User:Anon126/Guide for contributors with close connections/Sourcing: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Paperback-stack.png|100px|right|alt=A stack of books]]

As mentioned earlier, information on Wikipedia has to come from [[WP:RS|reliable sources]]. Generally,This reliablemeans sourcesthat haveyou can't write from your personal knowledge or experience. Having this knowledge may help you write better, somebut sortultimately ofthe editorialinformation oversighthas andto acome reputationfrom forsomewhere accuracyelse.

With some exceptions, these sources should also be [[WP:INDEPENDENT|independent]].

{{divbox|green|[[File:Crystal Clear action viewmag with a star.png|50px|alt=A magnifying glass focused on a star]] Usually reliable|

{|

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{{divbox|green valign="top" | [[File:Crystal Clear action viewmag with a star.png|50px|alt=A magnifying glass focused on a star]]|What Usuallyis a reliable| source?]]

| Generally, a source is considered ''reliable'' if it has some sort of editorial oversight and a reputation for accuracy.

{{divbox|green|Usually reliable|

* Newspapers

* Magazines

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{{divbox|red|[[File:Question book red.svg|50px|alt=A book with a question mark]] Usually not reliable|

* Social networking sites

* Blogs

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These sources must be cited (referenced) in an article. To learn how to do that, go to the [[WP:INTREF|introduction to referencing]].<ref>If you are proposing changes to an article, you can add citations to your proposal, or simply list the sources at the end.</ref>

|-

Also, in most cases, the sources have to be [[WP:INDEPENDENT|independent]] as well. This means that they are not connected in some way with the subject. This way, there is a much lower chance of bias.

| valign="top" | [[File:Human-gnome-session-switch.svg|50px|alt=Two separate arrows, one moving left, the other moving right|What is an independent source?]]

Also,|A insource mostis cases, the sources have to be [[WP:INDEPENDENT|''independent]]'' asif well.it This means that they are notisn't connected in some way with the subject. ThisWikipedia way,prefers independent sources because there is a much lower chance of bias.

{{divbox|yellow|[[File:Arrows-orphanize.png|50px|alt=Arrows converging on a single point]] Not independent sources|

* Official websites

* Press releases

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Although Wikipedia prefers independent sources, nonNon-independent ones can be used in limited cases. These cases include things like basic information and claims made by subjects about themselves. Keep in mind that these must still be cited.

|}

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