RationalWiki:Help/Refs
From RationalWiki
Here at Rationalwiki, we like sources.[1] The more sources, the better. Showing your sources is relatively simple.
Let's use an example phrase: All polar bears are left handed.
To source this, you would use the tag <ref>...</ref> with your source taking up the "..."
So to get this: All polar bears are left handed,[2] your coding would look like this: All polar bears are left handed,<ref>Because I said so</ref>
References are usually to books or websites (though sometimes they're random afterthoughts[3]). When linking to a website, simply follow the same steps as you normally would. [4]
The final step to references is showing them. First, create a new section[5] called References, using the coding: "==References==". The = signs create a new section. Then insert the code <references/> on the next line to automatically create a list of everything coded with the "ref" tags..
Sometimes, if there are "notes" rather than cites, we call the section ==References and Notes==
One final thing. If you click one of those little blue squares, you'll automatically be taken to the source at the bottom. If you click an arrow at a source at the bottom, you'll automatically be taken back to where in the article it is referenced.
One other final thing. If you think someone put in an untrue fact that is unsourced, or a fact that is true and unsourced but could be sourced, add the template[6] {{fact}}. This will automatically create the following notation: Citation needed. It also puts it into the category of articles with unsourced statements. The original author should then "put up or shut up". Otherwise other diligent editors will then ignore the article as being a bunch of made-up lies hopefully look for ways to justify whatever the article claims.
Another final thing. If you used the same reference repeatedly in an article, you don't have to put the whole source in multiple times.[7][7][7][7] This is accomplished by giving the reference a name. The first citation has the format: <ref name="repeat"> ... </ref>. After that point to refer to the same reference again, use the following: <ref name="repeat"/>, with no other tags.
As explained at meta:
| “ | Multiple insertion of the same reference
References may be cited more than once using <ref name="id"/>. On the Edit page, this is placed at the first insertion point of citation: <ref name="Perry">Perry's Handbook, Sixth Edition, McGraw-Hill Co., 1984.</ref> This is placed at the second insertion point of citation: <ref name="Perry"/> This is placed at the third insertion point of citation: <ref name="Perry"/> ..... and so forth for further insertion points | ” |
Finally, please put references after periods/full stops and commas.
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ↑ "Sources" are authoritative statements by (usually) third parties which corroborate the point made.
- ↑ Because I said so
- ↑ like this
- ↑ see Rationalwiki:Help/Links
- ↑ About sections
- ↑ A template is a page transcluded into the present article.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 You could, but it'd look bad.
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