Template:Citation needed span

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.^{[citation needed]}

Template documentation[view] [edit] [history] [purge]

This template is used on approximately 3,600 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

Preview message: Transclusion count updated automatically (see documentation).

Shortcuts

Usage[edit]

The {{citation needed span}} template may be used when there is unsourced text that should be attributed to a reference citation. Unlike the template {{citation needed}}, this template attaches explicitly to a portion of text, for example one or more specific sentences, by surrounding the text with the template. This is especially useful for flagging a block of multiple facts or multiple sentences as needing citation, and for singling out a specific fact that is unsourced among many sourced ones.

Avoid use for multiple paragraphs or around a list without closing and opening each template around each paragraph or list item. This kind of use causes linting errors and may disrupt the page display. An alternative with multiple paragraphs is {{unreferenced|section}} or {{more citations needed|section}}.

Once a citation is added, please remove this template from the surrounded text.

{{citation needed span|date=May 2024|Passage(s) to be sourced}}, or:

{{citation needed span|date=May 2024|text=Passage(s) to be sourced}}

The date is optional, so the minimal syntax is:

{{citation needed span|Passage(s) to be sourced}}

Example of usage:

Sourced material. {{citation needed span|date=May 2024|Passage to be sourced. Another passage to be sourced.}} More sourced material.

Sourced material. Passage to be sourced. Another passage to be sourced.^{[citation needed]} More sourced material.

Compare usage of {{citation needed}}:

Sourced material. Passage to be sourced.{{Citation needed}} Another passage to be sourced.{{Citation needed}} More sourced material.

Sourced material. Passage to be sourced.^{[citation needed]} Another passage to be sourced.^{[citation needed]} More sourced material.

Parameters[edit]

There are three parameters to the template:

|text= (or no parameter): The unreferenced content that needs a citation.
|date=: The date in the form May 2024. If omitted, AnomieBOT will add it if there are no new edits for a few minutes.
|reason=: The reason for the citation request. If omitted, "This claim needs references to reliable sources." will be used. This text is shown as a tooltip.

TemplateData[edit]

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Citation needed span in articles based on its TemplateData.

TemplateData for Citation needed span

Marks a specific piece of text as needing a citation.

Template parameters[Edit template data]
This template prefers inline formatting of parameters.
Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Text	`text` `1`	The text needing a citation Auto value	Content	required
Date	`date`	Month and year the tag was added Example June 2015 Auto value `{{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}`	Date	suggested
Reason?	`reason`	Reason the text needs a citation; shown in a tooltip Default This claim needs references to reliable sources	String	suggested

Categorization of articles[edit]

Adding this template to an article places the article into Category:All articles with unsourced statements, Category:Articles with unsourced statements, and/or dated subcategories thereof.

Usage[edit]

Parameters[edit]

TemplateData[edit]

Categorization of articles[edit]

Redirects to this template[edit]

See also[edit]