Help:Referencing for beginners without using templates
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Here's a popular reference method which doesn't usetemplatesso it speeds loading time.[citation needed]Copy and pastethe following immediately after what you want to reference:
<ref>author,[http://example.com/article_link"article_name"],''publisher'',publication_date. Retrieved retrieved_date.</ref>
Put information between the reference markers.Copy and pastethe author's name. Paste the publication nameinsidethe apostrophes so it'sitalicized.Paste the publication date. Inside the brackets[]paste the url first with the article title to theright,and put both url and titleinsidethe brackets. Remember to leave a blank space between url and title. For example, in editing mode if you type this
This is the fact we're trying to reference about inflation being unlikely in 2010.<ref>Patricia Sabatini,[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09289/1005873-28.stm"Inflation unlikely to be a threat as economy emerges from recession"],''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'',October 16, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref>
You get this:
This is the fact we're trying to reference about inflation being unlikely in 2010.[1]
The reference appears in the "references" section automatically:
- ^Patricia Sabatini,"Inflation unlikely to be a threat as economy emerges from recession",Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,October 16, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
TheRetrieveddate is when you fetched the reference; thepublication dateis when the article was published. Theurlis the line like ''http://www.etc'';copy and pastethe url in if available since it makes it easy for checking references. You can also put in the ISBN, co-author names, page numbers and such; seeciting sources.
That's it! You're done. When editing, you'll see your reference next to the text; but after saving, readers will only see a reference number there; your reference should appear below. Good luck!
If you get a warning about a missing "References" section at the end of the page, just add it:
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
Experiment on sandbox pages or your user talk page.
Remember many referencing styles are possible. Some editors prefer alternatives (see below). When possible, use the style others prefer. SeeCiting sourcesfor further discussion.