Template documentationviewedithistorypurge

Infobox writer may be used to summarize information about a person who is a writer/author (includes screenwriters).

If the writer-specific fields here are not needed, consider using the more general {{Infobox person}}; other infoboxes there can be found in Category:People and person infobox templates.

This template may also be used as a module (or sub-template) of {{Infobox person}}; see WikiProject Infoboxes/embed for guidance on such usage.

Syntax

{{{name}}}
[[File:{{{image}}}|220px]]
{{{caption}}}
Born	{{{birth_date}}}
Occupation	{{{occupation}}}
Spouse	{{{spouse}}} or {{{spouses}}}

The infobox may be added by pasting the template as shown below into an article. All fields are optional. Any unused parameter names can be left blank or omitted.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow: auto;">

Infobox writer

</syntaxhighlight>

Parameters

Please remove any parameters from an article's infobox that are unlikely to be used.

All parameters are optional.

Unless otherwise specified, if a parameter has multiple values, they should be comma-separated using the {{Cslist}} template:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|language={{Cslist|French|Spanish|English}}

which produces:

|language=

• French
• Spanish
• English

If any of the individual values contain commas already, add <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|semi=true to use semi-colons as separators:

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|pen_name={{Cslist|Smith, Bob|DaveyJones|Adams, Fred|semi=true}}

which produces:

|pen_name=

• Smith, Bob
• DaveyJones
• Adams, Fred

For more information, see Template:Infobox person#Inline lists.

