WikiProject proposed deletion patrolling works to patrol those articles listed in all articles proposed for deletion to assist in Wikipedia's proposed deletion process. Proposed deletion, unlike the normal deletion process, does not attract very much attention. Furthermore, the proposed deletion process can be confusing to editors who aren't familiar with it. The goal of this project is to not only encourage patrolling, but also to make it easier for all of us by sharing the workload. It's hard to know who else is patrolling proposed deletion, because articles that are de-prodded aren't visible.
The proposed deletion policy
See Wikipedia:Proposed deletion for the policy page. To summarize, proposed deletion may be used to delete articles where the deletion is not controversial, but where the article does not meet the speedy deletion criteria. Articles proposed for deletion can be deleted after seven days without further process if no one objects.
An article is proposed for deletion when an editor adds {{subst:prod|reason}} to the top of an article. This will add the {{dated prod}} template, with the date filled in, to the top of the article. In order to contest a proposed deletion, just remove the {{dated prod}} tag from the article. Some of the rules about proposed deletion:
WP:PROD is only for articles and files, not templates, categories, redirects, Wikipedia namespace stuff, or talk pages, et cetera.
Once the {{dated prod}} tag is removed from the article, the deletion is considered contested, and should not be re-prodded.
Even the article creator is allowed to remove the {{dated prod}} tag.
WP:AFD overrides prod; an article should not have a prod tag if it is being discussed at AfD, or has been in the past.
WP:SPEEDY deletion may be used on articles proposed for deletion; speedy deletion overrides prod, but tagging for speedy deletion does not make it necessary to de-prod.
It is acceptable to recreate an article that was previously deleted via prod. Such recreated articles are not eligible for speedy deletion as reposted material. If the exact old article is desired back, please make your request at Wikipedia:Requests for undeletion.
When proposing deletion, an edit summary must be used (preferably "proposing deletion", "prod", or something similar).
When removing a {{dated prod}} tag, the edit summary should note this.
Common mistakes with prod, and what to do about them
To see the articles currently proposed for deletion, go to Category:Proposed deletion, one of the shortcuts redirecting there (CAT:PROD, WP:APD, or WP:APFD), or the automated summary table Wikipedia:PRODSUM. Remember to include deprod in your edit summary when deprodding an article.
Some words of caution. Use your judgement, but be careful. Specifically,
The lure of theory: Don't deprod an article just because in theory, someone somewhere would object to its deletion. If you don't actually believe an article has a snowball's chance in hell of being kept, there's no reason to deprod.
Respect established editors: It's good to educate users who are confused about proposed deletion. However, seasoned, experienced editors are likely to already know about it: in those cases, consider leaving a personalized message, or just not leaving a message to the prodder. The templates may seem a bit like warnings, although they aren't meant to be.
We aren't the only ones: We are not the only line of defense against inappropriate deletion via WP:PROD. In the end, an article that has been proposed for deletion for 7 days still must be overtly deleted by an administrator. They are supposed to look at the article and make sure the prod is valid before deleting, and they do.
However, don't think that proposed deletion patrolling isn't worthwhile: it is! By doing this, we ease the burden of the admins, and we are especially more likely to do well at educating users when they have misunderstood prod or related policies. Also, while prod isn't designed for it, a prod tag on certain articles may be a call for improvement, and the encyclopedia may be improved through your attention.
Discussions
Discussions about this project should take place on the talk page.
Lists
Templates
Userbox
Regular proposed deletion patrollers may wish to put the PROD patrol userbox on their user page by adding {{User wikipedia/PROD Patrol}}:
If you are interested in proposed deletion patrolling, please add your name to the bottom of this list. Consider saying how often you plan to look at the proposed deletion articles. You can also add Category:WikiProject proposed deletion patrollers to your userpage to become part of the WikiProject proposed deletion patrollers.
Cimon Avaro; on a pogostick. Finally found a WikiProject I can get behind without the slightest reservation about whether my energies are worthwhilely spent.
Cynical 17:04, 18 May 2006 (UTC). Several times a week, although not until May 25th due to exams.[reply]
Czesc26 12:26, 19 February 2007 (UTC) - All the time.[reply]
Czj 02:34, 5 November 2006 (UTC) -- Once or twice weekly, at least.[reply]
dabomb1188 once a week
DGG 03:32, 16 December 2006 (UTC) Daily, both the expired prods, and earlier ones to spot those that need speedy--or redirection. DGG ( talk ) 19:47, 4 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Emir34 I will be here 2 or 3 times a week. But don't expect me to do it very regularly. Times may vary.
