Template:Refimprove/doc

This template indicates that the article needs additional inline citations. This template should be used only for articles where there are some, but insufficient, inline citations. For articles that have no inline citations at all currently, use Template:Unreferenced. There is currently no consensus on where in the article to place this template. Some editors understand this template to be redundant when it is used on articles clearly marked as stubs.

Please consider marking individual unreferenced statements with Citation needed instead of placing this template.

Usage
A talk parameter is allowed; setting this to any value will result in the message "See talk page for details." being included in the tag.

This template also includes support for using the date parameter. Adding this parameter sorts the article into subcategories of Category:Articles needing additional references and out of the parent category, allowing the oldest problems to be identified and dealt with first. Be careful not to abbreviate the date, because then it will automatically add a redlinked category instead of the correct category. The simplest way to use this parameter manually is  but it can be done more explicitly as   (both result in the same output). Do not use :   includes the leading.

Listed below are four examples of usage:

(the same as )

This template adds the article to Category:Articles needing additional references from August 2024, and Category:All articles needing additional references, both hidden categories.

General advantage

 * The naming scheme of Refimprove parallels that used for Refbegin, Refend, and Reflist, thereby reducing confusion, in compliance with the KISS principle.

Differences from Unreferenced and Citation needed

 * Use Unreferenced when there are no inline citations in an article. If there are one or more, but insufficient inline citations in an article, then use refimprove.
 * However if an article has sufficient inline citations, but the article lacks citations to cover specific information (such as no citation on a quotation) then use the inline citation template citation needed to indicate more precisely where additional citations are needed. Unlike citation needed, refimprove places a very conspicuous banner in the article.
 * There is also a and the normal variations.
 * If you decide to change the tag from unreferenced to Refimprove don't forget to update the date stamp in the tag.

Differences from Primary sources

 * If an article has sufficient inline citations, but if the citations in an article are from primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject (see WP:PSTS), then use Primary sources.

Differences from Citation style

 * The refimprove template is intended for use in articles that need additional citations, while citation style template is used to request consistency within the citations present in an article (see WP:CITEVAR). For example when there is a mixture of footnotes or parenthetical references.