FAMEPedia:Template index/Cleanup
This is an information page. It is not one of FAMEPedia's policies or guidelines, but rather intends to describe some aspect(s) of FAMEPedia's norms, customs, technicalities, or practices. It may reflect varying levels of consensus and vetting. |
![]() | 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 (maintenance tags, cleanup tags, cleanup messages) may be added to articles needing 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 should be placed at the top of the page, before other templates, images, or infoboxes, but after hatnotes (see FAMEPedia:Hatnote § Placement). Cleanup messages should be placed directly on the article or file, not on its talk page. 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=July 2022
.
Before you tag an article, please remember the following:
- Don't tag an article if you can easily and confidently fix the problem.
- The 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 either 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 (available in some templates) as shown below. At the very least, tagging editors must be willing to follow through with substantive discussion.
- Don't do "drive-by" de-tagging.
- Likewise, per FP:BRD, please provide a similar rationale for removing a template, unless your preceding edits have clearly fixed the announced problem.
- 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.
- 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.
Does the article meet inclusion requirements?[edit | edit source]
Before placing templates on a page it is worthwhile to cast a critical eye over the page to determine whether indeed it should be included in FAMEPedia. Some articles can be tagged for speedy deletion or nominated for a deletion discussion at FAMEPedia:Articles for deletion.
Best practices in obscure or unpopular articles[edit | edit source]
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 | edit source]
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 noticeable changes. In general, an editor who places a template message to indicate a problem like this should explain their rationale fully on the talk page 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 | edit source]
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 ⇧ Shift+\. See the specific template below to determine if such "section use" is supported and appropriate.
Tag consolidation[edit | edit source]
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 {{multiple issues}}.
Cleanup[edit | edit source]
Overarching copyright issues[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{copypaste}} category |
|
Combined message boxes[edit | edit source]
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}}
|
|
General cleanup[edit | edit source]
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 |
Template:Cleanup AfD
| ||
{{cleanup rewrite}} category |
Template:Cleanup rewrite
| ||
{{cleanup section}} category |
Template:Cleanup section
|
Copy editing[edit | edit source]
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}} category |
Template:Verify spelling |
Cleanup of specific subjects[edit | edit source]
These templates are all "general cleanup" templates, but tie into a specific subject matter or WikiProjects.
Fiction[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{all plot}} category |
Template:All plot |
{{fiction}} category |
Template:Fiction
|
{{in-universe}} category |
Template:In-universe
|
{{long plot}} category |
Template:Long plot |
{{more plot}} category |
Template:More plot |
{{no plot}} category |
Template:No plot |
Inline with article text[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{needs IPA}} category |
Template:Needs IPA |
Style of writing[edit | edit source]
Structure, formatting and sections[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{cleanup reorganize}} category |
| ||
{{copy edit}} category |
| ||
{{duplication}} category |
| ||
{{importance section}} category |
Template:Importance section | ||
{{organize section}} category |
Template:Organize section | ||
{{overcolored}} category |
Template:Overcolored | ||
{{overcoloured}} category |
Template:Overcoloured | ||
{{sections}} category |
Template:Sections | ||
{{summarize section}} category |
Template:Summarize section | ||
{{Too many sections}} category |
Template:Too many sections | ||
{{too many see alsos}} category |
Template:Too many see alsos | ||
{{trivia}} category |
Template:Trivia | ||
{{very long}} category |
Template:Very long |
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{Improve lead}} category |
Template:Improve lead | ||
{{lead extra info}} category |
Template:Lead extra info | ||
{{lead missing}} category |
Template:Lead missing | ||
{{lead rewrite}} category |
| ||
{{lead too long}} category |
Template:Lead too long | ||
{{lead too short}} category |
Template:Lead too short | ||
{{POV lead}} category |
