Changes

{{Redirect|Template:Proveit|the template about the referencing gadget|Template:User ProveIt}}

{{Redirect|Template:Proveit|the template about the referencing gadget|Template:User ProveIt}}

{{Redirect|Template:CM|the template that when substituted creates a header with the current month and year|Template:Cm}}

{{Redirect|Template:CM|the template that when substituted creates a header with the current month and year|Template:Cm}}

{{Tl|Citation needed}} is a [[w:Wikipedia:Template messages|template]] used to identify claims in articles, particularly if questionable, that need a [[w:Wikipedia:Citing sources|citation]] to a [[w:WP:RS|reliable source]]. This template produces the superscripted message {{citation needed|date=May 2013|reason=example}} and is installed with no spaces directly after punctuation.

{{Tl|Citation needed}} is a template used to identify claims in articles, particularly if questionable, that need a [[Project:Citing sources|citation]] to a reliable source. This template produces the superscripted message {{citation needed|date=May 2013|reason=example}} and is installed with no spaces directly after punctuation.

== Use ==

== Use ==

== When not to use this template ==

== When not to use this template ==

Contentious material about [[w:Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons|living persons]] that is unsourced or poorly sourced should be '''removed immediately'''. Do not tag it; immediately remove it. This includes material that is doubtful, harmful, or possibly [[w:libelous|libelous]]. For some policy about this, see the sections [[w:Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons#Remove contentious material that is unsourced or poorly sourced|"Remove contentious material that is unsourced or poorly sourced"]] at [[w:Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons]] and [[w:Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden of evidence|"Burden of evidence"]] at [[w:Wikipedia:Verifiability]].

Contentious material about [[w:Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons|living persons]] that is unsourced or poorly sourced should be '''removed immediately'''. Do not tag it; immediately remove it. This includes material that is doubtful, harmful, or possibly [[w:libelous|libelous]]. For some policy about this, see the sections [[w:Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons#Remove contentious material that is unsourced or poorly sourced|"Remove contentious material that is unsourced or poorly sourced"]] at [[w:Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons]] and [[Project:Verifiability#Burden of evidence|"Burden of evidence"]] at [[Project:Verifiability]].

The <nowiki>{{Citation needed}}</nowiki> template is intended for use when there is a general question of the verifiability of a statement, or when an editor believes that a reference verifying the statement should be provided. Other templates are available for other or more specific issues; see the [[#Inline templates|list of inline templates]]. For example, claims that you think are incorrect should be tagged with {{Tl|Dubious}}, and those which represent a non-neutral view should be tagged with {{Tl|POV statement}}. Being specific about the nature of the problem will help other editors correct it.

The <nowiki>{{Citation needed}}</nowiki> template is intended for use when there is a general question of the verifiability of a statement, or when an editor believes that a reference verifying the statement should be provided. Other templates are available for other or more specific issues; see the [[#Inline templates|list of inline templates]]. For example, claims that you think are incorrect should be tagged with {{Tl|Dubious}}, and those which represent a non-neutral view should be tagged with {{Tl|POV statement}}. Being specific about the nature of the problem will help other editors correct it.

If you have the time and ability to find an authoritative reference, please do so. Then add the citation yourself, or correct the article text. After all, the ultimate goal is not to merely identify problems, but to fix them.

If you have the time and ability to find an authoritative reference, please do so. Then add the citation yourself, or correct the article text. After all, the ultimate goal is not to merely identify problems, but to fix them.

While an editor may add this template to any uncited passage for any reason, many editors object to what they perceive as overuse of this tag, particularly in what is known as "[[w:drive-by|drive-by]]" tagging, which is applying the tag without attempting to address the issues at all (hit-and-run). Consider whether adding this tag in an article is the best approach before using it, and use it judiciously. Wikipedia's [[w:WP:V|verifiability policy]] does not require reliable sources for [[w:Common knowledge|common well-known facts]] (e.g., "the Moon orbits the Earth"), neither that citations be repeated through every sentence in a paragraph. All direct quotations and facts whose accuracy might be challenged (e.g., statistics) require citations. See [[w:WP:MINREF]] for the list of material that is absolutely required to be followed by an [[w:Wikipedia:Inline citation|inline citation]], rather than a [[w:Wikipedia:General references|general reference]] or no citation at all. Also note that the [[w:WP:BURDEN|burden of evidence]] lies with the editor who adds or restores material.

While an editor may add this template to any uncited passage for any reason, many editors object to what they perceive as overuse of this tag, particularly in what is known as "[[w:drive-by|drive-by]]" tagging, which is applying the tag without attempting to address the issues at all (hit-and-run). Consider whether adding this tag in an article is the best approach before using it, and use it judiciously. Our [[TP:V|verifiability policy]] does not require reliable sources for [[w:Common knowledge|common well-known facts]] (e.g., "the Moon orbits the Earth"), neither that citations be repeated through every sentence in a paragraph. All direct quotations and facts whose accuracy might be challenged (e.g., statistics) require citations. See [[TP:MINREF]] for the list of material that is absolutely required to be followed by an [[Project:Inline citation|inline citation]], rather than a [[Project:General references|general reference]] or no citation at all. Also note that the [[TP:BURDEN|burden of evidence]] lies with the editor who adds or restores material.

