Template:Unreliable source?
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Usage
This template is intended to be used when a statement is sourced but it is questionable whether the source used is reliable for supporting the statement. It produces a superscripted notation like the following:
- It was actually written by Francis Bacon.[9][unreliable source?]
Articles tagged with this template will be categorized into Category:All articles lacking reliable references.
Place this template inline, {{Unreliable source?|date=May 2026}} following the questionable source. The template should be placed outside and immediately after the reference to the questionable source (<ref> ... </ref>), within the article's text:
- Potentially controversial statement.
<ref>some alleged source for this</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=May 2026}}Next sentence.
Parameters
The template has the following optional parameters:
- date: should be set to the month and year when the article was tagged. Example:
{{Unreliable source?|date=May 2026}} - reason: a note explaining why you think the source is unreliable as per WP:RS. Displays as a tool tip. Keep it short (one sentence) as longer material belongs on the talk page. It is good to reiterate the reason in your edit summary. Example:
{{Unreliable source?|reason=Your WP:RS-based reason here.|date=May 2026}} - sure or certain: if set to "y" or "yes" will remove the question mark from the template's output to denote a degree of certainty that the source is unreliable. Please use this with a
|reason=parameter, and only after a good faith attempt to verify the reliability of the source in question. Example:{{Unreliable source?|sure=y|reason=Your WP:RS-based reason here.|date=May 2026}}NOTE: This parameter has an alias,|failed=, which may make more grammatical sense when used with certain redirects like{{verify credibility}}.
When to use and not use this template
This template should be used to express your doubt about the credibility of a source.
This tag should not be used on unreliably sourced contentious statements about living persons; if a source for such a statement is not reliable, the statement and the source should be removed immediately.
For whole articles or article sections that rely on suspect sources, considering using the banner template {{More citations needed}} or {{More citations needed section}}, respectively, rather than individually tagging a large number of statements.
For sources promoting fringe theories and pseudo-science, the more specific template {{Unreliable fringe source}} can be used. Even more specifically, flag improperly sourced medical claims with {{Unreliable medical source}}.
This tag should not be used to indicate that the sourced material could not be found within a given source. In that case, {{failed verification}} is a better template. For statements that have failed verification and have a questionable would-be source, consider removal of the source (and possibly the statement) over using both tags.
TemplateData
TemplateData for Unreliable source?
Used when a statement is sourced but it is questionable whether the source used is reliable for supporting the statement.
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reason | reason | Note explaining why you think the source is unreliable as per WP:RS. Displays as a tool tip | String | optional |
| Certain? | certain sure failed | If set to "y" or "yes" will remove the question mark from the template's output to denote a degree of certainty that the source is unreliable
| Boolean | optional |
| Month and year | date | Month and year of tagging; e.g., 'January 2013', but not 'jan13'
| String | suggested |
| Displayed tag text | name | Text displayed by the in-line tag between the square brackets
| String | optional |
See also
Inline templates
{{Better source needed}}, an alternative to{{Unreliable source?|certain=y}}; especially useful for tagging sources that are low-quality but not necessarily wrong{{Dubious}}, for questionable claims that seem unlikely to be properly sourceable{{Obsolete source}}, for when a source has been surpassed by more recent works{{Primary source inline}}, for misuse of primary source material{{Unreliable fringe source}}, for fringe sources{{Unreliable medical source}}, for fringe medical sources in particular
Lists of templates
- Wikipedia:Template index/Cleanup/Verifiability and sources
- Wikipedia:Template index/Sources of articles
Policies, guidelines, essays, and WikiProjects
- Wikipedia:Citing sources, especially § Unsourced material
- Wikipedia:Independent sources
- Wikipedia:Reliable sources
- Wikipedia:Verifiability
- Wikipedia:WikiProject Reliability