Template:POV lead |
Potentially unwanted content[edit | edit source]
Message boxes[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{cleanup list}} category |
Template:Cleanup list
| ||
{{cleanup red links}} category |
Template:Cleanup red links | ||
{{close paraphrasing}} category |
| ||
{{copypaste}} category |
| ||
{{criticism section}} category |
Template:Criticism section | ||
{{external links}} category |
| ||
{{further reading cleanup}} category |
Template:Further reading cleanup | ||
{{in popular culture}} category |
Template:In popular culture | ||
{{MOS}} category |
Template:MOS | ||
{{non-free}} category |
| ||
{{overlinked}} category |
Template:Overlinked | ||
{{schedule}} category |
Template:Schedule | ||
{{trivia}} category |
Template:Trivia |
Inline with article text[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{peacock term}} category |
[peacock term]
|
{{spam link}} category |
Template:Spam link |
{{weasel inline}} category |
[weasel words] |
Context and detail[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{context}} category |
Template:Context |
{{generalize}} category |
Template:Generalize |
{{human-centric}} category |
Template:Human-centric |
{{overly detailed}} category |
Template:Overly detailed |
{{specific}} category |
Template:Specific |
{{time-context}} category |
Template:Time-context |
Off-topic[edit | edit source]
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 |
Template:Off topic
|
Expand and add[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{biblio}} category |
Template:Biblio | ||
{{cleanup biography}} category |
Template:Cleanup biography | ||
{{expand section}} category |
| ||
{{formula missing descriptions}} category |
Template:Formula missing descriptions | ||
{{kmposts}} category |
Template:Kmposts
| ||
{{lacking ISBN}} category |
Template:Lacking ISBN
| ||
{{lacking overview}} category |
Template:Lacking overview | ||
{{mileposts}} category |
Template:Mileposts
| ||
{{missing information}} category |
|
Expert needed[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{expert needed}} category |
|
Time-sensitive[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{time-context}} category |
Template:Time-context | ||
{{update}} category |
| ||
{{update|inaccurate=y}} category |
|
Inline with article text[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{clarify timeframe}} category |
For tagging FP:DATED problems Template:Clarify timeframe |
{{update after}} category |
For facts that need updating now or at a specific future date [needs update] |
{{update inline}} category |
For facts that need updating [needs update] |
Contradiction and confusion[edit | edit source]
- Note: Templates relevant for when articles are confusing or hard to understand due specifically to translation issues can be found at FAMEPedia:Template index/Translation.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{confusing}} category |
Template:Confusing
|
{{contradicts other}} category |
Template:Contradicts other |
{{contradicts others}} category |
Template:Contradicts others
|
{{incomprehensible}} category |
Template:Incomprehensible |
{{misleading}} category |
Template:Misleading
|
{{self-contradictory}} category |
Template:Self-contradictory |
{{unclear date}} category |
Template:Unclear date |
{{unfocused}} category |
Template:Unfocused
|
Inline with article text[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{contradict-inline}} category |
Template:Contradict-inline
|
{{expand acronym}} |
Template:Expand acronym
|
{{inconsistent}} category |
Template:Inconsistent
|
{{vague}} category |
[[[|vague]]]
|
Content forks[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{bad summary}} category |
Template:Bad summary | ||
{{duplication}} category |
|
Importance and notability[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{importance inline}} |
Template:Importance inline
| ||
{{importance section}} |
Template:Importance section | ||
{{notability}} category |
|
Neutrality and factual accuracy[edit | edit source]
Message boxes[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{autobiography}} category |
| ||
{{cherry-picked}} category |
Template:Cherry-picked | ||
{{coatrack}} category |
Template:Coatrack | ||
{{COI}} category |
| ||
{{disputed}} category |
| ||
{{disputed section}} category |
| ||
{{geographical imbalance}} category |
Template:Geographical imbalance | ||
{{globalize}} category |
Template:Globalize | ||
{{hoax}} category |
| ||
{{partisan sources}} category |
Template:Partisan sources | ||
{{peacock}} category |
Template:Peacock | ||
{{political POV}} category |
Template:Political POV | ||
{{POV}} category |
| ||
{{POV check}} category |
Template:POV check | ||
{{POV lead}} category |
Template:POV lead | ||
{{POV section}} category |
Template:POV section | ||
{{recentism}} category |
Template:Recentism | ||
{{systemic bias}} category |
