Wikipedia:Template messages/Cleanup
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 | This is an information page. It describes the editing community's established practice on some aspect or aspects of Wikipedia's norms and customs. It is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Add template messages to inform readers and editors of specific problems with articles or sections, but do not use them as a badge of shame. |
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 an article, or a method of warning readers about an article.
Unless otherwise noted, cleanup messages, or tags, should be placed at the top of the page, before other templates, images, or infoboxes, but after hatnotes (see Wikipedia:Hatnote § Placement). Certain tags can be placed at the beginning of an individual section, and others can be placed within the text itself (inline).
A date parameter is added by a bot, or you can add it yourself with |date=February 2020.
- Don't tag an article if you can easily and confidently fix the problem.
- Your goal is an improved article, not a tagged article.
- Do some research to attempt to solve the problem before tagging.
- Don't put the burden of doing so on another editor if you are capable of fixing the problem yourself with a simple search or consulting a reference work.
- Don't do "drive-by" tagging.
- Tags must 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 and more obvious 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 noting grammatical problems for a section that needs to be completely re-written to comply with content policies. Focus on the biggest one, two, or three problems.
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 Open tasks
- 9 See also
Does the article meet inclusion requirements?[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
Overarching copyright issues[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{copypaste}} category |
|
Combined message boxes[edit]
Do not use this as the only message box on the article or section; it should be used with at least two other message boxes sandwiched inside it.
| 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}}
|
|
![[icon]](/web/20200209044928/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
General cleanup[edit]
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 |
| ||
| {{cleanup AfD}} category |
| ||
| {{cleanup rewrite}} category |
| ||
| {{cleanup section}} category |
|
Copy editing[edit]
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[edit]
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 |
| |||
| {{cleanup book}} category |
| |||
| {{cleanup Congress bio}} category |
| |||
| {{cleanup film}} category |
| |||
| {{cleanup school}} category |
| |||
| {{cleanup university}} category |
| |||
| {{game guide}} category |
| |||
| {{game trivia}} category |
| |||
| {{local}} category |
| |||
| {{metricate}} category |
| |||
| {{USRD-wrongdir}} category |
|
Fiction[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{all plot}} category |
| ||
| {{fiction}} category |
| ||
| {{in-universe}} category |
| ||
| {{long plot}} category |
| ||
| {{more plot}} category |
| ||
| {{no plot}} category |
|
Inline with article text[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
|---|---|
| {{needs IPA}} category |
[needs IPA] |
Style of writing[edit]
Structure, formatting and sections[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{cleanup reorganize}} category |
| ||
| {{condense}} category |
| ||
| {{copy edit}} |
| ||
| {{duplication}} category |
| ||
| {{importance section}} category |
| ||
| {{organize section}} category |
| ||
| {{overcoloured}} category |
| ||
| {{sections}} category |
| ||
| {{summarize section}} |
| ||
| {{too many see alsos}} category |
| ||
| {{trivia}} |
| ||
| {{very long}} |
|
Introduction[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{inadequate lead}} category |
| ||
| {{lead extra info}} category |
| ||
| {{lead missing}} category |
| ||
| {{lead rewrite}} category |
| ||
| {{lead too long}} category |
| ||
| {{lead too short}} category |
| ||
| {{POV lead}} category |
|
Potentially unwanted content[edit]
Message boxes[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{cleanup list}} category |
| ||
| {{cleanup red links}} category |
| ||
| {{close paraphrasing}} category |
| ||
| {{copypaste}} category |
| ||
| {{criticism section}} category |
| ||
| {{external links}} category |
| ||
| {{further reading cleanup}} category |
| ||
| {{in popular culture}} category |
| ||
| {{MOS}} category |
| ||
| {{non-free}} category |
| ||
| {{overlinked}} category |
| ||
| {{schedule}} category |
| ||
| {{trivia}} category |
|
Inline with article text[edit]
| 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[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{context}} category |
| ||
| {{generalize}} category |
| ||
| {{list entry too long}} category |
[List entry too long] | ||
| {{human-centric}} category |
| ||
| {{overly detailed}} category |
| ||
| {{specific}} category |
| ||
| {{time-context}} category |
|
Off-topic[edit]
Articles occasionally contain content which is otherwise valid, but appears unrelated to the nominal topic of the article.
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{off topic}} category |
|
Expand and add[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{biblio}} category |
| |||
| {{cleanup biography}} category |
| |||
| {{expand section}} category |
| |||
| {{formula missing descriptions}} category |
| |||
| {{kmposts}} category |
| |||
| {{lacking ISBN}} category |
| |||
| {{lacking overview}} category |
| |||
| {{mileposts}} category |
| |||
| {{missing information}} category |
|
Expert needed[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{expert needed}} category |
|
Time-sensitive[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{time-context}} category |
| ||
| {{update}} category |
| ||
{{update|inaccurate=y}}category |
|
Inline with article text[edit]
| 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 [needs update] |
| {{update inline}} |
For facts that need updating [needs update] |
Contradiction and confusion[edit]
- Note: Templates relevant for when articles are confusing or hard to understand due specifically to translation issues can be found at Wikipedia:Template messages/Translation.
