Template:Refimprove

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Template documentation

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This template indicates that the article needs additional references. There is currently no consensus on where to place this template. Many editors understand this template to be redundant when it is used on articles clearly marked as stubs.

The first unnamed parameter will replace the words "section or article" in the template, and is not required. The most common usage of this is to use one word or the other, e.g. {{Refimprove|section}} to indicate that only the section is affected by the tagged problem.

A |talk= parameter is allowed, setting this to any value will result in the message "See talk page for details." being included in the tag.

This template also includes support for using the |date= parameter. 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. The simplest way to use this parameter manually is {{Refimprove|{{subst:DATE}}}} but it can be done more explicitly as {{Refimprove|date=December 2008}} (both result in the same output).

Listed below are three options for usage.

{{Refimprove}}

{{Refimprove|date=December 2008}}

{{Refimprove|article|{{subst:DATE}}|talk=y}}

1 Differences from related templates
2 Redirects
3 See also

Differences from related templates

General advantages

The naming scheme of Refimprove parallels that used for {{Refbegin}}, {{Refend}}, and {{Reflist}}, thereby reducing confusion in compliance with the KISS principle.
Refimprove is easy to use.

Differences from {{Primarysources}} and {{Unreferenced}}

Refimprove uses simple, general wording so that the template can be used any time referencing in an article needs improvement.
There is also a {{Refimprove|section}} and the normal variations.

Differences from {{Citation style}}

This template is intended for use in articles that need additional references. In case enough references appear to be present but the style of citation needs to improve, for example if it's not immediately clear which references back which facts, please don't use this template, but use {{Citation style}} instead.

Differences with {{Fact}}

Refimprove works for general and inline references whereas {{Fact}} is used for specific controversial statements requiring referencing.
Unlike {{Fact}}, Refimprove places a very conspicuous banner on the article.

Differences from {{Nofootnotes}}, {{Morefootnotes}}

Refimprove can be used when there is not an "external links" or "further reading" section in the article.
Nofootnotes and Morefootnotes, when used in conjunction with an "external links" or "further reading" section, give clearer instructions on what can be done to improve the referencing of the article.