Wikimedia To Launch WYSIWYG Editor In July

Writing for the web is different from writing for print. Every content writer knows that, and when it comes to online writing, there is an even more special breed of writers – those who are well-versed in writing for Wikipedia. While we all know that Wikipedia has become the go-to resource for many people doing all sorts of research, the platform has not been exempt from controversy; sometimes perpetrated by the founders as well. (Recently, Jimmy Wales took on a marketing expert for his Wikipedia content services.) Still, if you know how to get Wikipedia entries approved, then you actually have a good thing on your side.

And, speaking of writing for Wikipedia, there’s awesome news for writers: the visual editor will finally be released for all users early in July. If you’ve ever tried to submit an article to the platform, you will know that aside from having to follow exhaustive guidelines regarding the content and citations, the Wikitext editor is not that user-friendly as well.

That’s nothing to count against Wikipedia, though, as HTML editors are present in most any content platform. And to be honest, anyone who publishes content online has to have at least a basic understanding of HTML.

However, there is something to be said about WYSIWYG editors. They certainly make things easier on the eye, and for the content creator, a WYSIWYG editor also makes formatting much more convenient.

The WYSIWYG editor for Wikipedia has been around for several months now, when the Wikimedia Foundation launched a private alpha testing period. In a few weeks, though, this is what any English Wikipedia user will see.

That certainly makes creating entries less of a pain than it is now.

In an announcement earlier this month, Wikipedia says that they still our help, as there might still be bugs in the to be launched editor; so, if you are an avid Wikipedia user – creator or consumer – you might want to pitch in.

[Images via Cary Bass and TNW]