Template documentation[view] [edit] [history] [purge]

This template is used on approximately 3,000 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

Use this template in the body text of an article as a request for other editors to clarify specific words or statements that are vague. This template is a self-reference and so is part of the Wikipedia project rather than the encyclopedic content.

Usage

This is an inline template which should be placed immediately after the material in question, as with a footnote. For example:

This statement is too vague.((Vague|date=April 2024)) → This statement is too vague.^[vague]

The wikilink on "vague" is set to Wikipedia:Vagueness.

Parameters

Abbreviated parameter sets: ((Vague|date=April 2024)); ((Vague|date=April 2024|reason= )); ((Vague|date=April 2024|text= ))

Full parameter set: ((Vague|date=April 2024|reason= |text= ))

Parameter descriptions
|date=: Like all inline templates, this template allows a date parameter which records when the vague tag was added. If the date parameter was not included when this template was added, the date parameter will automatically be added soon after by a bot. Alternatively, you may add the date automatically (without requiring bot intervention) by substituting the template. That is: ((subst:Vague)) is equivalent to ((Vague|date=April 2024)). This substitution technique also works if other parameters – |reason= |text= – are included.

|reason=: Because it may not be immediately apparent to other readers and/or editors what the specific reason the tagged statement is in need of clarification, it is generally helpful to add a brief reason for the vague tag: ((Vague|reason=What the problem is.)) (this is preferable to using an HTML  after the tag, as it is tidier to keep all of the ((Vague))-related code inside the template). If the request reason would be lengthy, use the article's talk page to address the issue in detail.; As well as being visible in the source code for readers and editors' benefit, the reason parameter is, if provided, displayed as a pop-up when the mouse is hovered over the 'vague' link in the article.

|text=

The particular text needing clarification may be highlighted within the prose by wrapping this vague template around it:

As an example:

Understandable text preceding the template, ((Vague|text=vague text|date=April 2024)) understandable text following the template.

produces:

Understandable text preceding the template, vague text^[vague] understandable text following the template.

Please note: when using this text parameter, please ensure you leave a space before starting the template code.

TemplateData

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

TemplateData for Vague

Template for marking specific inline words and phrases as too vague for Wikipedia's guidelines.

Template parameters[Edit template data]
This template prefers inline formatting of parameters.
Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Reason?	`reason` `title`	Why are you marking this as 'vague'? This will be displayed as a tool tip. Default This information is too vague. Auto value	String	suggested
Text	`text`	Text fragment containing concerns the tag is supposed to address.	String	optional
Date	`date`	Month and year that this template was placed on the page. Example June 2015 Auto value `((CURRENTMONTHNAME)) ((CURRENTYEAR))`	Date	suggested

((By how much)) ((Definition)) ((Definition needed)) ((Example needed)) ((Example needed span)) ((Explain)) ((How)) ((How often)) ((Misquoted)) ((Quantify)) ((Specify)) ((Vague)) ((When)) ((Where)) ((Which)) ((Who else)) ((Why)) ((Year needed))
Excessive	((Overly detailed inline)) ((Duplication span)) ((Importance inline)) ((Relevance inline)) ((Undue weight inline)) ((Globalize inline))

Time-sensitivity

Verifiability

Dubious	((Contradictory inline)) ((Disputed inline)) ((Dubious)) ((Dubious span)) ((Inconsistent)) ((Needs independent confirmation)) ((Speculation inline))
Bare URLs	((Bare URL inline)) ((Bare URL non-HTML)) ((Bare URL AV media)) ((Bare URL PDF)) ((Bare URL image)) ((Bare URL DOC)) ((Bare URL plain text)) ((Bare URL spreadsheet))
Incomplete or broken citation	((Author incomplete)) ((Author missing)) ((Date missing)) ((Dead link)) ((Edition needed)) ((Episode needed)) ((Full citation needed)) ((Incomplete short citation)) ((ISBN missing)) ((Moved resource)) ((Page needed)) ((Place missing)) ((Publisher missing)) ((Season needed)) ((Time needed)) ((Title incomplete)) ((Title missing)) ((Volume needed)) ((Year missing))
Missing or problematic reference	((Additional citation needed)) ((Better source needed)) ((Better source needed example)) ((Check quotation)) ((Chronology citation needed)) ((Circular reference)) ((Citation needed)) ((Citation needed span)) ((Citation not found)) ((Close paraphrasing inline)) ((COI source)) ((Deprecated inline)) ((Excessive citations inline)) ((Failed verification)) ((Failed verification span)) ((Image reference needed)) ((Irrelevant citation)) ((Medical citation needed)) ((Medical citation needed span)) ((Nonspecific)) ((Not verified in body)) ((Obsolete source)) ((Page range too broad)) ((Primary source inline)) ((Promotional source)) ((Quote without source)) ((Request quotation)) ((Request quotation span)) ((Retracted)) ((Scientific citation needed)) ((Self-published inline)) ((Tertiary source inline)) ((Third-party inline)) ((Unreliable fringe source)) ((Unreliable medical source)) ((Unreliable source?)) ((Verify quote)) ((Verify source))

Wording

General advice

The above documentation is transcluded from Template:Vague/doc.
Editors can experiment in this template's sandbox and testcases pages.
Add categories to the /doc subpage. Subpages of this template.

Usage

Parameters

TemplateData

See also