Wikipedia:Identifying and using primary sources: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:29, 23 August 2023

Revision as of 02:31, 23 August 2023

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==Primary sources should be used carefully==

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Material based on primary sources can be valuable and appropriate additions to Wikipedia articles, but only in the form of [[WP:No original research#Primary, secondary, and tertiary sources|straightforward, descriptive statements]] that any educated person—with access to the source but without specialist knowledge—will be able to verify are directly supported by the source. This person does not have to be able to determine that the material in the article or in the primary source is true. The goal is only that the person could compare the primary source with the material in the Wikipedia article, and agree that the primary source actually, directly says just what the article says it does.

;Examples