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 | This page in a nutshell: A series of reasonable step by step edits, each with consensus, can create a final article that is not what was intended, and there may not be consensus as to the final product. |
Article creep occurs when a series of reasonable step-by-step edits are made, but the end product is undesirable. An editor should look at a page globally, not just in a step-by-step manner.
Article creep is a natural process. When editing from a group of sources with one viewpoint, an article will gradually swing toward that POV. Then it will swing back as more edits are made. So an editor should not go in and delete material claiming undue weight is being given to one POV. Instead they should recognize that WP:Wikipedia is not finished, and either have patience, or add in more information from the POV they think is lacking.
Creep is analogous to the idea of a local maximum vs. a global maximum. When climbing to get a good view, one may go straight uphill with each step, then get to the top and notice a nearby peak has a much better view. It might have been better to not take the straight uphill steps, but to maybe take some steps so as to go around or even sometimes down.
Sometimes "article creep" can also refer to an unintended proliferation of articles at Wikipedia, not just proliferation inside articles, such as in a discussion about creating a separate article for each contestant in a reality television show.