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This page will help you to fix the cite error message:
A list-defined reference with group name "$1" is not used in the content (see the help page).
- If you have read this help page and find something missing or confusing, please discuss it at the main talk page.
- Please reference this page and the page where you have the problem so we can understand your issues.
- For basic information on the footnotes system, see Referencing for beginners; for advanced help, see Footnotes.
 | See Help:Cite errors/Cite error references missing key. If that page does not explain the error message, please report details on the talk page. |
Overview[edit]
References may be defined within the reference list:
((reflist|refs= <ref name=rename1>refcontent1</ref> <ref name=rename2>refcontent2</ref> ))
List-defined references may be within groups:
((reflist|refs= <ref name=rename1>refcontent1</ref> <ref name=rename2 groupname=groupname>refcontent2</ref> ))
Issues and resolution[edit]
A list-defined reference uses a group name that is not used within any <ref>...</ref> tags. All list-defined references must be used or commented out.
The message also appears if you mistakenly embed ((sfn)) or ((sfnp)) (rather than ((harv)), ((harvnb)), or ((harvp))) inside <ref></ref>:
<ref>((sfnp|Foo|1999))</ref>
This message does not show in preview mode.
Examples[edit]
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Unused list-defined reference
A defined reference in the reference list has a group named note, but there is no reference in the content with that group and name.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. ==References== ((reflist|group=note|refs= <ref name=ipsum group=note>ipsum</ref> ))
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
"note" is not used in the content (see the help page).Misuse of sfn inside ref tags
A call to ((sfn)) or ((sfnp)) is mistakenly placed inside ref tags.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam.<ref>The reference ((sfn|Foo|1999|p=56))</ref> ==References== ((reflist))
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam.[1]
- ^ The reference
"" is not used in the content (see the help page).Technical[edit]
Pages with this error message are placed into Pages with incorrect ref formatting. The system message page is at Cite error references missing group.
Bugs[edit]
- T26600 The first defined reference that is not invoked will show an incorrect error message.