Editing Encyclopedia:Citing sources (section)

==In-text attribution==
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{{see|Wikipedia:Neutral point of view#Attributing and specifying biased statements|Wikipedia:Manual of Style#Point of view}}

'''In-text attribution''' is the attribution inside a sentence of material to its source, in addition to an [[WP:INCITE|inline citation]] after the sentence. In-text attribution may need to be used with [[direct speech]] (a source's words between quotation marks or as a [[block quotation]]); [[indirect speech]] (a source's words modified without quotation marks); and [[WP:close paraphrasing|close paraphrasing]]. It may also be used when loosely summarizing a source's position in your own words, and it should always be used for [[Wikipedia:ATTRIBUTEPOV|biased statements of opinion]]. For certain [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Perennial sources|frequently discussed sources]], in-text attribution is always recommended. It avoids inadvertent plagiarism and helps the reader see where a position is coming from. An inline citation should follow the attribution, usually at the end of the sentence or paragraph in question.

For example:

{{quotation|{{cross}} To reach fair decisions, parties must consider matters as if behind a [[veil of ignorance]].{{dummy ref|2}} }}
{{quotation|{{tick}} [[John Rawls]] argues that, to reach fair decisions, parties must consider matters as if behind a [[veil of ignorance]].{{dummy ref|2}} }}
{{quotation|{{tick}} [[John Rawls]] argues that, to reach fair decisions, parties must consider matters as if "situated behind a [[veil of ignorance]]".{{dummy ref|2}} }}

When using in-text attribution, make sure it doesn't lead to an inadvertent [[WP:UNDUE|neutrality]] violation. For example, the following implies parity between the sources, without making clear that the position of Darwin is the [[WP:WEIGHT|majority view]]:

{{quotation|{{cross}} [[Charles Darwin]] says that human beings evolved through [[natural selection]], but John Smith writes that we arrived here in pods from Mars.}}

{{quotation|{{tick}} Humans evolved through [[natural selection]], as first explained in [[Charles Darwin]]'s ''[[The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex]]''.}}

Neutrality issues apart, there are other ways in-text attribution can mislead. The sentence below suggests ''The New York Times'' has alone made this important discovery:

{{quotation|{{cross}} According to ''The New York Times'', the Sun will set in the west this evening.}}
{{quotation|{{tick}} The Sun sets in the west each evening.}}

It is preferable not to clutter articles with information best left to the references. Interested readers can click on the ref to find out the publishing journal:

{{quotation|{{cross}} In an article published in ''The Lancet'' in 2012, researchers announced the discovery of the new tissue type.{{dummy ref|3}} }}
{{quotation|{{tick}} Researchers announced the new tissue type in 2012.{{dummy ref|3}} }}

Simple facts such as this can have inline citations to reliable sources as an aid to the reader, but normally the text itself is best left as a plain statement without in-text attribution:

{{quotation|{{tick}} By mass, oxygen is the third most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen and helium.{{dummy ref|4}} }}