Wikipedia:Pulling a rabbit out of a hat

This is an essay on the Wikipedia:No original research policy. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

Shortcuts WP:PAROOAH WP:Trick Hat WP:No synthesis

This page in a nutshell: Don't combine facts to produce a new fact. Do not combine material from multiple sources to reach or imply a conclusion not explicitly stated by any of the sources. Do not attempt to use essays such as WP:BRD as policy or require others to adhere to them as policy.

At times, some editors may attempt to use tactics or tricks to push forward original research. These magic tricks can be identified. Synthesis (from the ancient Greek σύνθεσις, σύν "with" and θέσις "placing") refers to a combination of two or more entities that together form something new. This works well in a number of areas, such as chemistry but when done with facts it can be as "real" as magic. Combining facts to produce a new fact constitutes Original Research, because doing so incorrectly gives the reader a wrong impression. Combining material from multiple sources to reach or imply a conclusion not explicitly stated by any of the sources also cries foul due to the same red herring because it splices different points of view to create unverified facts.