Help:Introduction to referencing with Wiki Markup/1

Introduction to Referencing with Wiki Markup/1 is the first step in understanding how to add references to Wikipedia articles using Wiki markup, which is crucial for verifying content and maintaining the reliability of the encyclopedia. This guide aims to provide newcomers with the basics of how to use references in their edits, enhancing the overall quality of Wikipedia.

Why References Are Important

References are the backbone of Wikipedia. They allow readers to verify the information presented in articles and ensure that the content is credible and backed by reliable sources. Without references, the encyclopedia's integrity could be compromised, leading to misinformation and loss of trust among its users.

Basic Referencing Techniques

To add a reference to a Wikipedia article using Wiki markup, you can use the tags. The simplest form of a reference can be inserted into the article text by placing the source between these tags. For example:

John Doe is a renowned historian.

This will create a footnote reference, allowing readers to see the source of the information.

Inline Citations

Inline citations are used to directly support specific statements or facts within an article. They are crucial for verifying content and are typically placed immediately after the sentence or fact they support. Using the tags, editors can insert citations at the appropriate points in the text, ensuring that all content is verifiable.

Creating a References Section

To display the references in an article, a "References" section must be created towards the end of the page. This is done by including the

tag, which automatically generates a list of all the references used in the article. For example:

References

This section will display the details of each citation used within the article, allowing readers to access the sources for further verification.

Reusing References

If the same source is used multiple times in an article, it can be reused by naming the reference. This is achieved by adding an id within the

Later in the text, the same reference can be reused as follows:

This method ensures that references are consistently cited throughout the article without the need to repeat the full citation details.

Conclusion

Understanding how to properly reference content is essential for anyone looking to contribute to Wikipedia. By following the basic techniques outlined in this introduction, new editors can ensure that their contributions are verifiable and that Wikipedia remains a reliable source of information.