Template:Expert needed/doc

This template flags an article for the badly-needed attention of an expert or experts in the subject(s) specified (please use {{Expert needed talk}} on the talk page for non-urgent requests).

The template assigns an article to specific subcategories of Category:Articles needing expert attention, depending on the topic of the article. These subcategories are named after WikiProjects. Find at least one appropriate subcategory when adding this template! Category:Articles needing unspecified expert attention should always remain empty.

Anyone placing this statement must state why an expert is needed, by using either the |reason= or |talk= (to link to a talk page section) parameter. If you place this template without this, any editor may immediately remove it without explanation. Uses of this template with neither a |reason= or |talk= parameter are categorized in Category:Articles needing expert attention with no reason or talk parameter

When to use

Use this tag when you have identified a specific issue that requires help from a subject-matter expert (not a generally knowledgeable Wikipedia editor).

If you want help for most of the page, or if you want help soon, then try these much more effective options:

• Leave a note on the talk page of any relevant WikiProjects.
• Submit the article for Wikipedia:Peer review.
• Take questions to relevant content-related Wikipedia:Noticeboards, such as the Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard for questions about whether sources are reliable for the statements they support.
• Start a Wikipedia:Request for comment.
• Ask for help at the Wikipedia:Village pump (miscellaneous).

How to use

{{Expert needed|WikiProject|talk=|reason=|date=}}

Parameters

• The first unnamed parameter accepts the name of the WikiProject from Active WikiProjects
• A second optional unnamed parameter, may be used to override the default "article" text with, for example, "section", "diagram" or "paragraph".
• ex2–ex5: To add additional expert subjects, you can use these parameters to include more names of WikiProjects.
• talk: If you have started a discussion on the article's talk page, you may link to that discussion with |talk=, using the section title of the discussion.
• reason: You may use the |reason= parameter to provide a short explanation describing the issue directly within the template, instead of, or in addition to the talk parameter.

Add |talk=, |reason=, or both. Uses of this template with neither may be removed without further consideration.

• date: The date of adding the template may be used as the next parameter, in the form of Month Year.

Examples

{{Expert needed|technology|documentation|talk=Section title goes here|reason=reason goes here|date=Month Year}}

{{Expert needed|technology|ex2=science|ex3=math|talk=Section title goes here|reason=reason goes here|date=Month Year}}

Follow up

When using this template, it is essential to provide an explanation using either the "reason" or the "talk" parameter. When adding a section on the talk page, you may use {{expert needed talk}} for this purpose. If the issue is of some urgency, you may also post a notice at the WikiProject that was included in the template.

Notes

• This template is a self-reference, and should not be substituted.
• See: WikiProject Council/Directory for a complete list of WikiProjects.
• Where the category name does not match the WikiProject name, including plural words or capitalisation, use the #switch parameter at Template:Expert needed/catcheck. E.g. for WP:WikiProject Radio Stations, the corresponding category is Category:Radio station articles needing expert attention.

See also

• Wikipedia:Template messages/Cleanup
• Wikipedia:Expert help

TemplateData

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

TemplateData for Expert needed

No description.

Template parameters

This template prefers block formatting of parameters.

Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Field of expertise	1	Field of expertise from which an expert is needed Example Physics	String	suggested
Section needed for	2	no description	String	optional
Field of expertise 2	ex2	Second field of expertise needed	String	optional
Field of expertise 3	ex3	Third field of expertise needed	String	optional
Field of expertise 4	ex4	Fourth field of expertise needed	String	optional
Field of expertise 5	ex5	Fifth field of expertise needed	String	optional
Reason expert needed	reason	The reason an expert is needed	String	optional
Link talk page?	talk	Optionally, a heading of a talk page discussion that needs expert input.	String	optional
Month and year	date	no description Example September 1996 Auto value {{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}	Date	suggested