Template messages may be added to articles needing a cleanup. Their purposes are to foster improvement of the encyclopedia by alerting editors to changes that need to be made. Cleanup tags are meant to be temporary notices that lead to an effort to fix the problem, not a permanent badge of shame to show that you disagree with the article or a method of warning the readers against the article.
Unless otherwise noted, the cleanup messages, or tags, should be placed at the top—before other templates, images, or infoboxes, but after hatnotes (see WP:Hatnote#Placement). Certain tags can be placed at the top of an individual section, and others can be placed within the text itself (inline).
- Avoid tagging articles if you can easily and confidently fix the problem.
- The goal is an improved article, not a tagged article.
- Avoid "drive-by" tagging
- Tags should be accompanied by a comment on the article's talk page explaining the problem and beginning a discussion on how to fix it, or, for simpler problems, a remark using the reason parameter as shown below; tagging editors must be willing to follow-through with substantive discussion
- Don’t insert tags that are similar or redundant.
- For example, most articles that read like essays have an inappropriate tone, and in fact they end up being automatically grouped in the same category, so it is unnecessary to tag with both {{tone}} and {{essay-like}}.
- If an article has many problems, tag only the highest priority issues.
- A lengthy list is often less helpful than a shorter one. (See also: tag bombing and over-tagging)
- Don't add tags for trivial or minor problems, especially if an article needs a lot of work.
- For example, there is little point in polishing the grammar of a section that needs to be dramatically re-written to comply with content policies. Focus on the biggest one, two, or three problems.
A date parameter is added by a bot, or you can add it yourself with |date=May 2016
.
Contents
- 1 Does the article meet inclusion requirements?
- 2 Best practices in obscure or unpopular articles
- 3 Best practices in heavily monitored articles
- 4 Use in sections
- 5 Tag consolidation
- 6 Cleanup
- 6.1 Overarching copyright issues
- 6.2 Combined message boxes
- 6.3 General cleanup
- 6.4 Cleanup of specific subjects
- 6.5 Style of writing
- 6.6 Structure, formatting, and sections
- 6.7 Potentially unwanted content
- 6.8 Context and detail
- 6.9 Expand and add
- 6.10 Expert needed
- 6.11 Time-sensitive
- 6.12 Contradiction and confusion
- 6.13 Content forks
- 6.14 Importance and notability
- 6.15 Neutrality and factual accuracy
- 6.16 Verifiability and sources
- 6.17 Categories
- 6.18 Images and other media
- 6.19 Lists
- 6.20 Wiki tech
- 7 Other article tags
- 8 See also
Does the article meet inclusion requirements?
Before placing templates on a page it is worthwhile to cast a critical eye over the page to determine whether it should, in fact, be included in Wikipedia. Some articles can be tagged for speedy deletion or nominated for a deletion discussion at article for deletion.
Best practices in obscure or unpopular articles
On pages that have received little attention from editors or readers, cleanup templates can be used as a way to call attention to problems that need to be addressed by editors. Editors who want to help address these problems should look through the various cleanup categories such as maintenance and articles with content issues and try to address the problems so that the templates can be removed. Editors who do a lot of tagging of articles should also address the backlogs.
Best practices in heavily monitored articles
On pages that are being edited by a number of users, cleanup templates are used to inform readers and editors of ongoing discussions and attempts to fix the problems on the page. Such templates can be used to attract uninvolved users to discussions and cleanup efforts, and they can also serve as a warning to casual readers that the article may have problems and be subject to dramatic changes. In general, an editor who places a template message to indicate a problem like this should explain their rationale fully on the talkpage of the article. If the consensus of the other editors is that there is a problem or an editorial dispute that deserves such a clean-up template, then the editors should work to fix the problem as quickly and cleanly as possible so the template message can be removed. If the consensus is that there is no problem, then the message can be removed immediately. For heavily monitored articles, please do not add or remove template messages of this sort without using the talk page.
Use in sections
Many of these cleanup tags require you to place |article
as the first parameter when you use the tag at the top of an article. When you want the template to refer to just one section, however, you replace |article
with |section
(where the |
is a pipe key found on most keyboards as a shift-backslash (\
). See the specific template below to determine if such "section use" is supported and appropriate.
Tag consolidation
If too many tags are put at the top of an article, the article can become eclipsed by the tags, especially with short or stub articles. Consider consolidating the tags into the {{multiple issues}} template.
