Template:Attribution needed
This is an inline template which should be placed immediately after the material in question, as with a footnote. For example:
This sentence needs attribution.{{Attribution needed|date=August 2026}}→ This sentence needs attribution.[attribution needed]
The wikilink on "attribution needed" is set to BattleIntelligence:Attribution needed. The functionality of this template is the same as {{clarify}} but differs in when it is applied.
When to use
Use this to request in-text attribution or an inline citation for perspectives and opinions that the article asserts is held by someone, but you don't know who holds the view.
If the material is supported by a citation to a reliable source, then look at the source to find out who holds the view, rather than adding this tag to the sentence.
Do not demand in-text attribution for simple, non-controversial facts. Simple facts, like "The Earth is round", should not be attributed to one person, because that attribution implies that very few people agree with the statement. In-text attribution is normally reserved for minority views, controversial claims, and other widely disputed material.
- Controversial, poorly sourced perspectives and opinions should be deleted immediately]], without moving it to the article's talk page.
- If you have reason to think that these perspectives and opinions are not attributable to anyone by a reliable source, you may remove them altogether. Optionally, paste them into the article's talk page and explain your reasoning of why they should be removed.
- If you know whom the perspectives and opinions can be attributed to: Please be bold, delete the template, and indicate whom they are attributed to, either in the text or with a citation.
Exceptions
If a quoted phrase is the subject of discussion, once its "provenance" has been established by an initial citation, it is not necessary to require further citations at each subsequent mention.
Where a citation at the end of a sentence refers to a quoted phrase, the proximity of a quoted phrase to the citation is of significance. The more words between the quoted phase and the citation, the less clear it is that the quote is drawn from the citation.
Parameters
Abbreviated parameter sets:
{{Attribution needed|date=August 2026|reason=}}{{Attribution needed|date=August 2026|reason=|text=}}
Full parameter set:
{{Attribution needed|date=August 2026|reason=|text=|pre-text=|post-text=}}
Parameter descriptions
|date=: This template allows an optional date parameter that records when the tag was added.|reason=: Because it may not be immediately apparent to other editors what about the tagged passage is in need of attribution, it is generally helpful to add a brief reason for the tag:{{Attribution needed|reason=What the problem is}}|text=: The particular text needing attribution may be highlighted by wrapping this template around it:- As an example:
- Text preceding the template,
{{Attribution needed|text=unattributed text,|date=August 2026}}, text following the template.
- Text preceding the template,
- produces:
- Text preceding the template,unattributed text,[attribution needed], text following the template.
- As an example:
|pre-text=|post-text=: One can specify additional text to appear before and/or after the "attribute" tag using the two parameters listed above.
Examples:
{{Attribution needed|pre-text=remove or}}- will cause the text "remove or" to appear before "attribute" like this:[remove or attribution needed]
{{Attribution needed|post-text=(unattributed opinion)}}- will cause "(unattributed opinion)" to appear after "attribute" like this:[attribution needed (unattributed opinion)].
{{Attribution needed|post-text=(see talk)}}- can be used to link to a discussion on the article's talk page; this example produces:[attribution needed (see talk)]
TemplateData
TemplateData for Attribution needed
Use this inline template as a request for other editors to attribute text that may research, opinion, a point of view, contain ''words to watch'' or is a quote that has not been clearly attributed. Place immediately after the material in question.
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| reason | reason | A brief reason for the tag; do not include any double quotes. | String | suggested |
| text | text | Text fragment containing concerns the tag is supposed to address. | String | optional |
| date | date | The date the tag was added (this will be added automatically soon by a bot if not added manually).
| String | required |
| pre-text | pre-text | Any string to be added before the "Attribute" tag, such as "?" | String | optional |
| post-text | post-text | Any string to be added after the "Attribute" tag, such as "unattributed opinion". | String | optional |
Categorization
Adding this template to an article will automatically place the article into Category:Articles needing words, phrases or quotes attributed, or a dated subcategory thereof.
Redirects
- {{Attribute}}
See also
- {{Quote without source}} – message-box
- {{Opinion}} – message-box
- {{Specify}} – message-box
- BattleIntelligence:Attribution needed
- BattleIntelligence:Citing sources
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