# How do I edit the "fact box" in Wikipedia?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 29, 2018, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981 "2018-06-29T08:42:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/1 "2018-06-29T08:42:15Z")

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On a wiki page about a person, there are some info in the upper right box that needs to be changed. But when I choose to edit the box, I’m presented a template with blank fields. I don’t want to recreate the box, only delete a couple of words. How do I do that?

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/2 "2018-06-29T08:54:11Z")

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If you’re using the visual editor, click Edit, click on the box, and it should have all the existing info there for you to change.

If you’re using the source code editor, click Edit, scroll down just a few lines and the infobox should be near the top, something like:

{{Infobox officeholder  
|name = whoever

Change that

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/3 "2018-06-29T08:58:17Z")

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Select the EDIT tab to edit the page as a whole. Near the top of the edit page you’ll see something like this which you can change as you like.

{{Infobox person  
| name = Tom Baker  
| image = Tom Baker.jpg  
| image\_size = 220px  
| caption = Baker in 2010  
| birth\_name = Thomas Stewart Baker  
| birth\_date = {{Birth date and age|1934|1|20|df=true}}  
| birth\_place = [[Liverpool]], [[Lancashire]], England \<!-- Please note: in 1934 Liverpool was part of Lancashire. Things change over the years --\>  
| occupation = Actor, writer  
| years\_active = 1968–present  
| spouse = Anna Wheatcroft\<br\>(1961–1966; divorced)\<br\>[[Lalla Ward]]\<br\>(1980–1982; divorced)\<br\>Sue Jerrard\<br\>(1986–present)  
| children = 2  
| website = {{url|https://www.tombakerofficial.com/}}  
}}

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**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/4 "2018-07-01T19:56:03Z")

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Than you both. But it doesn’t seem to work. One is redirected to what seems to be a “database” with the data, where I can’t edit the fields. Meanwhile, looking at the HTML of the article, all the fields are empty, so I can’t just change a value.

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**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/5 "2018-07-01T20:04:20Z")

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I notice now that this wiki page’s “biography box” has the link (translated to English): “Edit Wiki Data.” Many pages does not have this link and work as you two describe it.

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**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/6 "2018-07-01T20:25:56Z")

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Okay, so I’m sitting here browsing wiki page after page, person after person, but am unable to find a single one that has this link, except the one I wanted to edit. Typical really. 😉

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/7 "2018-07-01T22:59:46Z")

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Please link to the specific page you’re having trouble with.

You say it’s translated. Does this mean it’s on a foreign-language Wikipedia?

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/8 "2018-07-01T23:03:44Z")

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It may be that specific page has been page-protected because of persistent vandalism (not suggesting you, OP, but by wiki-vandals), so you need to have auto-confirmed privileges to be able to edit.

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**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/9 "2018-07-01T23:12:19Z")

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WHOA …

First you need to go to the TALK PAGE … post there the change you want to make … then WAIT two weeks, see if any other editors agree with you or not … then make the changes to the article … just changing the article is going to get tagged as vandalism and the change reverted … follow Wikipedia’s procedures, any change to the article has to be discussed and you’re going to have pony up your reference right away …

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/10 "2018-07-01T23:27:42Z")

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As **Peter Morris** suggests, it might be helpful to post a link to the specific page.

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/11 "2018-07-02T01:13:43Z")

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> [@watchwolf49](#):
>
> WHOA …
> 
> First you need to go to the TALK PAGE … post there the change you want to make … then WAIT two weeks, see if any other editors agree with you or not … then make the changes to the article … just changing the article is going to get tagged as vandalism and the change reverted … follow Wikipedia’s procedures, any change to the article has to be discussed and you’re going to have pony up your reference right away …

Nope.

> **[Wikipedia:Be bold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold)**
>
> We would like everyone to be bold and help make Wikipedia a better encyclopedia. How many times have you read something and thought—Why doesn't this page have correct spelling, proper grammar, or a better layout? Wikis like ours develop faster when everybody helps to fix problems, correct grammar, add facts, make sure wording is accurate, etc.
> Fix it yourself instead of just talking about it. In the time it takes to write about the problem, you could instead improve the encyclopedia. Wikipedia...

