Template:Explain

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Use {{Explain|date=October 2026}} in the body of an article as a request for other editors to add further explanation to text that assumes expert understanding of a subject. When the problem is not with the level of information given, but simply with the wording, one may use {{Clarify}} instead. For dealing with dubious information, please use one of the following: {{citation needed}}, {{Verify source}}, {{Dubious}} or {{Disputed inline}}. This template is a self-reference and so is part of the Wikipedia project rather than the encyclopedic content.

Use {{Explain-wrap}} for a version with word wrap.

Usage

This is an in-line template, place the template immediately after the material in question, as one would do with a footnote. For example:

A fact that needs further explanation.{{Explain|date=October 2026}}

The above text will cause the tag to appear inline. This tag is linked to Wikipedia:Please clarify for further information.

Parameters

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display

none;" />|date=:

This template allows an optional date parameter that records when the tag was added. If this template is added without the date parameter, the date parameter will be added soon after by a bot.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display

none;" />|reason=:

Because it may not be immediately apparent to other editors what about the tagged passage is in need of further explanation, it is generally helpful to add a brief reason for the tag: {{Explain|date=October 2026|reason=What the problem is.}}. The <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|reason= parameter displays when the cursor is placed over the template, eg.

If the explanation would be lengthy, use the article's talk page. The reason parameter does not display properly if it contains quotation marks.

Categorisation

Adding this template to an article will automatically place the article into Category:Wikipedia articles needing clarification, or a dated subcategory thereof.

Redirects

• {{Elucidate}}
• {{Further explanation needed}}

See also

• {{Explain-wrap}}
• Similar inline templates:
  • {{Clarify}}
  • {{Definition}}
  • {{Examples}}
  • {{Non sequitur}}
• Related box templates:
  • {{Confusing}}
  • {{Missing information}}
  • {{Expand section}}
• Relevant project pages:
  • Wikipedia:Citing sources
  • Wikipedia:Explain jargon
  • Wikipedia:Please clarify

TemplateData

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Explain in articles based on its TemplateData.

TemplateData for Explain

<templatedata> { "params": { "reason": { "label": "Reason", "type": "string", "suggested": true, "description": "A brief reason for the tag. Because it may not be immediately apparent to other editors what about the tagged passage is in need of further explanation, a brief reason is generally helpful. The reason parameter displays when the mouse cursor is placed over the text the template inserts." }, "date": { "label": "Date", "type": "string", "description": "An optional date parameter that records when the tag was added. If this template is added without the date parameter, the date parameter will be added soon after by a bot.", "autovalue": "{{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}", "suggested": true } }, "description": "Use in the body of an article as a request for other editors to add further explanation to text that assumes expert understanding of a subject. When the problem is not with the level of information given, but simply with the wording, one may use instead. For dealing with dubious information, please use one of the following: , , or ." } </templatedata>

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