Current list: Category:Candidates for speedy deletion
There are a few, limited, cases where sysops can delete Wikipedia pages "on sight". Non-sysops can list such pages on speedy deletions instead, adding a {{delete}} header.
If listed on wikipedia:votes for deletion, or a related page, such pages may be deleted before the usual "lag time" (see deletion policy).
The cases
Sysops may immediately delete a page, so long as it satisfies one of the following criteria:
Articles
- For any articles that are not speedy deletion candidates, use Wikipedia:Votes for deletion.
- No meaningful content or history (e.g. random characters). See patent nonsense.
- Test pages (e.g., "Can I really create a page here?").
- Pure vandalism (see also dealing with vandalism).
- Very short articles with little or no definition or context (e.g., "He is a funny man that has created Factory and the Hacienda. And, by the way, his wife is great."). Turning such pages into relevent redirects may sometimes be appropriate.
- Reposted content that was deleted according to Wikipedia deletion policy. This does not apply to undeleted content that was undeleted according to undeletion policy.
- Articles created and edited solely by a banned user after they were banned, unless the user has been unbanned. This is slightly controversial!
- Foreign language articles that already exist on another Wikimedia project, as a result of having been copied and pasted in to Wikipedia after their creation elsewhere, or as a result of having been moved via the transwiki system.
- Temporarily deleting a page in order to merge page histories after a cut and paste move.
Of course, the Sandbox is exempt from these rules and should not be deleted even though it may satisfy some of the criteria.
Redirects
- For any redirects that are not speedy deletion candidates, use Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion.
Redirects can be immediately deleted if they have no useful history and:
- They refer to non-existent pages. Before deleting a redirect, check to see the redirect can be made useful by changing its target.
- Were created by moving user pages out of the article space. (Sometimes new Wikipedians accidentally create user pages in the main article space. Move them into the user space using the "Move this page" tool to preserve their history, and consider waiting a day or two before deleting the resultant redirect.)
- Consensus is that it should be removed to make way for a non-controversial page move.
- Were created very recently as a result of a typo (during a page move or as a proactive measure). This does not include common mis-spellings, as those are considered useful.
Other pages
- An image which is a redundant copy (all bits the same) of something else, and as long as all inward links have been changed to the image being retained.
- Personal subpages, upon request by their owner.
- Talk pages of already deleted articles unless the discussion is linked to Wikipedia:Archived delete debates.
- User talk pages of non-logged in users where the message is no longer relevant (this is to avoid confusing new users who happen to edit with that same IP address).
- Empty categories (no articles or subcategories) whose only content has consisted of links to parent categories.
- Empty categories (no articles or subcategories), 24 hours after blanking.
- User and talk pages on request of the user, where there is no significant abuse, and no administrative need to retain the page. A redirect (to the user's new name, or to WP:MW) should be created to avoid red links and confusion.
Notes
Opinions differ as to the correct approach to pages with only external links, and also to pages that are perceived as purely trolling.
Note that copyright problems are not candidates for speedy deletion unless they meet one of the above criteria.
Ideally, when a sysop deletes a test page or other page with no useful content, it is a good idea to put a note on the author's talk page explaining things, and preserving the deleted content, pointing them to the sandbox in cases of tests. Be friendly! Everyone was new once.