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How to Create a Good Article

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Have you ever wondered how to write an article as good as the ones that are featured on the home page? This article will instruct you on how to produce something as good as -or better than- a feature article.


  1. 1
    Think of the topic you want to write your article about. Writing about topics that are relevant to your interests is always a good start, and makes the article more accurate. Write about something that inspires you, or that you like to do.
  2. 2
    Always remember proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. The mechanics are very important when it comes to writing an article that people want to read. Please, for the sake of the sanity of Grammar Nazis everywhere, write carefully.
  3. 3
    Use elevated diction. "What's that?" you may ask. Elevated diction means, simply put, the "big words." Flaunting a wide vocabulary is acceptable in most articles and topics.
  4. 4
    Describe it for them. Use descriptive terms and phrases to further explain what you're instructing them to do. Your audience can't read your mind, so when you say, "put the thingy in the metal hot box," they have no idea what you mean. Instead, say, "carefully place the bread in the toaster," or something to that effect.
  5. 5
    Don't write an article if you don't know what you're doing. Writing articles about something you're totally unfamiliar with is pointless. Why would you tell someone how to solve a Rubik's cube if you don't even know what that is? Likewise, don't write an article on how to crochet a model of the Eiffel tower if you can't figure out how to tie your shoes.
  6. 6
    Keep opinions personal. Don't make the article about how much you hate cats, or what kind of personalities you can't stand. Make it an honest instructional article about how to complete a task.
  7. 7
    Keep the introduction short and to the point. Less is more- nobody will read the introduction if it's longer than the constitution, so keep it minimal. Inform the reader of what topics the article covers, and be done with it. Keep it down to about five sentences or less.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • How many lines should an article contain?
    wikiHow Contributor
    This may depend on the the topic of the article, who you're writing for, how deep you want this article to go into the topic, etc.
  • How many pages should be created in an article?
    wikiHow Contributor
    It depends on your audience. If it is for publication, the length will be specified, usually in the number of words, not number of pages. Microsoft Word keeps a word count in the bottom left corner of the page.
  • How do you find a good topic?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Look for something that fits the theme of your website/journal, and/or something recent in the news to talk about.
  • How can I write a perfect article?
    wikiHow Contributor
    It depends on your audience. For publication, check the website for specifications. For academia, Google APA, and get some guidelines from your instructor. Edit and re-edit your piece as many times as feasible, and remember KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Weed out as many extra or flowery words and phrases as possible while still getting your point across.
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  • In the tips section, put useful tips on how the reader could perform the task at hand better, or perhaps differently. Tips should be three sentences or less.


  • In the warning section, Inform the reader of any possible dangers, precautions they should take, or steps to follow in case something goes wrong. Warnings (like tips) should be three sentences or less.

Things You'll Need

  • In the things you'll need section, list materials needed to perform the task the article describes. Don't put things like "patience" or "common sense," although the latter is needed for everything.

Article Info

Categories: Wikis

In other languages:

Español: crear un buen artículo, Português: Criar um Bom Artigo

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