Parameter	Explanation
embed	Set to "yes" if embedded in another infobox template.
honorific_prefix	Honorifics that go before the name, e.g. "Lady", "Sir"
name	Insert name of the person. Use the common name, typically name of article. If omitted it defaults to the name of the article; if present but blank, the header is omitted. Note: Do not add icons or other images.
honorific_suffix	Honorifics that go after the name, e.g. "MBE"
native_name	Name in local language. Use {{Plainlist}} for multiple values (see information at Template:Infobox person#Inline lists).
native_name_lang	A language tag, e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} inside native_name instead
image	Insert image name. Use only the file name such as abc.jpg, xyz.png, 123.gif, etc. Do not use syntax such as [[File:abc.jpg]] or [[File:abc.jpg|200px]] Only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g., promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted. See WP:NONFREE.
image_upright	Scales the image thumbnail from its default size by the given factor. Values less than 1 scale the image down (0.9 = 90%) and values greater than 1 scale the image up (1.15 = 115%).
landscape	Set to "yes" when using wide, short images. The image height (rather than width) will be limited to 200 pixels.
alt	The alt attribute for the image, for readers who cannot see the image. See WP:ALT.
caption	Caption for the image. Try to include the date the image was created.
birth_name	Insert person's name at birth (or christening if name at birth is unavailable).
birth_date	Insert the person's birth date if known as: month day, year or day month year as appropriate. For a living person consider using: {{Birth date and age|year of birth|month of birth|day of birth}} Otherwise use: {{Birth date|year of birth|month of birth|day of birth}}. In either case, add <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|df=yes to show date as day before month; otherwise format is month before day.
birth_place	Insert the person's place of birth if known as: town, city, state, country. Note: Do not add flag icons to the birthplace. See: Wikipedia:Manual of Style (flags).
death_date	Note: Using this field will also change the background display color of the name at the top of the infobox to silver. If the person is still living, leave this parameter blank. Insert the person's date of death if known as: month day, year or day month year as appropriate. When the full birth date and death date are known, use the following: {{Death date and age|yr died|mo died|da died|yr born|mo born|da born}} Add <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|df=yes to show date as day before month; otherwise format is month before day. example {{Death date and age|2026|10|29|1950|12|31|df=yes}} output display results 29 October 2026(2026-10-29) (aged 75) When only the birth and death years are known, use: {{Death year and age|year died|year born}} example {{Death year and age|2026|1950}} output display results 2026 (aged 75–76) When only the birth month, birth year and death year are known, use: birth month, {{Death year and age|year died|year born}} example October, {{Death year and age|2026|1950}} output display results October, 2026 (aged 75–76) When only the death year is known, use: death year example 2026 output display results 2026 When the date of death is unknown, but the person is certainly now dead use the following (case is insensitive): example unknown output display results date of death unknown When the date of death is unknown, and it is preferable not to display anything and just change the background display color of the infobox. Enter the following (case is insensitive): example died output display results nothing will be displayed. When the date of death is only known approximately. Preface the entry with a wikilink [[Circa|c. ]] or c. examples [[Circa|c.]] {{Death year and age|2026|1950}} [[Circa|c.]] year died output display results c. 2026 (aged 75–76) c. 2026
death_place	Insert the person's place of death if known as: town, city, state, country. Note: Do not add flag icons to the deathplace. See: Wikipedia:Manual of Style (flags).
death_cause	Cause of death. Should be clearly defined and sourced, and should be included only when the cause of death has significance for the subject's notability, e.g. Joyce Kilmer, Charles Sorley. It should not be filled in for unremarkable deaths such as those from old age or routine illness.
resting_place	Place of burial, ash-scattering, etc.
occupation	Insert the type of person: novelist, short story person, journalist, etc. Use {{Cslist}} for multiple values (see information at the top of this section).
citizenship	Citizenship of person., use only when necessary per WP:INFONAT.
education	Use per MOS:INFOEDU.
spouse	Name of spouse(s), followed by years of marriage. Use the format Name (1950–present) for current spouse and Name (1970–1999) for former spouse(s). Use {{Plainlist}} for multiple values (see information at Template:Infobox person#Inline lists).
partner	Name of long-term unmarried partner(s) (e.g., domestic partner). Use {{Plainlist}} for multiple values (see information at Template:Infobox person#Inline lists).
children	Number of children (e.g., 3), or list of children names. Use {{Plainlist}} for multiple values (see information at Template:Infobox person#Inline lists).
parents	Names of parents; include only if they are independently notable or particularly relevant. This parameter may be used for biological, adoptive, foster, or step-parents. Use {{Unbulleted list}} for multiple values (see information at Template:Infobox person#Inline lists).
relatives	Names of parents, siblings or other relatives; include only if they are independently notable or particularly relevant. Include the relationship in parentheses after the name (father, sister, uncle, etc.). Use {{Plainlist}} for multiple values (see information at Template:Infobox person#Inline lists).
pen_name	Any of the person's aliases or pen names. Use {{Cslist}} for multiple values (see information at the top of this section).
language	Language of published writings.
years_active	Date range in years during which the subject was active in their principal occupation(s) and/or other activity for which they are notable. Use the format 1950–2000, or 1970–present if still active (note the use of an en dash, not hyphen). If no dates of birth and/or death are known for the subject, only a floruit date range, as is common with ancient subjects, this parameter can be used for it. If approximate (circa) dates are known for either or both, put them in the birth_date and death_date parameters.
period	Dates from first publication to last publication.
genre	Fiction persons: All genres that the person wrote in. Use {{Cslist}} for multiple values (see information at the top of this section).
subject	Non-fiction persons: All subjects that the person wrote about. Use {{Cslist}} for multiple values (see information at the top of this section).
works	This will usually be a wikilink to a stand-alone list of the writer's works. If both <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|works= and <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|notable_works= are used, only <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|works= will be displayed.
notable_works	Names of notable works (WP:NN). Use {{Unbulleted list}} for multiple values (see information at Template:Infobox person#Inline lists). If there is a dispute between editors over what is or is not a notable work, it should be brought up on the article's talk page. If no consensus can be developed for a particular person, the notable_works parameter should be marked with: <!-- Please do not add notable works to this article. See talk page as mutual consensus could not be achieved on this article. --> If both <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|works= and <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|notable_works= are used, only <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|works= will be displayed.
awards	Insert any notable awards the person has won. Consider using the template: {{Awards|award|year|title|role}} Use {{Plainlist}} for multiple values (see information at Template:Infobox person#Inline lists). Note: Do not add icons or other images.
movement	Insert the literary movement associated with or involving the person. Use {{Cslist}} for multiple values (see information at the top of this section).
module	Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one.
website	If the person has an official website enter it here. Do not enter unofficial, blogs or fan websites. Only one official website is allowed. If the person has more than one official website, only the most prominent should be listed in the infobox. All other websites should be listed in the article under ==External links==. Use {{URL}} as in {{URL|ExampleCompany.com}}. Do not include the "http[s]://" or "www." parts unless the server requires it. Use camel case capitalization to make multiword domain names easier to read.
signature	An image of the person's signature. Image is displayed at a width of 128px, same format as {{Infobox person}}, {{Infobox officeholder}} and {{Infobox philosopher}}.
signature_type	Changes the Signature label to the preferred argument, such as Seal
signature_size	Default is 150px. If necessary, a signature can be resized manually as per the <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|image_size= parameter.
signature_alt	Alternative text for signature. Write out the signature exactly as it appears in the image, including punctuation. For accessibility.