Template:Systemic bias | ||
{{unbalanced}} category |
Template:Unbalanced | ||
{{undisclosed paid}} category |
| ||
{{undue weight}} category |
Template:Undue weight | ||
{{weasel}} category |
|
Inline with superimposed text[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{according to whom}} category |
For weasel words ("It was said..." It was thought...") [according to whom?] |
{{clarify}} category |
Do not use without first taking some steps to research the apparent problem [clarification needed] |
{{contentious label inline}} category |
Template:Contentious label inline |
{{dubious}} category |
[dubious ] |
{{editorializing}} category |
Template:Editorializing |
{{excessive citations inline}} category |
For abuse of citations, per FAMEPedia:Citation overkill. Template:Excessive citations inline |
{{original research inline}} category |
[original research?] |
{{POV statement}} category |
[neutrality is disputed] |
{{unbalanced opinion}} category |
Template:Unbalanced opinion |
{{undue weight inline}} category |
[undue weight? ] |
{{when}} category |
For ambiguous or vague time references of various kinds. [when?] |
{{who}} category |
For weasel words ("Many say..." Some people think...") [who?] |
Verifiability and sources[edit | edit source]
Message boxes[edit | edit source]
- 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 | edit source]
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 |
Template:BLP IMDb refimprove | ||
{{BLP primary sources}} category |
|||
{{BLP self-published}} category |
| ||
{{BLP sources}} category |
|||
{{BLP sources section}} category |
Template:BLP sources section | ||
{{BLP unsourced}} category |
|||
{{BLP unsourced section}} category |
Template:BLP unsourced section |
Individual message boxes: Issues with citations and sources[edit | edit source]
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 |
Template:Cite check | ||
{{cite check section}} category |
Template:Cite check section | ||
{{excessive citations}} category |
Template:Excessive citations | ||
{{media IMDb refimprove}} category |
Template:Media IMDb refimprove | ||
{{more citations needed}} category |
| ||
{{more citations needed section}} category |
| ||
{{More medical citations needed}} category |
Template:More medical citations needed | ||
{{more science citations needed}} category |
| ||
{{one source}} category |
| ||
{{original research}} category |
| ||
{{primary sources}} category |
| ||
{{refexample}} category |
Template:Refexample | ||
{{religious text primary}} category |
Template:Religious text primary | ||
{{self-published}} category |
| ||
{{speculation}} category |
Template:Speculation | ||
{{third-party}} category |
| ||
{{unreferenced}} category |
|||
{{unreferenced section}} category |
|||
{{unreliable sources}} category |
| ||
{{user-generated}} category |
Template:User-generated |
Individual message boxes: Issues with style or format[edit | edit source]
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 |
Template:Citations broken | ||
{{citations broken from PEIS limit}} category |
Template:Citations broken from PEIS limit | ||
{{cleanup bare URLs}} category |
|||
{{duplicated citations}} category |
Template:Duplicated citations | ||
{{format footnotes}} category |
Template:Format footnotes | ||
{{full citations needed}} category |
Template:Full citations needed | ||
{{ibid}} category |
Template:Ibid | ||
{{more footnotes needed}} category |
| ||
{{no footnotes}} category |
| ||
{{page numbers improve}} category |
Template:Page numbers improve | ||
{{page numbers needed}} category |
|
Tags inline with article text[edit | edit source]
Tag | Background info from FAMEPedia namespace |
---|---|
{{according to whom}} |
[according to whom?] |
{{additional citation needed}} |
[additional citation(s) needed] |
{{attribution needed}} |
Template:Attribution needed |
{{better source needed}} |
[better source needed] |
{{better source needed example}} |
Template:Better source needed example Links to self-sourcing examples |
{{by whom}} |
[by whom?] |
{{chronology citation needed}} |
[chronology citation needed] |
{{circular reference}} |
Template:Circular reference When the sources copy FAMEPedia material directly |
{{circular reporting}} |
Template:Circular reporting For the subtler case when you suspect the sources are based on facts first published at FAMEPedia, but they didn't copy it directly |
{{citation needed}} |
[citation needed] |
{{citation needed span}} |
The sun is hot.[citation needed] |
{{clarify}} |
[clarification needed] |
{{copyvio link}} |
Template:Copyvio link |
{{dead link}} |
[dead link] |
{{disambiguation needed}} |
Template:Disambiguation needed |
{{disputed inline}} |
[disputed ] |
{{dubious}} |
[dubious ] |
{{episode needed}} |
Template:Episode needed |
{{example needed}} |
[example needed] |
{{example needed span}} |
Template:Example needed span |
{{explain}} |
Template:Explain |
