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About Wikipedia

This is the front page of the Simple English Wikipedia. Wikipedias are places where people work together to write encyclopedias in different languages. We use Simple English words and grammar here. The Simple English Wikipedia is for everyone, such as children and adults who are learning English. There are 283,579 articles on the Simple English Wikipedia. All of the pages are free to use. They have all been published under both the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 4.0 International License and the GNU Free Documentation License. You can help here! You may change these pages and make new pages. Read the help pages and other good pages to learn how to write pages here. If you need help, you may ask questions at Simple talk.

When writing articles here:

Use Basic English words and shorter sentences. This allows people to understand complex terms or phrases.
Write good pages. The best encyclopedia pages have useful, well-written information.
Use the pages to learn and teach. These pages can help people learn English. You can also use them to make a new Wikipedia to help other people.
Simple does not mean short. Writing in Simple English means that simple words are used. It does not mean readers want basic information. Articles do not have to be short to be simple; expand articles, add details, but use basic vocabulary.
Be bold! Your article does not have to be perfect because other editors will fix it and make it better. And most importantly, do not be afraid to start and make articles better yourself.

Selected Very Good Article

Gothic cathedrals are important examples of gothic architecture. Gothic architecture began in Western Europe in the Late Middle Ages. Gothic architecture started in the 12th century, and lasted until the 16th century. Important features of the style are pointed arches, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses.

Today, people associate the style mainly with cathedrals, churches, and abbeys, but it was also used for castles, palaces, universities, and some houses.

Today, many buildings still remain in that style. Smaller ones are thought to be very beautiful, bigger ones are often seen as priceless works of art.

In the 19th century, the Gothic style became popular again, particularly for building churches and universities. This style is called Gothic Revival architecture.

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Selected Good Article

Hurricane Ismael was a weak hurricane that formed during the 1995 Pacific hurricane season. The storm formed on September 12, 1995. It became a hurricane on September 14, while it was located off the coast of Mexico. It moved to the north, and made landfall in Sinaloa. Ismael quickly weakened over land, and died out on September 16 over northwestern Mexico.

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Did you know...

From a collection of Wikipedia's articles:

... that the dwarf planet Makemake (pictured) used to be called Easter Bunny when it was first found?

... that before becoming the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2026, Sarah Mullally wanted to be a nurse to holistically treat people?

... that a socialite, who was worried about breaking her dishes while washing them, came up with a successful design of a dishwasher in the late 19th century?

... that U.S. President John Quincy Adams, who led the fight against slavery in Congress, was fluent in Latin and French?

... that when a museum in Vienna offered a naked museum tour of a controversial exhibition called Nude Men in February 2013, more than 60 people attended that tour?

... that Colombian businessman Rodolfo Hernández Suárez refused to pay the ransom of his daughter's kidnapping by a guerrilla group, citing his family's safety for not paying it?

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Wikipedia is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization that also hosts a range of other projects:

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In Regular English:
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