{{Supplement|pages=[[Wikipedia:No original research]]'s [[Wikipedia:No original research#Primary, secondary and tertiary sources|Primary, secondary and tertiary sources]] subsection|WP:USEPRIMARY|WP:PRIMARYUSE}}
'''Identifying and using primary sources''' requires careful thought and some extra knowledge on the part of Wikipedia's editors.
In determining the type of source, there are three separate, basic characteristics to identify:. Any combination of these three traits can produce a source that is usable for some purpose in a Wikipedia article. Identifying these characteristics will help you determine how you can use these sources.
* Is this source '''self-published''' or not? (If so, then see [[Wikipedia:Identifying and using self-published sources]].)
* Is this source '''independent or third-party''', or is it closely affiliated with the subject? (For this question, see [[Wikipedia:Independent sources]].)
* Is this source '''primary''' or not?
Every possible combination of these three traits has been seen in sources on Wikipedia. Any combination of these three traits can produce a source that is usable for some purpose in a Wikipedia article. Identifying these characteristics will help you determine how you can use these sources.
This page deals primarily with the last question: Identifying and correctly using primary sources.
