Wikipedia:Trivia sections
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This guideline is a part of the English Wikipedia's Manual of Style. Use common sense in applying it; it will have occasional exceptions. Please ensure that any edits to this page reflect consensus. |
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This page in a nutshell: Sections with lists of miscellaneous information (such as "trivia" sections) should be avoided as an article develops. Such information is better presented in an organized way. |
Avoid creating lists of miscellaneous information. A number of articles contain lists of isolated information, which are often grouped into their own section, labeled "Trivia", "Notes" (not to be confused with "Notes" sections which store footnotes), "Facts", "Miscellanea", "Other information", etc. This style guideline deals with the way in which these facts are represented in an article, not with whether the information contained within them is actually trivia, or whether trivia belongs in Wikipedia.
Trivia sections should be avoided. If they must exist, they should in most cases be considered temporary, until a better method of presentation can be determined. Lists of miscellaneous information can be useful for developing a new article, as they represent an easy way for novice contributors to add information without having to keep in mind article organization or presentation; they can just add a new fact to the list. As articles grow, however, these lists may become increasingly disorganized and difficult to read. A better way to organize an article is to provide a logical grouping and ordering of facts that gives an integrated presentation, providing context and smooth transitions, whether in text, list, or table.
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[edit] Guidance
Trivia sections should not simply be removed from articles in all cases. It may be possible to integrate some items into the article text. Some facts may belong in existing sections, while others may warrant a new section. Integrate trivia items into the body of the article if appropriate. Otherwise, see if there are sources for the effect of the topic on popular culture and consider using the items as a basis for an article that discusses that effect. Items that duplicate material already contained elsewhere in the article, cannot be supported by reliable sources, or are not of significant importance to the subject matter can be removed in most cases.
It may be necessary to perform research to give each fact some context or to add references. Some entries may be speculative or factually incorrect, and should be removed; some may fall outside the scope of the article and should be moved to other articles; and others, such as "how-to" material or tangential/irrelevant facts, may fall outside Wikipedia's scope and should be removed altogether.
[edit] What this guideline is not
There are a number of pervasive misunderstandings about this guideline and the course of action it suggests:
- This guideline does not suggest removing trivia sections, or moving them to the talk page. If information is otherwise suitable, it is better that it be poorly presented than not presented at all.
- This guideline does not suggest always avoiding lists in favor of prose. Some information is better presented in list format.
- This guideline does not suggest the inclusion or exclusion of any information; it only gives style recommendations. Issues of inclusion are addressed by content policies.
[edit] Not all list sections are trivia sections
In this guideline, the term "trivia section" refers to a section's content, not its name. A trivia section is one that contains a disorganized and "unselective" list. However, a selectively populated list with a relatively narrow theme is not necessarily trivia, and can be the best way to present some types of information.
[edit] Other policies apply
Due to the nature of trivia section content in other publications (such as IMDb), it may be important to note that even when trivia sections are present in Wikipedia articles, their content must still be maintained in accordance with Wikipedia's other policies. Wikipedia article sections, including trivia sections, must not contain speculation, rumor, invented "facts", or libel. An item's degree of potential public interest will not excuse it from being subject to rules like verifiability, neutral point-of-view, or no original research (among others). Also remember that it is always best practice to cite sources when adding new facts to any section, which includes trivia sections.
[edit] Example
Here is an example of the type of "list of miscellaneous facts" that should be avoided in Wikipedia articles. The facts themselves are not the issue here: the problem is with their organization.
- Facts about Monroe
- Before college, Monroe was a classmate of future U. S. Supreme Court justice John Marshall.
- During the Revolutionary War, Monroe dropped out of college and never returned to earn a degree.
- Monrovia is named after Monroe; it is the only foreign city named after a US President.
- A famous quote of Monroe's: "The best form of government is that which is most likely to prevent the greatest sum of evil."
- Monroe, as president, saw five states admitted to the union.
See James Monroe for how these facts can be better organized, without a trivia section.
