Template:Citation needed span

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Usage

The {{citation needed span}} template may be used when there is unsourced text that should be attributed to a reference citation. Unlike the template {{citation needed}}, this template attaches explicitly to a portion of text, for example one or more specific sentences, by surrounding the text with the template. This is especially useful for flagging a block of multiple facts or multiple sentences as needing citation, and for singling out a specific fact that is unsourced among many sourced ones.

Avoid use for multiple paragraphs or around a list without closing and opening each template around each paragraph or list item. This kind of use causes linting errors and may disrupt the page display. An alternative with multiple paragraphs is {{unreferenced|section}} or {{more citations needed|section}}.

Once a citation is added, please remove this template from the surrounded text.

{{citation needed span|date=October 2025|Passage(s) to be sourced}}, or:

{{citation needed span|date=October 2025|text=Passage(s) to be sourced}}

The date is optional, so the minimal syntax is:

{{citation needed span|Passage(s) to be sourced}}

Example of usage:

Sourced material. {{citation needed span|date=October 2025|Passage to be sourced. Another passage to be sourced.}} More sourced material.

Sourced material. Passage to be sourced. Another passage to be sourced. More sourced material.

Compare usage of {{citation needed}}:

Sourced material. Passage to be sourced.{{Citation needed}} Another passage to be sourced.{{Citation needed}} More sourced material.

Sourced material. Passage to be sourced. Another passage to be sourced. More sourced material.

Parameters

There are three parameters to the template:

|text= (or no parameter)

The unreferenced content that needs a citation.

|date=

The date in the form October 2025. If omitted, AnomieBOT will add it if there are no new edits for a few minutes.

|reason=

The reason for the citation request. If omitted, "This claim needs references to reliable sources." will be used. This text is shown as a tooltip.

TemplateData

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

TemplateData for Citation needed span

Marks a specific piece of text as needing a citation.

Template parameters[Edit template data]

This template prefers inline formatting of parameters.

Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Text	text 1	The text needing a citation Auto value	Content	required
Date	date	Month and year the tag was added Example June 2015 Auto value {{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}	Date	suggested
Reason?	reason	Reason the text needs a citation; shown in a tooltip Default This claim needs references to reliable sources	String	suggested

Categorization of articles

Adding this template to an article places the article into Category:All articles with unsourced statements, Category:Articles with unsourced statements, and/or dated subcategories thereof.

Redirects to this template

• {{cns}}
• {{cspan}}
• {{cnspan}}
• {{fact span}}
• {{citation span}}
• {{citations needed span}}
• {{reference necessary}}
• {{reference required}}

See also

• {{Citation needed}} – equivalent which does not precisely identify the problematic text
• {{Unreferenced section}} – for entire sections requiring verifiable references / citations

The above documentation is transcluded from Template:Citation needed span/doc. (edit | history)
Editors can experiment in this template's sandbox (create | mirror) and testcases (create) pages.
Add categories to the /doc subpage. Subpages of this template.