Template:Refexample

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Example template usage for copy-pasting:

{{Refexample|section|date=December 2024}}

{{refex|section|small=y|date=December 2024}}

{{refex|date=December 2024}}

{{Refimprove example|date=December 2024|talk=Talk page section}}

Self-sourcing examples

Examples should be meaningful in the context of the article, explained in the prose and cited to reliable sources

A self-sourcing example in popular culture, according to current consensus by discussion on WT:V, is an example that is cited to primary sources, or an example with citations that only establish the verifiability of the example. An example in popular culture should have sources that not only establish its verifiability, but also discuss its significance in the context of the article.

Examples of self-sourcing examples

A self-sourcing example might look like the following:

The provided sources establish the verifiability of the example. They might even establish its notability. However, they do not discuss the example in the context it's given in the article. Such an example may be challenged or removed.

A source that does discuss the significance of an example in the context of the article might look like the following:

The source discusses the example, in the context of the article, at relative depth, while explaining the example's significance in that context.

A source that discusses an example as significant in one context does not necessarily show its significance in another context:

The source discusses the example in a different context than the one provided.

Some examples may be of questionable importance.

Usage

When to use

This template indicates that the article or section needs additional inline citations that do not fall under self-sourcing examples. This template should be used only for articles where there are some, but insufficient, inline citations to support the material currently in the article.

Inline alternatives

Please consider marking individual poorly-referenced statements with {{Better source example}} or {{importance example}} instead of placing this template.

How to use

According to MOS:LAYOUT, maintenance templates such as this one ought be placed after hatnotes, at the start of the article. That placement is supported by consensus obtained in an RfC at Template talk:Refimprove § RfC: Location of Tag.

The optional |talk= parameter is allowed; setting this to any non-empty value will result in the message "See talk page for details." being included in the tag. If the value is a valid anchor on the talk page (e.g., the title of a section or subsection heading), then the talk page link will go directly to that anchor; if not, to the top of the page.

The optional |small= parameter is allowed; setting this to any non-empty value will result in a smaller, left-aligned message box.

The optional |date= parameter is allowed; it requires using a non-abbreviated month name and four-digit year. Adding this parameter sorts the article into subcategories of Category:Articles needing additional references and out of the parent category, allowing the oldest problems to be identified and dealt with first. A bot will add this parameter if it is omitted. This parameter adds the article to Category:Articles needing additional references from December 2024, and Category:All articles needing additional references, both hidden categories. The simplest way to use this parameter manually is to copy the following example:

{{Refexample|date=December 2024}}

A user warning template, {{Uw-refexample}}, is available to notify contributors that an article they created needs its referencing improved.

Template data

This is the TemplateData documentation for this template used by VisualEditor and other tools; see the monthly error report for this template.

TemplateData for Refexample

This template generates a tag to indicate that the article needs additional inline citations that do not fall under "self-sourcing examples".

Template parameters

This template prefers block formatting of parameters.

Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Type (typically section)	1	Something to replace "article" in the template, typically "section"	String	optional
Date	date	The month and year that the need for citations is identified, such as 'June 2013'; may use '{{subst:DATE}}' template instead Auto value {{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}	String	suggested
Talk	talk	Any value (such as 'y') will result in the addition of 'See talk page for details.' to the tag	String	optional
small	small	Any value (such as 'y') will result in a smaller message box	String	optional

See also

• WP:INDISCRIMINATE
• Discussion and consensus about the verifiability of examples
• Template:Citation needed/doc#Inline templates
  • {{Importance example}} — an inline variation of this template
  • {{Better source}}
  • {{Refimprove inline}}

• {{Refimprove}}
• {{Example farm}}
• Wikipedia:Template messages/Cleanup/Verifiability and sources