Cleanup
Overarching copyright issues
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{copypaste}} category |
Combined message boxes
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) — multiple issues (top of article) |
---|---|
{{multiple issues}}
|
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) — multiple issues (section) |
{{multiple issues|section=yes}}
|
General cleanup
Use one of these general tags when none of the more specific tags fits.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup}} category |
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{{cleanup AfD}} category |
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{{cleanup remainder}} category |
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{{cleanup rewrite}} category |
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{{Requires attention}} category |
|
Copy editing
Some articles just need someone with a good grasp of editing technique to give them a once-over.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{copy edit}} category |
|
{{copy edit-section}} category |
|
{{verify spelling}} |
[spelling?] |
Cleanup of specific subjects
These templates are all "general cleanup" templates, but tie into a specific subject matter or WikiProjects.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{CIA}} category |
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{{cleanup book}} category |
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{{cleanup Congress Bio}} category |
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{{cleanup film}} category |
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{{cleanup school}} category |
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{{cleanup university}} category |
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{{game guide}} category |
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{{game trivia}} category |
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{{local}} category |
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{{metricate}} category |
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{{USRD-wrongdir}} category |
Fiction
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
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{{all plot}} category |
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{{fiction}} category |
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{{in-universe}} category |
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{{More plot}} category |
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{{No plot}} category |
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{{plot}} category |
Inline with article text
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{need-IPA}} category |
[needs IPA] |
Style of writing
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{abbreviations}} category |
|
{{advert}} category |
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{{buzzword}} category |
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{{cleanup tense}} category |
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{{crystal}} category |
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{{debate}} category |
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{{editorial}} category |
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{{essay-like}} category |
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{{example farm}} category |
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{{howto}} category |
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{{inappropriate person}} category |
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{{like resume}} category |
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{{manual}} category |
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{{news release}} category |
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{{obituary}} category |
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{{over-quotation}} category |
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{{peacock}} category |
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{{pro and con list}} category |
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{{repetition}} category |
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{{research paper}} category |
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{{review}} category |
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{{story}} category |
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{{technical}} category |
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{{tone}} category |
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{{travel guide}} category |
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{{verbosity}} category |
Structure, formatting, and sections
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup reorganize}} category |
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{{sections}} category |
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{{condense}} category |
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{{duplication}} category |
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{{importance-section}} category |
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{{organize section}} category |
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{{overcoloured}} category |
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{{spacing}} |
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{{too many see alsos}} category |
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{{trivia}} |
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{{very long}} |
Introduction
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{lead missing}} category |
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{{lead too short}} category |
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{{lead too long}} category |
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{{inadequate lead}} category |
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{{lead rewrite}} category |
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{{POV-lead}} category |
Potentially unwanted content
Message boxes
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup list}} category |
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{{cleanup red links}} category |
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{{close paraphrasing}} category |
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{{copypaste}} category |
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{{criticism section}} category |
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{{external links}} category |
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{{further reading cleanup}} category |
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{{in popular culture}} category |
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{{MOS}} category |
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{{non-free}} category |
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{{overlinked}} category |
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{{schedule}} category |
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{{trivia}} category |
Inline with article text
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{peacock term}} |
[peacock term] |
{{spam link}} category |
[spam link?] |
{{weasel inline}} |
[weasel words] |
Context and detail
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{context}} category |
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{{generalize}} category |
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{{overly detailed}} category |
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{{specific}} category |
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{{time-context}} category |
Off-topic
Articles occasionally contain content which is otherwise valid, but appears unrelated to the nominal topic of the article. However, such stray may be subject of interpretation and must not lead to common understanding.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
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{{off-topic}} category |
|
Expand and add
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{biblio}} category |
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{{cleanup biography}} category |
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{{expand section}} category |
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{{formula missing descriptions}} category |
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{{Lacking ISBN}} category |
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{{kmposts}} category |
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{{lacking overview}} category |
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{{mileposts}} category |
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{{missing information}} category |
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Expert needed
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{expert needed}} category |
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Time-sensitive
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{time-context}} category |
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{{update}} category |
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{{update|inaccurate=y}} category |
Inline with article text
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{clarify timeframe}} |
For tagging WP:DATED problems [timeframe?] |
{{update after}} category |
For facts that need updating now or at a specific future date [dated info] |
{{update inline}} |
For facts that need updating [needs update] |
Contradiction and confusion
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{confusing}} category |
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{{contradict}} |
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{{contradict-other}} |
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{{contradict-other-multiple}} |
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{{incomprehensible}} category |
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{{misleading}} category |
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{{unclear date}} category |
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{{unfocused}} category |
|
- Note: Articles that are confusing or hard to understand due specifically to translation issues can be found at Wikipedia:Template messages/Translation.
Inline with article text
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{contradiction-inline}} category |
[contradictory]
|
{{expand acronym}} |
[expand acronym]
|
{{inconsistent}} category |
[inconsistent]
|
{{vague}} category |
[vague]
|
Content forks
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{bad summary}} category |
Importance and notability
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{notability}} category |
|
{{importance-section}} |
|
{{importance inline}} |
[importance?]
