Template:Dubious
[dubious ]
Add {{Dubious}} after a specific statement or alleged fact that is sourced but that nevertheless seems dubious or unlikely. Most commonly, this involves uncertainty regarding the veracity or accuracy of the given source, or of an editor's interpretation of that source.
Purpose
The purposes of this template are:
- to point out uncertainty over conflicting sources
- to question the veracity, accuracy, or methodology employed by a given source
- to express concerns that the source may have been misinterpreted
- to alert editors that additional sources need to be found, to ascertain the statement's validity
Note: Refer to the Incorrect uses section below for examples of inappropriate uses, and suggested alternatives.
Usage
When using this template, it is strongly suggested to simultaneously discuss the dubious statement on the article's talk page – and to point this template to a specific talk page section (either new or existing) which contains that discussion. To do so, use the following syntax:
{{Dubious|Talk section name}}- Note, do not include Talk:PAGE#, just the section title.
Do not add this template to a page more than a reasonable number of times. Please consider using one of the other templates mentioned below instead.
Parameters
|1=Talk section name– the first field should point to the section name on the talk page which contains the discussion.- If the section name contains an equal sign, use the following syntax:
{{Dubious|1=Does x = 5?}}. - Other special characters used in section names (such as brackets, "[" and "]") may need to be escaped. For example, the markup:
- If the section name contains an equal sign, use the following syntax:
|date=the month and year when the template was added. Example:|date=April 2026.
|reason= is not a parameter of this template, but you may use it to add an invisible, short explanation of the issue. It will only be visible in the coding (e.g. when editing the page). To make the reason visible to all readers use an additional template:
{{Hover title|reason|dubious text in article}}
Incorrect uses
This template is not to be used
- to directly challenge a sourced statement as being incorrect (with sources to back up your claim). Use {{Template:Disputed inline}} instead.
- to flag unsourced statements, unless you think they are incorrect. Use {{Citation needed}} instead.
- to question the reliability / verifiability of a source. Use {{Unreliable source?}} instead.
- to request verification whether the source in fact says as the statement claims. Use {{Verify source}} instead.
- to request that a difficult-to-understand statement be re-written. Use {{Clarify}} instead.
If you believe that a statement is both unverifiable and probably wrong, then you should consider removing it from the article (and perhaps copying it to the talk page with an explanation) instead of tagging it.
TemplateData
TemplateData for Dubious
Use this template to tag a specific statement or alleged fact that is sourced but which nevertheless seems dubious or unlikely to be correct.
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section name on talk page | 1 | Section name on talk page where further information or discussion can be found | String | optional |
| Month and year | date | Month and year of tagging; e.g., 'January 2013', but not 'jan13'
| String | suggested |
| reason | reason | A brief summary of the problem (displayed only in wikitext) | Unknown | optional |
See also
Wikipedia project pages
- Wikipedia:Accuracy dispute
- Wikipedia:Consensus
- Wikipedia:Dispute resolution
- Wikipedia:Disputed statement
- Wikipedia:Neutral point of view
- Wikipedia:Template messages
- Wikipedia:Template namespace
Templates
Disputed factual accuracy
- Boxes:
- {{Disputed}} Article, {{Dispute about|what}}, {{Disputed section}} Section
- {{Disputed tag}} For disputing recent promotions or amendments of policies and guidelines
- {{Under discussion}} For use on project pages (e.g., policies and guidelines), not on articles
- Inline:
- {{Dubious}} and {{Disputed inline}} Statement
- {{Under discussion inline}} Statements on project pages
Both accuracy and POV
- Boxes:
- {{Controversial}} Talk page
Disputed neutrality (POV)
- Boxes:
- {{POV}} Article, {{POV section}} Section, {{POV lead}} Lead section
- {{POV map}} Map, {{POV title}} Title
- {{POV check}} Article, {{POV check|section}} Section
- {{Systemic bias}} Article
- Inline:
- {{Lopsided}} Statement
- {{POV statement}} Statement
- {{POV check inline}} Statement