Use as a child template

The embed parameter is used when embedding this infobox into another. This infobox may be used to create a genre-specific section within {{Infobox person}} (or similar biographical infobox templates) for cases where a person may be notable in more than one field; a generic example is shown below. For guidance on usage, see Wikipedia:Infobox modules. Also see the Template:Infobox documentation which explains embedding and subboxes. <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">

</syntaxhighlight>

TemplateData

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

TemplateData for Infobox writer

TemplateData

<templatedata> { "description": "Infobox writer may be used to summarize information about a person who is a writer/author (includes screenwriters).", "format": "Template:\n\n", "params": { "name": { "required": false, "label": "Name", "type": "string", "description": "Insert name of the person. Use the common name, typically name of article. If omitted it defaults to the name of the article; if present but blank, the header is omitted. Note: Do not add icons or other images.", "suggested": true }, "embed": { "label": "Embedded", "description": "Set to 'yes' if embedded in another infobox template.", "type": "string", "required": false, "suggestedvalues": [ "Yes" ] }, "honorific_prefix": { "required": false, "label": "Honorific (prefix)", "type": "string", "description": "Honorifics that go before the name, e.g. 'Lady', 'Sir', 'Dr'." }, "honorific_suffix": { "required": false, "label": "Honorific (suffix)", "type": "string", "description": "Honorifics that go after the name, e.g. 'MBE'." }, "native_name": { "required": false, "label": "Native name", "type": "string",

"description": "Name of the writer in their native languages(s). Use

for multiple values."

}, "native_name_lang": { "required": false, "label": "Native name language", "type": "string", "description": "A language tag e.g. 'fr' for French. If more than one, use [undefined] Error: {{Lang}}: no text (help) inside native_name instead" }, "image": { "required": false, "label": "Image", "type": "wiki-file-name", "description": "Image of the writer. Insert image name. Use only the file name such as abc.jpg, xyz.png, 123.gif, etc. Do not use syntax such as File:Abc.jpg or File:Abc.jpg\nOnly free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and \"fair use\" images, e.g., promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted. See WP:NONFREE.", "suggested": true }, "image_size": { "required": false, "label": "Image size", "type": "string", "description": "Size to display image.", "example": "Format: 250px (set width), or 200x300px (max width & max height).", "default": "200px if empty or omitted." }, "image_upright": { "required": false, "label": "Image upright", "type": "string", "description": "Scales the image thumbnail from its default size by the given factor. Values less than 1 scale the image down (0.9 = 90%) and values greater than 1 scale the image up (1.15 = 115%)." }, "landscape": { "label": "Landscape", "description": "Set to 'yes' when using wide, short images. The image height (rather than width) will be limited to 200 pixels.", "type": "boolean" }, "alt": { "required": false, "label": "Image alternative text", "type": "string", "description": "The alt attribute for the image, for readers who cannot see the image. See WP:ALT." }, "caption": { "required": false, "label": "Image caption", "type": "string", "description": "Caption for the image. Try to include the date the image was created.", "suggested": true }, "pen_name": { "required": false, "label": "Pen name", "type": "string", "description": "Any of the person's aliases or pen names. Use for multiple values" }, "birth_name": { "required": false, "label": "Birth name", "type": "string", "description": "Insert person's name at birth (or christening if name at birth is unavailable)." }, "birth_date": { "required": false, "label": "Birth date", "type": "line", "description": "Insert the person's birth date if known as: month day, year or day month year as appropriate.\nFor a living person consider using:\n\n\nOtherwise use:\n\n(year of birth--day of birth), .\nIn either case, add |df=yes to show date as day before month; otherwise format is month before day.", "suggested": true }, "birth_place": { "required": false, "label": "Birth place", "type": "string", "description": "Insert the person's place of birth if known as: town, city, state, country. Note: Do not add flag icons to the birthplace." }, "death_date": { "required": false, "label": "Death date", "type": "line", "description": "If the person is still living, leave this parameter blank.\n\nInsert the person's date of death if known as: month day, year or day month year as appropriate.\n\nWhen the full birth date and death date are known, use the following:\n\n - See template page for more details about formatting options.", "suggested": true }, "death_place": { "required": false, "label": "Death place", "type": "string", "description": "Insert the person's place of death if known as: town, city, state, country. Note: Do not add flag icons to the deathplace." }, "resting_place": { "required": false, "label": "Resting place", "type": "string", "description": "Place of writer's grave or ash scattering" }, "occupation": { "required": false, "label": "Occupation", "type": "string", "description": "Insert the type of person: novelist, short story person, journalist, etc. Use for multiple values", "suggested": true }, "language": { "required": false, "label": "Language", "type": "string", "description": "Language of published writings" }, "citizenship": { "required": false, "label": "Citizenship", "type": "string", "description": "Writer's country of citizenship" }, "education": { "required": false, "label": "Education", "type": "string", "description": "Education, e.g., degree, institution and graduation year, if relevant." }, "period": { "required": false, "label": "Period", "type": "line", "description": "Dates from first publication to last publication", "suggested": true }, "genre": { "required": false, "label": "Genre", "type": "string", "description": "Use for fiction writers: All genres that the person wrote in. Use for multiple values" }, "subject": { "required": false, "label": "Subject", "type": "string", "description": "Use for non-fiction writers: All subjects that the person wrote about. Use for multiple values", "suggested": true }, "movement": { "required": false, "label": "Movement", "type": "string", "description": "Insert the literary movement associated with or involving the person. Use for multiple values" }, "notable_works": { "required": false, "label": "Notable works", "type": "string", "description": "Names of notable works (see WP:NN). Use for multiple values.", "suggested": true }, "spouse": { "required": false, "label": "Spouse", "type": "string",

