Template:Citation needed span/doc
| This is a documentation subpage for Template:Citation needed span. It contains usage information, categories and other content that is not part of the original template page. |
Usage
Do not substitute this template.
The {{citation needed span}} template may be used when there is unsourced text that should be attributed to a reference citation. Unlike the template {{citation needed}}, this template attaches explicitly to a portion of text, for example one or more specific sentences, by surrounding the text with the template. This is especially useful for flagging a block of multiple facts or multiple sentences as needing citation, and for singling out a specific fact that is unsourced among many sourced ones.
Once a citation is added, please remove this template from the surrounded text.
{{citation needed span|text=Passage(s) to be sourced|date=December 2025}}
The date is optional, so the minimal syntax is:
{{citation needed span|text=Passage(s) to be sourced}}
Example of usage:
Sourced material.{{citation needed span|text=Passage to be sourced. Another passage to be sourced.|date=December 2025}}More sourced material.
- Sourced material. Passage to be sourced. Another passage to be sourced.[citation needed] More sourced material.
Compare usage of {{Citation needed}}:
Sourced material. Passage to be sourced.{{Citation needed}}Another passage to be sourced.{{Citation needed}}More sourced material.
- Sourced material. Passage to be sourced.[citation needed] Another passage to be sourced.[citation needed] More sourced material.
Parameters
There are three parameters to the template:
|text=- The text needing attribution.
|date=- The date in the form
December 2025. If omitted, a bot will add it within a day or so. |reason=- Reason for the citation request. If omitted, "This claim needs references to reliable sources" will be used. This text is shown as a tooltip.
TemplateData
TemplateData for Citation needed span
Marks a specific piece of text as needing a citation.
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text | text 1 | The text needing a citation | Content | required |
| Date | date | Month and year the tag was added
| String | suggested |
| Reason | reason | Reason the text needs a citation; shown in a tooltip
| String | suggested |
Categorization of articles
Adding this template to an article places the article into Category:All articles with unsourced statements, Category:Articles with unsourced statements, and/or dated subcategories thereof.
See also
- {{Citation needed}} – equivalent which does not precisely identify the problematic text
- {{Unreferenced section}} – for entire sections requiring verifiable references / citations