Template:Self-sourcing examples

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Example template usage for copy-pasting:

{{Self-sourcing examples|section|date=December 2025}}

{{Self-sourcing examples|section|small=y|date=December 2025}}

{{Self-sourcing examples|date=December 2025}}

{{Self-sourcing examples|date=December 2025|talk=Talk page section}}

Self-sourcing examples

Examples should be meaningful in the context of the article, explained in the prose and cited to reliable sources

A self-sourcing example in popular culture, according to current consensus by discussion on WT:V, is an example that is cited to primary sources, or an example with citations that only establish the verifiability of the example. An example in popular culture should have sources that not only establish its verifiability, but also discuss its significance in the context of the article.

Examples of self-sourcing examples

A self-sourcing example might look like the following:

Jiminy Cricket is an example of arthropods in film.^[1][2]^{[better source needed]}

References

1. Walt Disney (1940). Pinocchio.

2. Nugent, Frank S. (February 8, 1940). "Pinocchio - The Screen in Review". The New York Times.

The provided sources establish the verifiability of the example. They might even establish its notability. However, they do not discuss the example in the context it's given in the article. Such an example may be challenged or removed.

A source that does discuss the significance of an example in the context of the article might look like the following:

Jiminy Cricket is an example of arthropods in film.^[1]

References

1.Vincent H. Resh; Ring T. Cardé (2009), "Insects in Movies", Encyclopedia of Insects, Academic Press, pp. 668–674, ISBN 9780080920900, Arguably the most well-known animated arthropod was Jiminy Cricket, who initially appeared in a supporting role in the 1940 Walt Disney feature Pinocchio. Disney animators used a talking cricket, a minor character that appeared in the original Pinocchio story by Carlo Collodi, to unify disparate elements within the film. The character proved to be popular as a "voice of conscience" and appeared in several series of subsequent short subjects and educational films. Jiminy exemplifies the liberties taken with insect morphology by animators; although early sketches depicted the character with more insect-like features, the final film version, with its two arms and two legs, eyes with pupils, and morning coat and vest, resembles a dapper elf more than any arthropod.

The source discusses the example, in the context of the article, at relative depth, while explaining the example's significance in that context.

A source that discusses an example as significant in one context does not necessarily show its significance in another context:

Jiminy Cricket is an example of insects in literature.^[1]^{[better source needed]}

References

1.Vincent H. Resh; Ring T. Cardé (2009), "Insects in Movies", Encyclopedia of Insects, Academic Press, pp. 668–674, ISBN 9780080920900

The source discusses the example in a different context than the one provided.

Some examples may be of questionable importance.

Jiminy Cricket is an example of insects in literature.^{[citation needed]}^{[importance of example(s)?]}

Usage

When to use

This template indicates that the article or section needs additional inline citations that do not fall under self-sourcing examples. This template should be used only for articles where there are insufficient inline citations to support the material currently in the article.

Inline alternatives

Please consider marking individual poorly-referenced statements with {{Better source needed example}} or {{importance example}} instead of placing this template.

How to use

According to MOS:LAYOUT, maintenance templates such as this one ought be placed after hatnotes, at the start of the article. That placement is supported by consensus obtained in an RfC at Template talk:More citations needed § RfC: Location of Tag.

The optional |talk= parameter is allowed; setting this to any non-empty value will result in the message "See talk page for details." being included in the tag. If the value is a valid anchor on the talk page (e.g., the title of a section or subsection heading), then the talk page link will go directly to that anchor; if not, to the top of the page.

The optional |small= parameter is allowed; setting this to any non-empty value will result in a smaller, left-aligned message box.

The optional |date= parameter is allowed; it requires using a non-abbreviated month name and four-digit year. 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. A bot will add this parameter if it is omitted. This parameter adds the article to Category:Articles needing additional references from December 2025, and Category:All articles needing additional references, both hidden categories. The simplest way to use this parameter manually is to copy the following example:

{{Self-sourcing examples|date=December 2025}}

A user warning template, {{Uw-refexample}}, is available to notify contributors that an article they created needs its referencing improved.

Template data

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

TemplateData for Self-sourcing examples

This template generates a tag to indicate that the article needs additional inline citations that do not fall under "self-sourcing examples".

Template parameters[Edit template data]
This template prefers block formatting of parameters.
Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Type (typically section)	`1`	Something to replace "article" in the template, typically "section"	String	optional
Date	`date`	The month and year that the need for citations is identified, such as 'June 2013'; may use '{{subst:DATE}}' template instead Auto value `{{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}`	String	suggested
Talk	`talk`	Any value (such as 'y') will result in the addition of 'See talk page for details.' to the tag	String	optional
small	`small`	Any value (such as 'y') will result in a smaller message box	String	optional

v t e Citation and verifiability article maintenance templates
Sourcing	{{Circular}} {{Dubious}} {{Excessive citations}} {{Further reading cleanup}} {{Independent sources}} {{More citations needed}} {{More citations needed section}} {{More footnotes needed}} {{No footnotes}} {{No reliable sources}} {{No significant coverage}} {{One source}} {{One source section}} {{Only primary sources}} {{NRIS only}} {{Primary sources}} {{Primary sources section}} {{Religious text primary}} {{Self-published}} {{Self-reference cleanup}} {{Self-sourcing examples}} {{Refexample section}} {{Sources exist}} {{Text-source}} {{Unreferenced}} {{Unreferenced section}} {{Unreferenced category}} {{Unreliable sources}} {{Unreliable sources section}} {{User-generated}}
BLP-specific	{{BLP unreferenced}} {{BLP unreferenced section}} {{BLP primary sources}} {{BLP self-published}} {{BLP sources}} {{BLP sources section}} {{BLP IMDb-only refimprove}} {{BLP IMDb refimprove}} {{BLP no footnotes}} {{BLP more footnotes needed}} {{BLP one source}}
Topic specific	{{Localist}} {{Media IMDb refimprove}} {{More medical citations needed}} {{More science citations needed}} {{Neologism}} {{Science review}} {{Unreferenced law}} {{Unreferenced medical section}}
Dispute-related	{{Cite check}} {{Cite check section}} {{Content}} {{Disputed}} {{Dispute about}} {{Disputed section}} {{Disputed chem}} {{Disputed list}} {{Disputed map}} {{Expert needed}} {{Hoax}} {{Original research}} {{Original research section}} {{Speculation}} {{Speculation section}} {{Synthesis}} {{Verifiability}} {{Verify sources}}
Citation improvements	{{Citation style}} {{Citations broken}} {{Cleanup bare URLs}} {{Format footnotes}} {{Full citations needed}} {{Ibid}} {{Page numbers improve}} {{Page numbers needed}} {{Parenthetical referencing}} {{Shallow references}}
General advice	Citing sources Reliable sources Maintenance template removal Citation needed Find sources Combining sources Referencing styles

Self-sourcing examples

Examples should be meaningful in the context of the article, explained in the prose and cited to reliable sources

Examples of self-sourcing examples

Usage

When to use

Inline alternatives

How to use

Template data

See also