|
Neutrality and factual accuracy
Message boxes
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{autobiography}} category |
|
{{cherry picked}} category |
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{{coat rack}} category |
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{{COI}} category |
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{{disputed}} category |
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{{disputed-section}} category |
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{{geographical imbalance}} |
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{{globalize}} category |
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{{partisan}} category |
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{{peacock}} category |
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{{POV}} category |
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{{POV-check}} category |
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{{POV-lead}} category |
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{{POV-section}} category |
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{{POV-title}} category |
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{{recentism}} category |
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{{unbalanced}} category |
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{{undue weight}} category |
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{{weasel}} category |
Inline with article text
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{according to whom}} |
For weasel words ("It was said..." It was thought...") [according to whom?] |
{{clarify}} |
[clarification needed] |
{{dubious}} |
[dubious ] |
{{editorializing}} |
[editorializing] |
{{lopsided}} |
[unbalanced opinion] |
{{OR}} |
[original research?] |
{{POV-statement}} |
[neutrality is disputed] |
{{Undue weight inline}} |
[undue weight? ] |
{{when}} |
For ambiguous or vague time references of various kinds. [when?] |
{{who}} |
For weasel words ("Many say..." Some people think...") [who?] |
{{Overcite}} |
For abuse of citations, per Wikipedia:Citation overkill. [excessive citation] |
Verifiability and sources
Message boxes
- For quotations used out of context, references to unrelated material, and other misuse of citations.
- Message boxes may be used at the top of an article, or in a specific section of an article.
- Individual message boxes may be combined.
Overarching copyright issues
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{copypaste}} category |
Combined message boxes
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) — multiple issues (top of article) |
---|---|
{{multiple issues}}
|
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) — multiple issues (section) |
{{multiple issues|section=yes}}
|
Expert needed
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{expert needed}} category |
|
Individual message boxes: Biographies of living persons
Tag | Individual message boxes, text that will be shown, and usage notes. (Boxes for both the top of an article, or a specific section of an article) |
---|---|
{{BLP IMDb refimprove}} category |
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{{BLP primary sources}} category |
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{{BLP self-published}} category |
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{{BLP sources}} category |
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{{BLP sources section}} category |
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{{BLP unsourced}} category |
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{{BLP unsourced section}} category |
Individual message boxes: Issues with sufficiency of cites
Tag | Individual message boxes, text that will be shown, and usage notes. (Boxes for both the top of an article, or a specific section of an article) |
---|---|
{{cite check}} category |
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{{film IMDb refimprove}} category |
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{{medref}} |
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{{one source}} category |
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{{original research}} category |
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{{primary sources}} category |
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{{refimprove}} category |
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{{refimprove section}} category |
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{{refimprove science}} category |
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{{speculation}} category |
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{{religious text primary}} category |
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{{self-published}} category |
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{{third-party}} category |
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{{unreferenced}} category |
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{{unreferenced section}} category |
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{{unreliable sources}} category |
Individual message boxes: Issues with style or format
Tag | Individual message boxes, text that will be shown, and usage notes. (Boxes for both the top of an article, or a specific section of an article) |
---|---|
{{citation style}} category |
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{{citations broken}} category |
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{{cleanup-bare URLs}} category |
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{{duplicated citations}} category |
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{{format footnotes}} category |
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{{ibid}} category |
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{{more footnotes}} category |
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{{no footnotes}} category |
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{{page numbers improve}} category |
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{{page numbers needed}} category |
Inline with article text
Links for search
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{find sources}} |
Find sources: "example" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · HighBeam · JSTOR · free images · free news sources · The Wikipedia Library |
{{find sources 3}} |
Find sources: Gnews · Gnewspapers · Gbooks · Gscholar · NYT · Wikipedia Reference Search |
{{Friendly search suggestions}} |
|
{{search}} |
Categories
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{category unsourced}} category |
|
{{check category}} category |
|
{{disputed category}} category |
|
{{improve categories}} category |
|
{{recategorize}} category |
|
{{uncategorized}} category |
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{{uncategorized stub}} category |
|
Images and other media
For tips on requesting images see: WP:Requested pictures.
- For template messages related to the clean up of images, see: WP:Template messages/File namespace#Format and quality.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup gallery}} |
|
{{cleanup images}} category |
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{{diagram requested}} |
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{{image requested}} |
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{{map requested}} |
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{{too many photos}} category |
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{{audio requested}} |
Lists
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup list}} category |
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{{create list}} category |
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{{disputed list}} category |
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{{example farm}} category |
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{{famous}} category |
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{{famous players}} category |
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{{fiction trivia}} category |
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{{in popular culture}} category |
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{{list to table}} category |
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{{MOSLOW}} category |
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{{prose}} category |
|
Wiki tech
Most of these issues are covered in the main Manual of Style.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup HTML}} category |
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{{cleanup lang}} category |
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{{dead end}} category |
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{{disambiguation cleanup}} category |
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{{incoming links}} category |
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{{more-specific links}} |
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{{orphan}} category |
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{{uncategorized}} category |
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{{underlinked}} category |
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Infobox needed
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{infobox requested}} category |
|
{{new infobox}} category |
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{{single infobox request}} category |
|
Infobox cleanup needed
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup infobox}} category |
Other article tags
There are also tags available for:
- merging articles;
- moving articles;
- splitting articles; and
- translation of articles.
See also
- Wikipedia:Responsible tagging
- Wikipedia:Tagging pages for problems
- Wikipedia:Twinkle
- Wikipedia:WikiProject Stub sorting/Stub types
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