Help:Referencing

Referencing information is an important part of editing MuseWiki. It allows some one else to see where the information you added came from. Below is some background information and a step-by-step guide.

How it works

The basic concept of the <ref> tag is that it inserts the text enclosed by the ref tags as a footnote in a designated section, which you indicate with the placeholder tag <references/>. The new format cannot be used interchangeably with the old format - you must pick one or the other.

If you forget to include <references/> at the end of the article, none of the footnotes will appear.

This page itself uses footnotes, such as the one at the end of this sentence. If you view the Wikicode of this page by clicking "Edit this page", you can see a working example of footnotes.

Example

According to scientists, the Sun is pretty big.<ref>E. Miller, The Sun, (New York: Academic Press, 2005), 23-5.</ref>
The Moon, however, is not so big.<ref>R. Smith, "Size of the Moon", Scientific American, 46 (April 1978): 44-6.</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

Multiple uses of the same footnote

To give a footnote a unique identifier, use <ref name="name">. You can then refer to the same footnote again by using a ref tag with the same name. The text inside the second tag doesn't matter, because the text already exists in the first reference. You can either copy the whole footnote, or you can use a terminated empty ref tag that looks like this: <ref name="name"/>.

In the following example, the same source is cited three times.

This is an example of multiple references to the same footnote.<ref name="multiple">Remember that when you refer to the same footnote multiple times, the text from the first reference is used.</ref>

Such references are particularly useful when citing sources, if different statements come from the same source.<ref name="multiple">This text is superfluous, and won't show up anywhere. We may as well just use an empty tag.</ref>

A concise way to make multiple references is to use empty ref tags, which have a slash at the end.<ref name="multiple" />

==Notes==
<references/>

The text above gives the following result in the article (see also Notes section below):

This is an example of multiple references to the same footnote.

Such references are particularly useful when citing sources, when different statements come from the same source.

A concise way to make multiple references is to use empty ref tags, which have a slash at the end.

Using the "cite" template

The cite template is used to display a source of information in a standard way, giving the titles, author, date, and a link to the source.

<references/>

Placing <references/> inserts the full text of all pending inline citations defined by <ref>, anywhere on the page. For example, based on the citations above, the code:

<references/>

will yield:

Step-by-step guide

When referencing a MuseWiki article

Refer to this guide if you're referencing an article that is part of MuseWiki.

1. Once you add a piece of information to an article, add a reference tag to the end of the sentence, for example:

   Matt can make a whole pasta dish from scratch.<ref>

2. Give the reference a name, based on the date of the of the article. We're referencing an article (see here) from 18th February 2008, and it's a transcipt of an interview on Virgin Radio, so we'll call the reference "virginradio20080218":

   Matt can make a whole pasta dish from scratch.<ref name="virginradio20080218">

3. Now we need to use the "cite" template to link to the article in the references, and it looks like this:

   Matt can make a whole pasta dish from scratch.<ref name="virginradio20080218">
   {{cite
   |title=
   |desc=
   |date=
   |pub=
   |doc=
   |type=
   }}

4. Each part of that template means something different:

   Matt can make a whole pasta dish from scratch.<ref name="virginradio20080218">
   {{cite
   |title= The title of the article.
   |desc= What the article is, for example, "Interview".
   |date= When the content of the article was published, when the interview happened, etc.
   |pub= Who the publisher was, for example, the name of a magazine or website.
   |doc= The full title of the Musewiki article (just copy and paste it, brackets and all).
   |type= Whether the reference comes from a Musewiki page (int) or another source (ext).
   }}

   Some of these can't always be filled out, so just leave it blank.
   
   
5. This is how the information should simply be filled out in the reference:

   Matt can make a whole pasta dish from scratch.<ref name="virginradio20080218">
   {{cite
   |title= Most Wanted with Ben Jones
   |desc= Interview with Matthew Bellamy
   |date= 2008-02-18
   |pub= Virgin Radio
   |doc= Most Wanted with Ben Jones (20080218 Virgin Radio programme)
   |type= int
   }}

6. And to finally complete the reference, add the closing tag:

   Matt can make a whole pasta dish from scratch.<ref name="virginradio20080218">
   {{cite
   |title= Most Wanted with Ben Jones
   |desc= Interview with Matthew Bellamy
   |date= 2008-02-18
   |pub= Virgin Radio
   |doc= Most Wanted with Ben Jones (20080218 Virgin Radio programme)
   |type= int
   }}
   </ref>

   When referencing, feel free to use the above as a template using the relevant information.
   
   
7. Now for final part, displaying the reference you just made at the end of the article. Many articles already have a reference section, in which case, you're finished! If not, it's very simple. Just add this to the end of an article:

   
   ==References==
   <references/>

   
   And that's it. Might seem a bit tricky at first, but it means that anyone who reads the article can now see where the information comes from... and so stops wild rumours (like Matt owning a grove of spaghetti tress, for example) from spreading.

To see this example in action, read the 'Trivia' section of the article about Matthew Bellamy.

When referencing a external source

Refer to this guide if you're referencing an external source (another website or a magazine), and it needs a little more information than before.

