Know the Difference Between a Stub and a Short Article

Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a legitimate stub and a short article. Even though an article might look like a stub, it could just be one that doesn't need a lot of content, like a recipe for example. This article will help you to tell the difference between a stub and an article, avoiding unnecessary edits and filler content.

It's important to read through the whole article first, to get a general idea of what it's talking about and if the content covers the expectations set by the article title. Take this article as an example - it doesn't require heavy content because the topic is simple. Think along the same lines when discerning between stubs and short articles.

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   Don't rely on the stub tags on the article

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   This can be incorrectly tagged by mistake, or it's possible that a writer has already filled out a stub and not removed the tag. Again, check the content and determine if it still classifies as a stub.

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   If you think something has been incorrectly tagged, speak with an admin in the first instance, who can double check the article and advise you from there.

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   There are certain articles which pose more risk of being tagged as stubs, recipes being the worst

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   Keep this in mind when coming across a stub for a recipe.

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4. 4
   There are no set minimums for the number of words, sections or steps in an article

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   Short articles have their place in VisiHow too.

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• Finding and completing stubs is a great way to really build the site, as well as your contributions, but always take care when deciding if the stub is legitimate. We don't want to put unnecessary or unrelated information into an article that already says all it needs to say.
• You might come across short articles that you feel would be better placed as sections in other wikis. If you come across articles like this, talk to an admin; they may be able to relocate and redirect the short article to make it more visible and improve an already existing article.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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