Template : Unreliable source?

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This template is used on approximately 12,000 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage . Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

Redirects

Shortcuts

{{ rs? }}
{{ rs }}

Usage

This template is intended to be used when a statement is sourced but it is questionable whether the source used is reliable for supporting the statement. It produces a superscripted notation like the following:

It was actually written by Francis Bacon. ^[9]^{[
unreliable source?
]}

Articles tagged with this template will be categorized into Category:All articles lacking reliable references .

Place this template inline, {{Unreliable source?|date=June 2024}} following the questionable source. The template should be placed outside and immediately after the reference to the questionable source ( <ref> ... </ref>), within the article's text:

Potentially controversial statement.

<ref>some alleged source for this</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2024}}

Next sentence.

Parameters

The template has the following optional parameters:

date : should be set to the month and year when the article was tagged. Example: {{ Unreliable source? |date=June 2024}}
reason : a note explaining why you think the source is unreliable as per WP:RS . Displays as a tool tip. Keep it short (one sentence) as longer material belongs on the talk page. It is good to reiterate the reason in your edit summary. Example: {{Unreliable source?|reason= Your WP:RS-based reason here. |date=June 2024}}
sure or certain : if set to "y" or "yes" will remove the question mark from the template's output to denote a degree of certainty that the source is unreliable. Please use this with a |reason= parameter, and only after a good faith attempt to verify the reliability of the source in question. Example: {{ Unreliable source? |sure=y|reason= Your WP:RS-based reason here. |date=June 2024}} NOTE: This parameter has an alias, |failed=, which may make more grammatical sense when used with certain redirects like {{ verify credibility }}.

When to use and not use this template

This template should be used to express your doubt about the credibility of a source.

This tag should not be used on unreliably sourced contentious statements about living persons ; if a source for such a statement is not reliable, the statement and the source should be removed immediately .

For whole articles or article sections that rely on suspect sources, considering using the banner template {{ More citations needed }} or {{ More citations needed section }}, respectively, rather than individually tagging a large number of statements.

For sources promoting fringe theories and pseudo-science , the more specific template {{ Unreliable fringe source }} can be used. Even more specifically, flag improperly sourced medical claims with {{ Unreliable medical source }}.

This tag should not be used to indicate that the sourced material could not be found within a given source. In that case, {{ failed verification }} is a better template. For statements that have failed verification and have a questionable would-be source, consider removal of the source (and possibly the statement) over using both tags.

TemplateData

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard , VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Unreliable source? in articles based on its TemplateData.

TemplateData for Unreliable source?

Used when a statement is sourced but it is questionable whether the source used is reliable for supporting the statement.

Template parameters [ Edit template data ]
This template prefers inline formatting of parameters.
Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Reason	`reason`	Note explaining why you think the source is unreliable as per WP:RS. Displays as a tool tip	String	optional
Certain?	`certain` `sure` `failed`	If set to "y" or "yes" will remove the question mark from the template's output to denote a degree of certainty that the source is unreliable Default no Example yes	Boolean	optional
Month and year	`date`	Month and year of tagging; e.g., 'January 2013', but not 'jan13' Auto value `{{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}`	String	suggested
Displayed tag text	`name`	Text displayed by the in-line tag between the square brackets Default unreliable source?	String	optional

Template : Unreliable source?

Usage

Parameters

When to use and not use this template

TemplateData

See also

Inline templates

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