1. Once you add a piece of information to an article, add a reference tag to the end of the sentence, for example:

   "Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of Maverick to coincide with an US tour promoting ''Origin of Symmetry''.<ref>

2. Give the reference a name, based on the date of the of the article. We're referencing an article (see here) from 15th February 2002, and it's a new article on the Muse fan site Microcuts.net, so we'll call the reference "mc20020215":

   "Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of Maverick to coincide with an US tour promoting ''Origin of Symmetry''.<ref name="mc20020215">

3. Now we need to use the "cite" template to link to the article in the references, and it looks like this:

   "Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of Maverick to coincide with an US tour promoting ''Origin of Symmetry''.<ref name="mc20020215">
   {{cite
   |title=
   |desc=
   |date=
   |fetch=
   |pub=
   |auth=
   |url=
   |dom=
   |type=
   }}

4. Each part of that template means something different:

   "Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of Maverick to coincide with an US tour promoting ''Origin of Symmetry''.<ref name="mc20020215">
   {{cite
   |title= The title of the article.
   |desc= What the article is, for example, "Interview".
   |date= When the content of the article was published, when the interview happened, etc.
   |fetch= The date you took the information from the website
   |pub= Who the publisher was, for example, the name of a magazine or website.
   |auth= The name of the writer. If this isn't available just use the name of the magazine or website.
   |url= The full URL of the page you are referencing.
   |dom= The domain of the website you are referencing.
   |type= Whether the reference comes from a Musewiki page (int) or another source (ext).
   }}

   Some of these can't always be filled out, so just leave it blank.
   
   
5. This is how the information should simply be filled out in the reference:

   "Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of Maverick to coincide with an US tour promoting ''Origin of Symmetry''.<ref name="mc20020215">
   {{cite
   |title= Gigs and USA
   |desc= Microcuts.net news article
   |date= 2002-02-15
   |fetch= 2008-08-05
   |pub= Microcuts.net
   |auth= Microcuts.net
   |url= http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/02152002-gigs_and_usa.php
   |dom= microcuts.net
   |type= ext
   }}

6. And to finally complete the reference, add the closing tag:

   "Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of Maverick to coincide with an US tour promoting ''Origin of Symmetry''.<ref name="mc20020215">
   {{cite
   |title= Gigs and USA
   |desc= Microcuts.net news article
   |date= 2002-02-15
   |fetch=2008-08-05
   |pub= Microcuts.net
   |auth= Microcuts.net
   |url= http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/02152002-gigs_and_usa.php
   |dom= microcuts.net
   |type= ext
   }}
   </ref>

   When referencing, feel free to use the above as a template using the relevant information.
   
   
7. Now for final part, displaying the reference you just made at the end of the article. Many articles already have a reference section, in which case, you're finished! If not, it's very simple. Just add this to the end of an article:

   
   ==References==
   <references/>

   
   And that's it.

To see this example in action, read the article about "Plug In Baby".

When referencing a message board post

Refer to this guide if you're referencing a post on a message board, and it's pretty much the same as before. Just make sure you are referencing a reliable piece of information and not someone's opinion on a subject.

1. Once you add a piece of information to an article, add a reference tag to the end of the sentence, for example:

   In the US, the special edition is limited to 1000 copies.<ref>

2. Give the reference a name, based on the date of the of the article. We're referencing an forum post (see here) from 13th March 2008, and it's from the Official Muse Message Board, so we'll call the reference "mu19032008":

   In the US, the special edition is limited to 1000 copies.<ref name="mu19032008">

3. Now we need to use the "cite" template to link to the article in the references, and it looks like this:

   In the US, the special edition is limited to 1000 copies.<ref name="mu19032008">
   {{cite
   |title=
   |desc=
   |date=
   |fetch=
   |pub=
   |auth=
   |url=
   |dom=
   |type=
   }}

4. Each part of that template means something different:

   In the US, the special edition is limited to 1000 copies.<ref name="mu19032008">
   {{cite
   |title= The title of the article.
   |desc= What the article is, in this case, "Forum post".
   |date= When it was posted, or last edited.
   |fetch= The date you took the information from the post
   |auth= The user name of the poster, or their full name if they have made it available.
   |url= The full URL of the post you are referencing. Make sure it is just the post an not the entire thread.
   |dom= The domain of the message board you are referencing.
   |type= Whether the reference comes from a Musewiki page (int) or another source (ext).
   }}

   Some of these can't always be filled out, so just leave it blank.
   
   
5. This is how the information should simply be filled out in the reference:

   In the US, the special edition is limited to 1000 copies.<ref name="mu19032008">
   {{cite
   |title= Muse HAARP Special Edition / US Screening Information
   |desc= Forum post
   |date= 2008-03-19
   |fetch= 2008-03-19
   |auth= alyssa_
   |url= http://board.muse.mu/showpost.php?p=4126955&postcount=1
   |dom= board.muse.mu
   |type= ext
   }}

6. And to finally complete the reference, add the closing tag:

   In the US, the special edition is limited to 1000 copies.<ref name="mu19032008">
   {{cite
   |title= Muse HAARP Special Edition / US Screening Information
   |desc= Forum post
   |date= 2008-03-19
   |fetch= 2008-03-19
   |auth= alyssa_
   |url= http://board.muse.mu/showpost.php?p=4126955&postcount=1
   |dom= board.muse.mu
   |type= ext
   }}
   </ref>

   When referencing, feel free to use the above as a template using the relevant information.
   
   
7. Now for final part, displaying the reference you just made at the end of the article. Many articles already have a reference section, in which case, you're finished! If not, it's very simple. Just add this to the end of an article:

   
   ==References==
   <references/>

   
   And that's it.

To see this example in action, read the article about "H.A.A.R.P.".

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