RidE the Lightning! 23:42, 22 May 2006 (UTC) Recently I've been really busy, but when I'm not as busy I'll probably being checking every day or two.[reply]
J Readings 09:06, 7 August 2007 (UTC) -- Once a week, perhaps more.[reply]
JaimeLesMaths 07:20, 3 October 2006 (UTC) - I'll try to look twice a week.[reply]
JJJJust: I start to monitor this and Category:Candidates for speedy deletion whenever I'm on newpage patrol, which is at random times and then for sometime following the np patrol conclusion. --Signed and Sealed, JJJJust (T C) 18:32, 21 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Joe 06:21, 4 September 2006 (UTC) - Trying to get more involved.[reply]
KTC 04:05, 4 August 2007 (UTC) -- Either an everyday, or not at all.[reply]
Lex 04:23, 13 October 2006 (UTC) - Once a week. Maybe more.[reply]
Mangojuicetalk 19:57, 17 May 2006 (UTC), rarely.[reply]
Matwat22—I'm pretty busy, so about once or twice a week. 14:10, 20 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Mike6271 05:17, 5 November 2006 (UTC) -- Several times a week.[reply]
Mikm 05:30, 31 December 2006 (UTC) - Probably once a week.[reply]
NeoFreak 09:49, 25 November 2006 (UTC) --Once or twice a day as I make my watchlist rounds.[reply]
oo7565 all the timeOo7565 02:32, 30 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Pats Sox Princess can check the previous days PRODS every day I guess. 04:46, 16 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Phil Bridger (talk) 12:10, 26 November 2007 (UTC) I already do this most days, and will continue.[reply]
QuiteUnusual 21:59, 24 October 2006 (UTC) When things are slow at[reply]
Random Fixer Of Things (talk) 21:23, 12 February 2008 (UTC) - Sob...I thought I was alone :)[reply]
Gary King (talk) 20:18, 19 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
--DizFreak talk Contributions 16:03, 9 March 2008 (UTC) several times a week when not in class, weekly when in class. User page will let you know which phase of life I am in.[reply]
Kuya BriBri. I'll pop in whenever I can. KuyaBriBriTalk 14:57, 19 February 2009 (UTC) unstruck as I have been pretty active lately 15:22, 10 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
ThaddeusB. As often as possible, with an emphasis on actually improving dePRODed articles. --ThaddeusB (talk) 16:13, 27 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]
(Redito5 (talk) 16:57, 20 May 2009 (UTC)) As often as I can. I am very busy but I can do it when I am at home on a layover.--(Redito5 (talk) 16:57, 20 May 2009 (UTC))[reply]
Fences&Windows 23:47, 24 June 2009 (UTC). I've already been checking daily without knowing there was a project.[reply]
Gosox5555 (talk) 02:45, 10 July 2009 (UTC) I'll help out if I can.[reply]
KeptSouth (talk) 19:51, 9 January 2010 (UTC) about once a week.[reply]
Finny kun ], February 17, 2010 about three times a week.
A.m.c.1.9.9.9 (talk) 22:00, 26 May 2010 (UTC) everyday[reply]
Jamison Lofthouse (talk) 20:06, 31 December 2010 (UTC) - I'll do it when I have time.[reply]
Robert Walker (talk) 03:45, 31 January 2011 (UTC) I like researching into sources for articles so can help by adding a few links to an article which is notable but got proposed for deletion mainly because the author is new to Wikipedia and doesn't know about the process. Will patrol occasionally when I have time[reply]
I Jethrobot (talk) 20:23, 27 June 2011 (UTC) I enjoy the discussion process behind deletion and when an article is notable, I enjoy the hunt of the search. I have been patrolling daily, though that is likely due to my free time. I am sure it will average out to about weekly in the next few months.[reply]
Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 07:10, 26 August 2011 (UTC) Patrolling PRODs and other deletion processes since August 2010 as part of a drive to improve New Page Patrol. RETIRED March 2020 after 10 intensive years of it.[reply]
JoeSperrazza (talk) 23:08, 18 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Cyclopia I already did that informally, good to know there's a Wikiproject dedicated to that! --Cyclopiatalk 19:39, 18 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Retrolord (talk) 12:49, 27 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
AnthonyW90 (talk) 19:58, 18 March 2013 (UTC) Will try to look at the proposed deletions on a daily basis (I have a lot of free time!)[reply]
Wilhelmina Will (talk) 06:56, 12 April 2013 (UTC) Periodically; I have past experience saving prods, and I'd like to do this more in the future.[reply]
ainakan I will always check in at least twice a day.11:06 30, November 2013 (UTC)
VMS Mosaic (talk) 10:49, 20 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Sephiroth87 (talk) 18:17, 23 February 2014 (UTC) >> Periodically when I have time. <<[reply]
Reawaken (talk) Irregularly (when I'm not editing articles and stub-sorting).
331dot. Irregularly, but around once a week 331dot (talk) 22:43, 6 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]
MarkYabloko Every now and then. 07:04, 11 November 2015 (UTC) [reply]
Atlantic306 (talk) 00:53, 29 March 2016 (UTC) Check the full list once a week[reply]
AjayTO (talk) 15:09, 13 May 2016 (UTC) I check weekly or whenever I have some spare time.[reply]
Tseung Kwan O (talk) 06:40, 5 July 2016 (UTC) I check the list every week, and during the holidays.[reply]
Interested. Hell walker guy (talk) 16:19, 31 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]
North America1000 07:56, 24 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]
I will look through about 10 articles each week XyzSpaniel Talk Page 23:16, 21 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]
pratap555 whenever i have some time Pratap Keshari Das 20:31, 13 April 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Zazzyza I am usually on Wikipedia for about 13-16hrs in a day, so i think pretty often.
Manupriy Ahluwalia Being active on Wikipedia for 5 hours(max), it will be quite often for me but with Quality work only.
Hog Farm Have been doing this on an ad hoc basis, I'll try to come by several times a week. Hog Farm (talk) 04:43, 15 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]
I am on Wikipedia very often, I will try to stop by. JaneciaTaylor (talk) 22:21, 11 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]
SHISHIR DUA .I solemn to abide by the guidelines and enhance and enrich Wikipedia with decent. SHISHIR DUA (talk) 04:52, 30 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]
HeartGlow30797 I have been on wikipedia a long time and fighting vandalism. I think it is time to expand to the technical side of wikipedia! HeartGlow30797 (talk) 05:30, 4 May 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Doghouse09 (talk) 20:48, 24 August 2020 (UTC) As often as I can[reply]
~RAM (talk) 00:44, 11 December 2020 (UTC) - as often as possible :)[reply]