Please remember that WiKirby contains spoilers, which you read at your own risk! See our general disclaimer for details.

Help:References

From WiKirby, your independent source of Kirby knowledge.
Jump to navigationJump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
KPR Doctor artwork.png
Doctor Kirby says: Always cite your sources!

References are an essential way to cite sources in articles. Using them in articles helps legitimize claims made within the text without bogging the article down in quotes from source material.

There are two ways in which references appear on an article. There are numbers which appear on the pages as such: [1][2]. At the bottom of the page, there is a reference list which shows the full text of these references. Clicking on one of the numbers takes the reader to the appropriate reference. The references should be listed before the navboxes and not at the very bottom. To add references on a different part of the page, type {{ref}} into the article in the desired location.

When to reference

WiKirby is not particularly stingy about referencing. Generally speaking, any statement written in article text that can be easily verified by looking at the subject in question (such as basic statements about a game in that game's article) does not require a citation. An example would be this statement from the Kirby's Return to Dream Land article:

While traversing these stages, Kirby will have to deal with numerous different enemies, Mid-Bosses, and environmental hazards such as bodies of water, spikes, bottomless pits, crushers, and more novel things.

However, if one wished to state a more obscure and not-readily-accessible or questionable statement about the game, like claiming that Kirby's Return to Dream Land was named specifically to tie into the contemporary release of Donkey Kong Country Returns, then that would require a citation to back it up. Otherwise, it's just like, your opinion, maaan.

In the case of a new or upcoming title or anything related to one, the need to reference becomes more stringent, since the game is not readily available to check yet, and unsubstantiated rumors may abound. Shortly after release, these references can be removed when and if they are no longer needed.

Adding a reference

To insert a reference into a page, type the following code:

<ref>insert text here</ref>

Insert that immediately after the text that calls for the reference, after any punctuation. For instance:

Kirby is pink[1] and lives on Planet Popstar. is correct
Kirby is pink,[1] but Waddle Dee is not.[2] is correct
Kirby is pink[1], but Waddle Dee is not.[2]. is not correct

There are a number of different ways to add a properly formatted reference to an article. For more information, see the Citing policy.

Using a reference more than once

In some instances, it is desirable to use a single reference multiple times on a single article. To do this, the editor will need to give the reference a "name" that can be called again. The following is a simple example from the Device page of how this is done:

<ref name="page 18">Name taken from ''Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble'' Instruction Booklet (NA Print), page 18</ref>
<ref name="page 18"/>

As demonstrated above, the first instance of the reference on the page needs to specify the name in the quotation marks and then fill out the reference contents as usual. Any follow-up calls of the reference, however, need only specify that same name, then end off with a closing slash within the same parameter. Done correctly, the page will show the same numbered reference link in all spots that will link to the appropriate reference at the bottom when clicked.

Requesting sources

Sometimes a statement on an article is dubious in nature and requires a proof call. If the editor finds such a statement in an article, but does not have the time or resources necessary to prove or disprove it, the editor can add the {{fact}} template at the end of the statement. This will inform readers that the statement in question is disputed. Further discussion can then take place on the article's talk page to find a solution.

Sources to avoid

Most sources are fair game if they provide the proper info, but there are some that should be avoided, as they may contain misinformation or otherwise be harmful to WiKirby's goals. Look out for these two in particular:

  • Other Kirby wikis, such as FANDOM. Using other wikis as sources can create citogenesis, cases where untrue facts are sourced because they come from other wikis. It is acceptable to source other non-Kirby wikis if they have relevant content.
  • Non-direct Twitter sources; i.e., accounts that aren't Kirby JP Twitter or related to the creators. While these can be useful for certain cases such as datamining, Twitter sources can be dubious and certain parody accounts are designed to present untrue facts in the guise of official ones. Inactive Twitter accounts are also at risk of being deleted, making them prone to dead links.
KSA Parasol Waddle Dee Pause Screen Artwork.png