{{failed verification}} |
[failed verification] |
{{full citation needed}} |
[full citation needed] |
{{how}} |
[[[|how?]]] |
{{medical citation needed}} |
Template:Medical citation needed |
{{medical citation needed span}} |
Template:Medical citation needed span |
{{nonspecific}} |
[not specific enough to verify] |
{{not verified in body}} |
Template:Not verified in body |
{{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 |
Template:Specify |
{{synthesis inline}} |
Template:Synthesis inline |
{{third-party inline}} |
Template:Third-party inline |
{{unreliable medical source}} |
Template:Unreliable medical source |
{{unreliable source?}} |
[unreliable source?] |
{{update after}} |
[needs update] |
{{user-generated inline}} category |
Template:User-generated inline |
{{user-generated source}} category |
Template:User-generated source |
{{vague}} |
[[[|vague]]] |
{{verify quote}} |
Template:Verify quote |
{{verify source}} |
[verification needed] |
{{volume needed}} |
[volume & issue needed] |
{{when}} |
[when?] |
{{where}} |
Template:Where |
{{which}} |
Template:Which |
{{who}} |
[who?] |
{{whose quote}} |
Template:Whose quote |
{{why}} |
[[[|why?]]] |
{{year missing}} |
Template: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 | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{find sources}} |
Find sources: Google (books · news · newspapers · scholar · free images · FP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · NYT · TWL |
{{search}} |
Categories[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{check category}} category |
Template:Check category | ||
{{disputed category}} category |
Template:Disputed category | ||
{{improve categories}} category |
| ||
{{recategorize}} category |
Template:Recategorize | ||
{{uncategorized}} category |
| ||
{{uncited category}} category |
Template:Uncited category |
Images and other media[edit | edit source]
For tips on requesting images see: FAMEPedia:Requested pictures.
- For template messages related to the clean up of images, see: FAMEPedia:Template index/File namespace#Format and quality.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{audio requested}} category |
Template:Audio requested |
{{cleanup gallery}} |
Template:Cleanup gallery |
{{cleanup images}} category |
Template:Cleanup images |
{{diagram requested}} category |
Template:Diagram requested
|
{{image captions for cleanup}} category |
Template:Image captions for cleanup |
{{image requested}} category |
Template:Image requested
|
{{map requested}} category |
Template:Map requested
|
{{too many photos}} category |
Template:Too many photos |
Lists[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup list}} category |
Template:Cleanup list
|
{{create list}} category |
Template:Create list
|
{{disputed list}} category |
Template:Disputed list
|
{{example farm}} category |
Template:Example farm
|
{{famous}} category |
Template:Famous
|
{{fiction trivia}} category |
Template:Fiction trivia
|
{{in popular culture}} category |
Template:In popular culture
|
{{list entry too long}} category |
Template:List entry too long
|
{{list scope}} category |
Template:List scope
|
{{list to table}} category |
Template:List to table
|
{{MOSLOW}} category |
Template:MOSLOW
|
{{prose}} category |
Template:Prose
|
Wiki tech[edit | edit source]
Most of these issues are covered in the main Manual of Style.
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) | ||
---|---|---|---|
{{cleanup HTML}} category |
Template:Cleanup HTML
| ||
{{cleanup lang}} category |
Template:Cleanup lang
| ||
{{dablinks}} category |
Template:Dablinks
| ||
{{dead end}} category |
Template:Dead end
| ||
{{disambiguation cleanup}} category |
Template:Disambiguation cleanup
| ||
{{incoming links}} category |
Template:Incoming links
| ||
{{orphan}} category |
|
||
{{uncategorized}} category |
| ||
{{underlinked}} category |
|
Infobox needed[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{infobox requested}} category |
Template:Infobox requested
|
{{new infobox}} category |
Template:New infobox
|
{{single infobox request}} category |
Template:Single infobox request
|
Infobox cleanup needed[edit | edit source]
Tag | Text that will be shown (and usage notes) |
---|---|
{{cleanup infobox}} category |
Template:Cleanup infobox |
Other article tags[edit | edit source]
There are also tags available for:
- merging articles;
- moving articles;
- splitting articles; and
- translation of articles.
Open tasks[edit | edit source]
Template:Divhide FAMEPedia:Backlog lists tasks that should be done to improve FAMEPedia (assuming the cleanup templates were placed correctly). Helping reduce backlogs is an important issue, so please feel free to help out. Template:Backlog status Template:Divhide
See also[edit | edit source]
- FAMEPedia:Responsible tagging
- FAMEPedia:Tagging pages for problems
- FAMEPedia:Twinkle
- FAMEPedia:WikiProject Stub sorting/Stub types