"description": "Name of spouse(s), followed by years of marriage. Use the format Name (1950–present) for current spouse and Name (1970–1999) for former spouse(s). Use

for multiple values."

}, "partner": { "required": false, "label": "Partner", "type": "string",

"description": "Name of long-term unmarried partner(s) (e.g., domestic partner). Use

for multiple values."

}, "children": { "required": false, "label": "Children", "type": "string",

"description": "Number of children (e.g., 3), or list of children names. Use

for multiple values."

}, "relatives": { "required": false, "label": "Relatives", "type": "string",

"description": "Names of parents, siblings or other relatives; include only if they are independently notable or particularly relevant. Include the relationship in parentheses after the name (father, sister, uncle, etc.). Use

for multiple values."

}, "awards": { "required": false, "label": "Awards", "type": "string",

"description": "Insert any notable awards the person has won.\nConsider using the template: award
year title – role
\n\nUse

for multiple values.",

"suggested": true }, "signature": { "required": false, "label": "Signature", "type": "wiki-page-name", "description": "File name of the writer's signature. Image is displayed at a width of 128px." }, "signature_type": { "description": "Alter from Signature to, for example, Seal", "label": "Signature type", "type": "string" }, "signature_size": { "description": "Default is 150px. If necessary, a signature can be resized manually as per the \"image_size\" parameter.", "label": "Signature size" }, "signature_alt": { "required": false, "label": "Signature (alternative)", "type": "string", "description": "Alternative text for signature. Write out the signature exactly as it appears in the image, including punctuation. (For accessibility, to be read by screen readers.)" }, "years_active": { "description": "Date range in years during which the subject was active in their principal occupation(s) and/or other activity for which they are notable. Use the format 1950–2000, or 1970–present if still active (note the use of an en dash, not hyphen). If no dates of birth and/or death are known for the subject, only a floruit date range, as is common with ancient subjects, this parameter can be used for it. If approximate (circa) dates are known for either or both, put them in the birth_date and death_date parameters.", "label": "Years Active", "type": "string", "required": false }, "module": { "required": false, "label": "Module", "type": "string", "description": "Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one" }, "website": { "required": false, "label": "Website", "type": "string", "description": "If the person has an official website enter it here. Do not enter unofficial, blogs or fan websites. Only one official website is allowed. If the person has more than one official website, only the most prominent should be listed in the infobox. All other websites should be listed in the article under ==External links==.\nUse {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}. Do not include the \"http[s]://\" or \"www.\" parts unless the server requires it. Use camel case capitalization to make multiword domain names easier to read.", "example": "examplecompany.com", "suggested": true } } } </templatedata>

Example

J. K. Rowling
File:J. K. Rowling 2010.jpg
Rowling at the White House in 2010
Born	(1965-07-31) 31 July 1965
Occupation	Author philanthropist
Spouse	Jorge Arantes ​ ​ (m. 1992; div. 1995)​ Neil Murray ​ (m. 2001)​

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow: auto;">

J. K. Rowling
File:J. K. Rowling 2010.jpg
Rowling at the White House in 2010
Born	(1965-07-31) 31 July 1965
Occupation	Author philanthropist
Spouse	Jorge Arantes ​ ​ (m. 1992; div. 1995)​ Neil Murray ​ (m. 2001)​

</syntaxhighlight>

Tracking categories

• Category:Biography template using pronunciation (0)

The above documentation is transcluded from Template:Infobox writer/doc. (edit | history)
Editors can experiment in this template's sandbox (create | mirror) and testcases (create) pages.
Add categories to the /doc subpage. Subpages of this template.