Help:References and page numbers
![]() |
This page is a how-to guide, detailing processes or procedures of some aspect or aspects of Wikipedia's norms and practices. It is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, and is therefore an essay. |
|
Per the verifiability policy, "Cite the source clearly and precisely (specifying page, section, or such divisions as may be appropriate)."
Contents
Examples[edit]
The manner in which a page number is included depends on the citation style. These examples use Citation Style 1 templates, but these are not required.
Footnotes[edit]
These examples use Footnotes:
This example is the most basic and includes unique references for each citation, showing the page numbers in the reference list. This repeats the citation, changing the page number.
Markup | Renders as |
---|---|
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.<ref>{{cite book |last=Elk |first=Anne |title=[[Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses]] |date=November 16, 1972 |page=5}}</ref> Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.<ref>{{cite book |last=Elk |first=Anne |title=[[Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses]] |date=November 16, 1972 |page=6}}</ref> {{reflist}} |
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.[1] Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.[2]
|
Here, the page numbers are shown in the text by using {{rp}}.
Markup | Renders as |
---|---|
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.<ref name=elk1972>{{cite book |last=Elk |first=Anne |title=[[Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses]] |date=November 16, 1972}}</ref>{{rp|5}} Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.<ref name=elk1972 />{{rp|6}} {{reflist}} |
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.[1]:5 Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.[1]:6
|
List-defined references[edit]
Page numbers are shown in-text by using List-defined references and {{r}}.
Markup | Renders as |
---|---|
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.{{r|elk1972|page1=5}} Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.{{r|elk1972|page1=6}} {{reflist|refs= <ref name=elk1972>{{cite book |last=Elk |first=Anne |title=[[Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses]] |date=November 16, 1972}}</ref> }} {{reflist}} |
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.[1]:5 Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.[1]:6
|
Shortened footnotes[edit]
Using Shortened footnotes, showing the page numbers in the notes list and a separate list for the full reference
Markup | Renders as |
---|---|
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.<ref>{{harvtxt|Elk|1972|p=5}}</ref> Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.<ref>{{harvnb|Elk|1972|p=6}}</ref> {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |last=Elk |first=Anne |title=[[Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses]] |date=November 16, 1972 |ref=harv}} {{refend}} |
|
Markup | Renders as |
---|---|
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.{{sfn|Elk|1972|p=5}} Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.{{sfn|Elk|1972|p=6}} {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |last=Elk |first=Anne |title=[[Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses]] |date=November 16, 1972 |ref=harv}} {{refend}} |
|
A mix of Footnotes and Shortened footnotes with the full reference in the first footnote and shortened footnotes for subsequent references.
Markup | Renders as |
---|---|
The brontosaurus is thin at one end.<ref>{{cite book |last=Elk |first=Anne |title=[[Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses]] |date=November 16, 1972a |ref=harv |page=5}}</ref> Then it becomes much thicker in the middle.{{sfn|Elk|1972a|p=6}} {{reflist}} |
|
Parenthetical referencing[edit]
Parenthetical referencing (Harvard), showing the page numbers in-text using {{harv}}.
Markup | Renders as |
---|---|
The brontosaurus is thin at one end {{harv|Elk|1972b|p=5}}. Then it becomes much thicker in the middle {{harv|Elk|1972b|p=6}}. {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |last=Elk |first=Anne |title=[[Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses]] |date=November 16, 1972b |ref=harv}} {{refend}} |
The brontosaurus is thin at one end (Elk 1972b, p. 5). Then it becomes much thicker in the middle (Elk 1972b, p. 6).
|
Other in-source locations[edit]
Often, a page number is not appropriate such as when citing an audio or video source or a book that has no page numbers. The Citation Style 1 templates have an |at=
parameter that can be used to include non-page locators. The Author-date citation templates use |loc=
.
Some example locators: section (sec.), column (col.), paragraph (para.); track; hours, minutes and seconds; act, scene, canto, book, part, folio, stanza, back cover, liner notes, indicia, colophon, dust jacket, verse
Feature requests[edit]
Footnotes do not directly support page numbers; a feature request is logged as T15127.