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{confusing}} category |
| ||
| {{contradicts other}} |
| ||
| {{contradicts others}} |
| ||
| {{incomprehensible}} category |
| ||
| {{misleading}} category |
| ||
| {{self-contradictory}} |
| ||
| {{unclear date}} category |
| ||
| {{unfocused}} category |
|
Inline with article text[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
|---|---|
| {{contradict-inline}} category |
[contradictory]
|
| {{expand acronym}} |
[expand acronym]
|
| {{inconsistent}} category |
[inconsistent]
|
| {{vague}} category |
[vague]
|
Content forks[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{bad summary}} category |
|
Importance and notability[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{importance inline}} |
[importance?]
| ||
| {{importance section}} |
| ||
| {{notability}} category |
|
Neutrality and factual accuracy[edit]
Message boxes[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{autobiography}} category |
| |||
| {{cherry-picked}} category |
| |||
| {{coatrack}} category |
| |||
| {{COI}} category |
| |||
| {{disputed}} category |
| |||
| {{disputed section}} category |
| |||
| {{geographical imbalance}} |
| |||
| {{globalize}} category |
| |||
| {{systemic bias}} category |
| |||
| {{partisan sources}} category |
| |||
| {{peacock}} category |
| |||
| {{POV}} category |
| |||
| {{POV check}} category |
| |||
| {{POV lead}} category |
| |||
| {{POV section}} category |
| |||
| {{POV title}} category |
| |||
| {{recentism}} category |
| |||
| {{unbalanced}} category |
| |||
| {{undisclosed paid}} category |
| |||
| {{undue weight}} category |
| |||
| {{weasel}} category |
|
Inline with superimposed text[edit]
| 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}} |
Do not use without first taking some steps to research the apparent problem [clarification needed] |
| {{contentious label inline}} |
[contentious label] |
| {{dubious}} |
[dubious ] |
| {{editorializing}} |
[editorializing] |
| {{excessive citations inline}} |
For abuse of citations, per Wikipedia:Citation overkill. [excessive citations] |
| {{lopsided}} |
[unbalanced opinion?] |
| {{original research inline}} |
[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?] |
Verifiability and sources[edit]
Message boxes[edit]
- 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.
Individual message boxes: Biographies of living persons[edit]
| 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 |
| ||
| {{BLP primary sources}} category |
| ||
| {{BLP self-published}} category |
| ||
| {{BLP sources}} category |
| ||
| {{BLP sources section}} category |
| ||
| {{BLP unsourced}} category |
| ||
| {{BLP unsourced section}} category |
|
Individual message boxes: Issues with citations and sources[edit]
| 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 |
| |||
| {{cite check section}} category |
| |||
| {{excessive citations}} category |
| |||
| {{media IMDb refimprove}} category |
| |||
| {{medical citations needed}} |
| |||
| {{more citations needed}} category |
| |||
| {{one source}} category |
| |||
| {{original research}} category |
| |||
| {{primary sources}} category |
| |||
| {{refexample}} category |
| |||
| {{refimprove science}} category |
| |||
| {{refimprove section}} category |
| |||
| {{religious text primary}} category |
| |||
| {{self-published}} category |
| |||
| {{speculation}} category |
| |||
| {{third-party}} category |
| |||
| {{unreferenced}} category |
| |||
| {{unreferenced section}} category |
| |||
| {{unreliable sources}} category |
| |||
| {{user-generated}} category |
|
Individual message boxes: Issues with style or format[edit]
| 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 |
| ||
| {{citations broken}} category |
| ||
| {{cleanup bare URLs}} category |
| ||
| {{ref expand}} category |
| ||
| {{duplicated citations}} category |
| ||
| {{format footnotes}} category |
| ||
| {{ibid}} category |
| ||
| {{more footnotes}} category |
| ||
| {{no footnotes}} category |
| ||
| {{page numbers improve}} category |
| ||
| {{page numbers needed}} category |
|
Tags inline with article text[edit]
| Tag | Background info from Wikipedia namespace |
|---|---|
| {{according to whom}} |
[according to whom?] |
| {{additional citation needed}} |
[additional citation(s) needed] |
| {{attribution needed}} |
[attribution needed] |
| {{better source}} |
[better source needed] |
| {{better source example}} |
[better source needed] Links to self-sourcing examples |
| {{by whom}} |
[by whom?] |
| {{chronology citation needed}} |
[chronology citation needed] |
| {{citation needed}} |
[citation needed] |
| {{citation needed lead}} |
[not verified in body] |
| {{citation needed span}} |
The sun is hot.[citation needed] |
| {{circular reference}} |
[circular reference] When the sources copy Wikipedia material directly |
| {{circular reporting}} |
[circular reporting?] For the subtler case when you suspect the sources are based on facts first published at Wikipedia, but they didn't copy it directly |
| {{clarify}} |
[clarification needed] |
| {{copyvio link}} |
[infringing link?] |
| {{dead link}} |
[dead link] |
| {{disambiguation needed}} |
[disambiguation needed] |
| {{Disputed inline}} |
[disputed ] |
| {{dubious}} |
[dubious ] |
| {{episode needed}} |
