The document provides guidance on writing with a neutral point of view according to Wikipedia's standards. It explains that a neutral point of view can be achieved through word choices that do not suggest bias and content choices that represent all significant published perspectives on a topic. It also outlines several guidelines for neutral writing, such as avoiding stating opinions as facts, imprecise language, and words that imply judgment. The document cautions writers to use precise language and consider how content may be interpreted as views and facts change over time.

1. Writing in Wikipedia Style
Neutral Point of View

2. Neutral Point of View
According to Wikipedia, Neutral point of view means,
"representing fairly, proportionately, and as far as
possible without bias, all significant views that have
been published by reliable sources."

3. Neutral Point of View
You writing with neutral point of view in two main ways.
1 - Word Choices
2 - Content Choices

4. Neutral Point of View
You writing with neutral point of view in two main ways.
1 - Word Choices: select words that do not suggest
value, bias, or preference. If your word choices are
neutral, your style will not convey your personal
perspective on the topic.

5. Neutral Point of View
You writing with neutral point of view in two main ways.
2 - Content choices: select content from all significant
published sources. When you write, include information
that is negative, positive, critical, and celebratory.
Wikipedia collects all significant knowledge on a topic.
This means that you must include diverse perspectives.

6. Guidelines: 1
Avoid stating opinions as facts.
Example:
Wrong: Casablanca is one of the 100 greatest hollywood
films. (This states an opinion as a fact)
Correct: Casablanca is on AFI's list of the 100 greatest
hollywood film. (This states a fact.)

7. Guidelines: 2
Avoid stating seriously contested assertions as facts.
Example:
Wrong: President John F. Kennedy was shot by a single
gunman. (This is the official record, but this claim has
been seriously contested.)
Correct: According to official police reports, President
John F. Kennedy was shot by a single gunman.

8. Guidelines: 3
Avoid presenting uncontested assertions as mere
opinion.
Example:
Wrong: The United States government has argued that
the September 11th, 2001 attacks were committed by
members of Al-qaeda. (This can be stated as a fact
because no significant, reputable source contests this
fact.)
Correct: The September 11th, 2001 attacks were

9. Guidelines: 4
Prefer non-judgmental language.
Example:
Wrong: Towards the beginning of World War II, the U.
S. government ignored the plight of Jews seeking
asylum from Nazi persecution. (The phrase "ignored the
plight" is a really judgmental phrase.)
Correct: Towards the beginning of World War II, the U.
S. government did not make
immigration accommodations for Jews seeking asylum
from Nazi persecution.

10. Guidelines: 5
Avoid Imprecise language
Example:
Wrong: Farm animals produce significantly more
manure than humans. (Several of the words here are
vague.)
Correct: "Animal feeding operations produce about 100
times more manure than the amount of human sewage
sludge processed in US municipal waste water plants
each year." (Agricultural pollution on Wikipedia)

11. What is wrong with this example?
"Blackwater (coal) contains copious amounts of hazardous
substances...Burning coal is one of the worlds largest
pollutants in fact it is the leading cause of global warming,
acid rain, smog, and air toxins....These are just a few of
the environmental concerns that follow burning coal."
Side note: I pulled this off the Blackwater page, which really
needs a lot of work.

12. What is wrong with this example?
"Blackwater (coal) contains copious amounts of hazardous
substances...Burning coal is one of the worlds largest
pollutants in fact it is the leading cause of global warming,
acid rain, smog, and air toxins....These are just a few of
the environmental concerns that follow burning coal."
1 - This needs a citation.
2 - This needs to be copy edited. Can you find the grammatical
errors?
3 - The words in red suggest judgement.
4 - The words in orange are likely contested and should not be
stated as fact without supportive data.

13. What is wrong with this example?
Since the 1980s The Age, despite the loss of its corporate
independence, has remained a successful and influential
newspaper. It has a range of high quality writers and
contributors. The investigative team have broken a number of
major stories. Its arts and lifestyle content - increasingly
important in all newspapers as the leading role in news
coverage is lost to television and the internet - is generally
regarded as comprehensive.

14. What is wrong with this example?
Since the 1980s The Age, despite the loss of its corporate
independence, has remained a successful and influential
newspaper. It has a range of high quality writers and
contributors. The investigative team have broken a number of
major stories. Its arts and lifestyle content - increasingly
important in all newspapers as the leading role in news
coverage is lost to television and the internet - is generally
regarded as comprehensive.
Answer: all of the words in orange are imprecise. They could be
replaced with precise facts. (Also some grammatical problems.)

15. Highlights from Style Manual
Words to Watch
Avoid these words

16. Avoid these words: Puffery
legendary, great, acclaimed, visionary, outstanding,
leading, celebrated, cutting-edge, extraordinary, brilliant,
famous, renowned, remarkable, prestigious, world-class,
respected, notable, virtuoso ...

17. Contentious Labels
... cult, racist, perverted, sect, fundamentalist, heretic,
extremist, denialist, terrorist, freedom fighter, myth,
pseudo-, -gate, controversial ...

18. Expressions of Doubt
... supposed, purported, alleged, accused, so-called ...

19. Editorializing
... notably, interestingly, it should be noted, essentially, actually,
clearly, without a doubt, of course, fortunately, happily,
unfortunately, tragically, untimely ...

20. Relative Time
... recently, lately, currently, presently, to date, 15 years ago,
formerly, in the past, winter, spring, summer, fall, autumn ...
Note: remember that the content you add will continue to be
read for months and years. If you write 'currently' in an article,
in one year that information will be inaccurate.

21. What is wrong with this sentence?

22. It was especially competitive for out-of-state students in that it's
a state-supported institution.

23. It was especially competitive for out-of-state students in that it's
a state-supported institution.
Answer: No contractions!

24. When any student breaks that rule, he loses privileges.

25. When any student breaks that rule, he loses privileges.
Answer: Must use gender neutral language. Revise 'he' to 'he
or she' or 'that student'.

26. Interestingly, most Clemson students are from southern states.

27. Interestingly, most Clemson students are from southern states.
Answer: 'Interestingly' is one of the words to watch. It is an
example of editorializing. Do not tell your reader what he or she
should find interesting!

28. With increased recycling now, hopefully the U.S. will reduce the
rate of landfill growth in the next 10 years.

29. With increased recycling now, hopefully the U.S. will reduce the
rate of landfill growth in the next 10 years.
Answer: Relative time. 'in the next 10 years' will mean
something different in 15 years.

30. The End
Keep writing, revising, and asking questions.