. I do know that some information there are not accurate so I'm just careful on what information to believe and what to take. I have gotten a lot of reliable information from this site and so far, I have not encountered false, malicious, suspicious information. Although some people are saying that Wikipedia is not a trusted site, I still stand by my own opinion backed up by my experience.
@youless (112096)
• Guangzhou, China
30 Oct 11
I am just a reader of wikipedia. I also think that most articles from wikipedia are accurate. At least I haven't found something wrong with it yet. As to the wrong grammar or spelling, it may be a little problem only. I love China
@GemmaR (8517)
29 Oct 11
There is a lot of very good and useful information on that website, but the only problem is that anyone can contribute to the pages on there, and there's no way to be able to tell if the information that you're reading is correct or not. Whenever I'm trying to research something, I will use that website to begin my search, and will then go online and find websites which are more specialised in the information that I'm trying to find. However, it is certainly a very good start to find information on anything that you might be interested in.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
29 Oct 11
Wikipedia is written by people who have a great interest in some subject. So we all assume is that they are a specialist in that subject and that what they write is true. But everything is changing so is a lot of info. The writer has to keep it updated if not you can might read old or false info. Still I do believe it's one of the best inventions and next to wikipedia you can always check other info on the internet. Which I would advice to do. It's good to ask yourself questions about how or what. Some things are just facts others are born that way or the result of a test/investigation. I don't visit it frequently (search on the internet first) but that is not because I don't trust the site. I always check in many ways, that is me.
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
"Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit." Just by reading that, I do not think you could always rely on wikipedia. Yes, maybe some information are true, but who knows? The only one who could confirm if there are errors or none in a certain article are experts. And we are no experts since we need internet to gather information. Since you are a Filipino I'm sure you are familiar with the incident happened to Carlo J, Caparas before. He has an article in wikipedia donning his talent and expertise in comics writings until some pranksters edited and vandalized his article. This is one good example why wikipedia cannot be relied on at all times.
@Leon_92 (56)
• Italy
29 Oct 11
I' don't think so... Anyone can write what they whant.... You have to check before you trust a wikipedia information.
@Steelux (10)
• United States
29 Oct 11
Well, sometimes the information in WIkipedia is wrong or misspelled, but it's reliable, at least that's what I think.
• United States
30 Oct 11
Most Articles on Wikipedia are Reliable.Although They are edited by their members,Wikipedia bans accounts for displaying false information knowingly.Some mistakes are treated with a grain of salt,but people who twist and distort the truth purposefully will have their accounts discontinued.If You Have Any Doubts As To The Accuracy Of An Article,Use The References At The Bottom.
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
I always use Wiki too and it's been helpful if I just want to quick search about something. However, there are really just SOME pages that are not reliable. I've seen one time about the page of an actress, it's full of wrong grammar and spelling.
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
29 Oct 11
The problem with wiki(s)is they are written by the members that contribute to the publication and therefore subject to inaccuracies. But has that not always been the case. The internet may have changed the overall dynamics by making publishing more available but before it was present, someone had to do it and who is to say they were a more reliable source? One thing that does keep the process on its toes however is published opinion about the information.
• United States
29 Oct 11
I use wiki a lot when I'm curious about something. I have found a few errors in some dates or a few tidbits, but overall I trust the site. If I needed information for a report, or needed some information that was accurate, I would not quote wikipedia. However, at the bottom of the articles it posts the resources, and often times those websites are factual and accurate. So wiki if you aren't sure where to find some information, wiki could be a good place to start.