Do it anyways, and then only discuss it if you get reverted.

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/12 "2018-07-02T06:53:39Z")

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What’s the link to the page you want to edit?

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/13 "2018-07-02T06:55:59Z")

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> [@BigT](#):
>
> Nope.
> 
> [Wikipedia:Be bold - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold)
> 
> Do it anyways, and then only discuss it if you get reverted.

The reality is that any major page is policed by long-timers who don’t like newcomers. If you’re going to edit something, provide good cites right away or expect it to get reverted just because.

If you’re an anonymous editor editing without a cite, it’s just a waste of your time… “Be bold” is feel-good bullshit that doesn’t reflect the reality of Wikipedia’s editor hierarchy and entrenched culture

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**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/14 "2018-07-02T14:32:45Z")

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> [@BigT](#):
>
> Nope.
> 
> [Wikipedia:Be bold - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold)
> 
> Do it anyways, and then only discuss it if you get reverted.

> [@Reply](#):
>
> The reality is that any major page is policed by long-timers who don’t like newcomers. If you’re going to edit something, provide good cites right away or expect it to get reverted just because.
> 
> If you’re an anonymous editor editing without a cite, it’s just a waste of your time… “Be bold” is feel-good bullshit that doesn’t reflect the reality of Wikipedia’s editor hierarchy and entrenched culture

Yeah, the reality is that you’ll get reverted no matter what … there’s an entrenched elite there and newcomers are NOT welcome … one can spend a hell of a lot of time trying to fix a spelting mistake and in the end fail …

The problem there as I see it is there’s WAY too many people running around acting like they’re administrators when they’re not … and the actual administrators are doing nothing about it … compare that to here and tell me what I can or cannot post, you’re going to get modded right quick … that doesn’t happen on Wikipedia anymore …

Just point out the torque vector is pointed the wrong way and everyone there yells … to this very day the damn torque vector is pointed the wrong way and no ones seems to care … or even notice … sheesh …

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/15 "2018-07-02T15:15:26Z")

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None of that matches my experience at all on Wiki.

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/16 "2018-07-02T22:30:44Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> None of that matches my experience at all on Wiki.

It’s been enough of a problem that several news stories and studies (at least) have been written on it:

> **[The Decline of Wikipedia](https://www.technologyreview.com/2013/10/22/175674/the-decline-of-wikipedia/)**
>
> The community that built the largest encyclopedia in history is shrinking, even as more people and Internet services depend on it than ever. Can it be revived, or is this the end of the Web’s idealistic era?

> **[Mentoring in Wikipedia | Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on...](https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2038558.2038586)**

> **[Don't bite the newbies | Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on...](https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2038558.2038585)**

It’s also 90% male and hostile towards women contributors:

> **[Wikipedia's Hostility to Women](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/10/how-wikipedia-is-hostile-to-women/411619/)**
>
> Some female editors have been the target of harassment from their male colleagues—and the gender bias has spilled over into the site’s content, too.

And Wikipedia itself decided to come up with a behavioral “guideline” to help the issue:

> **[Wikipedia:Please do not bite the newcomers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_do_not_bite_the_newcomers)**
>
> Wikipedia articles are improved through the hard work of both regular editors and newcomers. Remember: all of us were new editors at Wikipedia once, and in some ways (such as when editing an article on a topic outside our usual scope) even the most experienced among us are still newcomers.
> New members are prospective contributors and are therefore Wikipedia's most valuable resource. We must treat newcomers with kindness and patience—nothing scares potentially valuable contributors away faster th...