[episode needed] |
| {{example needed}} |
[example needed] |
| {{explain}} |
[further explanation needed] |
| {{failed verification}} |
[failed verification] |
| {{full citation needed}} |
[full citation needed] |
| {{how}} |
[how?] |
| {{medical citation needed}} |
[medical citation needed] |
| {{medical citation needed span}} |
This is an uncited biomedical claim.[medical citation needed] |
| {{nonspecific}} |
[not specific enough to verify] |
| {{original research inline}} |
[original research?] |
| {{page needed}} |
[page needed] |
| {{primary source inline}} |
[non-primary source needed] |
| {{quantify}} |
[quantify] |
| {{quote without source}} |
[This quote needs a citation] |
| {{registration required}} |
(registration required) |
| {{request quotation}} |
[need quotation to verify] |
| {{season needed}} |
[season & episode needed] |
| {{self-published inline}} category |
[self-published source?] |
| {{self-published source}} category |
[self-published source] |
| {{specify}} category |
[specify] |
| {{synthesis inline}} |
[improper synthesis?] |
| {{third-party inline}} |
[third-party source needed] |
| {{unreliable medical source}} |
[unreliable medical source?] |
| {{unreliable source?}} |
[unreliable source?] |
| {{update after}} |
[needs update] |
| {{user-generated inline}} category |
[user-generated source?] |
| {{user-generated source}} category |
[user-generated source] |
| {{vague}} |
[vague] |
| {{verify quote}} |
[verify] |
| {{verify source}} |
[verification needed] |
| {{volume needed}} |
[volume & issue needed] |
| {{when}} |
[when?] |
| {{where}} |
[where?] |
| {{which}} |
[which?] |
| {{who}} |
[who?] |
| {{whose quote}} |
[who said this?] |
| {{why}} |
[why?] |
| {{year missing}} |
[year missing] Use when the year of publication of a source is needed |
| {{year needed}} |
[year needed] Use when the date of an event is needed |
Links for search[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{find sources}} |
Find sources: Google (books · news · newspapers · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · NYT · TWL | ||
| {{friendly search suggestions}} |
| ||
| {{search}} |
Categories[edit]
| 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 |
| ||
| {{uncategorized stub}} category |
|
Images and other media[edit]
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) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{audio requested}} |
| |||
| {{cleanup gallery}} |
| |||
| {{cleanup images}} category |
| |||
| {{diagram requested}} |
| |||
| {{image captions for cleanup}} category |
| |||
| {{image requested}} |
| |||
| {{map requested}} |
| |||
| {{too many photos}} category |
|
Lists[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{cleanup list}} category |
| ||
| {{create list}} category |
| ||
| {{disputed list}} category |
| ||
| {{example farm}} category |
| ||
| {{famous}} category |
| ||
| {{fiction trivia}} category |
| ||
| {{in popular culture}} category |
| ||
| {{list entry too long}} category |
[List entry too long]
| ||
| {{list to table}} category |
| ||
| {{MOSLOW}} category |
| ||
| {{prose}} category |
|
Wiki tech[edit]
Most of these issues are covered in the main Manual of Style.
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{cleanup HTML}} category |
| |||
| {{cleanup lang}} category |
| |||
| {{dead end}} category |
| |||
| {{disambiguation cleanup}} category |
| |||
| {{incoming links}} category |
| |||
| {{dablinks}} category |
| |||
| {{orphan}} category |
| |||
| {{uncategorized}} category |
| |||
| {{underlinked}} category |
|
Infobox needed[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{infobox requested}} category |
| ||
| {{new infobox}} category |
| ||
| {{single infobox request}} category |
|
Infobox cleanup needed[edit]
| Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{cleanup infobox}} category |
|
Other article tags[edit]
There are also tags available for:
- merging articles;
- moving articles;
- splitting articles; and
- translation of articles.
Open tasks[edit]
Wikipedia backlog by category
Wikipedia:Backlog lists tasks that should be done to improve Wikipedia (assuming the cleanup templates were placed correctly). Helping reduce backlogs is an important issue, so please feel free to help out.
Click any linked number for that category's articles prioritized by their number of incoming links.
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See also[edit]
- Wikipedia:Responsible tagging
- Wikipedia:Tagging pages for problems
- Wikipedia:Twinkle
- Wikipedia:WikiProject Stub sorting/Stub types
| Attribution |
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| Clarity |
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| Miscellaneous |
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| Neutrality |
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| Precision |
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| Time-sensitivity |
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| Verifiability |
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| Wording |
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| General advice | |||||||
| Main namespace | |
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| All namespaces | |
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