This template is intended for specific passages that need citation. For entire articles or sections that contain significant material lacking citations (rather than just specific short passages), there are other, more appropriate templates, such as {{Tl|Unreferenced}} and {{Tl|More citations needed}} (for whole articles) as well as {{Tl|Unreferenced section}} and {{Tl|Refimprove section}} (for sections of articles).

This template is intended for specific passages that need citation. For entire articles or sections that contain significant material lacking citations (rather than just specific short passages), there are other, more appropriate templates, such as {{Tl|Unreferenced}} and {{Tl|More citations needed}} (for whole articles) as well as {{Tl|Unreferenced section}} and {{Tl|Refimprove section}} (for sections of articles).

== See also ==

== See also ==

* [[Template:Citation needed lead]], a similar template specifically for the lead of articles

* [[Template:Citation needed lead]], a similar template specifically for the lead of articles

* [[w:Wikipedia:Citing sources]], especially [[Wikipedia:Citing sources#Unsourced material|Unsourced material]]

* [[Project:Citing sources]], especially [[Project:Citing sources#Unsourced material|Unsourced material]]

* [[w:Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources]]

* [[Project:Identifying reliable sources]]

* [[w:Wikipedia:Template messages/Cleanup#Verifiability and sources]]

* [[Project:Template messages/Cleanup#Verifiability and sources]]

* [[w:Wikipedia:Template messages/Sources of articles]]

* [[Project:Template messages/Sources of articles]]

* [[w:Wikipedia:Verifiability]]

* [[Project:Verifiability]]

=== Inline templates ===

=== Inline templates ===

==== Verification ====

==== Verification ====

* {{Tl|Better source}}{{Better source}}: flags a statement as requiring a better source.

* {{Tl|Better source}}{{Better source}}: flags a statement as requiring a better source.

* {{Tl|Dead link}}{{Dead link}}: tag a ref or an external link as [[w:Wikipedia:Dead external links|dead]].

* {{Tl|Dead link}}{{Dead link}}: tag a ref or an external link as [[Project:Dead external links|dead]].

* {{Tl|Failed verification}}{{Failed verification}}: source was checked, and did not contain the cited material.

* {{Tl|Failed verification}}{{Failed verification}}: source was checked, and did not contain the cited material.

* {{Tl|Request quotation}}{{Request quotation}}: request a direct quote from an inaccessible source, for verification purposes.

* {{Tl|Request quotation}}{{Request quotation}}: request a direct quote from an inaccessible source, for verification purposes.

* {{Tl|Self-published inline}}{{Self-published inline}} or {{tl|Self-published source}} {{Self-published source}}: flag a source that cites the author.

* {{Tl|Self-published inline}}{{Self-published inline}} or {{tl|Self-published source}} {{Self-published source}}: flag a source that cites the author.

* {{Tl|Unreliable source?}}{{Unreliable source?|name=Citation needed}}: flag a source as possibly being [[w:WP:RS|unreliable]] or [[w:WP:V|unverifiable]].

* {{Tl|Unreliable source?}}{{Unreliable source?|name=Citation needed}}: flag a source as possibly being [[TP:RS|unreliable]] or [[w:WP:V|unverifiable]].

* {{Tl|Verify source}}{{Verify source}}: request that someone verify the cited source backs up the material in the passage.

* {{Tl|Verify source}}{{Verify source}}: request that someone verify the cited source backs up the material in the passage.

* {{Tl|Definition}}{{Definition}}: flag a definition as being ambiguous or confusing

* {{Tl|Definition}}{{Definition}}: flag a definition as being ambiguous or confusing

* {{Tl|Dubious}}{{Dubious}}: flag something as suspected of being incorrect; explain why on the talk page and briefly in the |reason= parameter

* {{Tl|Dubious}}{{Dubious}}: flag something as suspected of being incorrect; explain why on the talk page and briefly in the |reason= parameter

* {{Tl|Original research inline}}{{Original research inline}}: flag a statement as possibly containing [[w:Wikipedia:No original research|original research]]

* {{Tl|Original research inline}}{{Original research inline}}: flag a statement as possibly containing [[Project:No original research|original research]]

* {{Tl|Peacock term}}{{Peacock term}}: flag a statement that contains [[w:Wikipedia:Avoid peacock terms|peacock terms]]  

* {{Tl|Peacock term}}{{Peacock term}}: flag a statement that contains [[Project:Avoid peacock terms|peacock terms]]  

* {{Tl|POV statement}}{{POV statement}}: flag something as possibly not [[w:Wikipedia:Neutral point of view|having a neutral point of view]]  

* {{Tl|POV statement}}{{POV statement}}: flag something as possibly not [[Project:Neutral point of view|having a neutral point of view]]  

* {{Tl|Quantify}}{{Quantify}}: flag a statement as being vague regarding the amount of something

* {{Tl|Quantify}}{{Quantify}}: flag a statement as being vague regarding the amount of something

* {{Tl|Technical statement}}{{Technical statement}}: flag a word or phrase [[w:Wikipedia:Make technical articles understandable|that is both technical and not understandable]]

* {{Tl|Technical statement}}{{Technical statement}}: flag a word or phrase [[w:Wikipedia:Make technical articles understandable|that is both technical and not understandable]]