As far as I know, these aren’t really working and over time it’s becoming more and more autocratic, a victim of its own success. What started as an egalitarian pet project turned into the world’s single most authoritative encyclopedia, and with it came the ego of old bored men wanting to dictate reality…

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/17 "2018-07-03T15:21:27Z")

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> [@Reply](#):
>
> It’s been enough of a problem that several news stories and studies (at least) have been written on it:  
> [The Decline of Wikipedia | MIT Technology Review](https://technologyreview.com/s/520446/the-decline-of-wikipedia/)  
> [Mentoring in Wikipedia | Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration](https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2038586)  
> [https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2038585](https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2038585)
> 
> It’s also 90% male and hostile towards women contributors:  
> [The Sexism of Wikipedia - The Atlantic](https://theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/10/how-wikipedia-is-hostile-to-women/411619/)
> 
> And Wikipedia itself decided to come up with a behavioral “guideline” to help the issue:  
> [Wikipedia:Please do not bite the newcomers - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_do_not_bite_the_newcomers)
> 
> As far as I know, these aren’t really working and over time it’s becoming more and more autocratic, a victim of its own success. What started as an egalitarian pet project turned into the world’s single most authoritative encyclopedia, and with it came the ego of old bored men wanting to dictate reality…

**Moderator Note**

I’m not sure how this is relevant to informing someone how to edit a fact box. Let’s stick to technical aspects here, and take the discussion of Wiki policies to a more appropriate forum such as Great Debates or the Pit.

This goes for everyone.

Colibri  
General Questions Moderator

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**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/18 "2018-07-03T16:43:56Z")

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> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> Please link to the specific page you’re having trouble with.
> 
> You say it’s translated. Does this mean it’s on a foreign-language Wikipedia?

> **[Carl Gustav Jung](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Gustav_Jung)**
>
> Carl Gustav Jung, född 26 juli 1875 i Kesswil i Thurgau, död 6 juni 1961 i Küsnacht i kantonen Zürich, var en schweizisk psykiater. Han var upphovsman till den inriktning inom psykologin som kallas analytisk psykologi eller jungiansk psykologi. Hans arbete fick stort inflytande inte bara inom psykologin, utan även exempelvis inom religionshistoria, litteratur och filosofi. 
> C.G. Jung inledde sin psykiatriska verksamhet på det vid tiden välrenommerade mentalsjukhuset Burghölzli, under Eugen Bleul...

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/19 "2018-07-03T18:07:53Z")

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huh. I see what you mean - that is weird. It’s as if the text in the info-box is hidden; displays in the article, but not in the box. I understand your frustration, but I’m afraid I don’t know the answer.

At a guess, since it’s about Jung, I think there may be some sort of extra protection on it. I wouldn’t be surprised if his article doesn’t attract a lot of vandals.

You could try asking at the Teahouse on English wiki; I don’t know if they have an equivalent on this one (forgive my guess: Swedish wiki?) The Teahouse is meant to be a place where you can go with issues like formatting.

> **[Wikipedia:Teahouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Teahouse)**
>
> Marchjuly, a Teahouse host
> Most recent archives1164, 1165, 1166, 1167, 1168, 1169, 1170, 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174, 1175, 1176, 1177, 1178, 1179, 1180, 1181, 1182, 1183

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**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981/20 "2018-07-03T18:41:45Z")

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Yes, it is Swedish wiki page on Jung. It is ill written, uninformed and without quotes and so forth. Pretty much like it was some teenagers doing some school work on the article without reading any books on the subject. Nothing wrong with that, I guess, but I thought I fix a few things and perhaps add some of my knowledge (with quotes, mind you).

But while I started out on a biography (I’ve read about 5-10 biographies on the guy), I wanted to change some of the data on the ”fact box” – but I could not.

So I thought like you did – is it becuase this highly uniformed bio on Jung is ”protected” as if he was controversial 2018? So I looked around and found out that I can do whatever I want on Hitler, Einstein and Clinton, or _who ever_ my brain’s randomizer suggests. So that surely cannot be the reason (I sincerely hope not :-)).

So, well, hence the Straight Dope.

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-edit-the-fact-box-in-wikipedia/816981.md?page=2)