User:Thryduulf/DOB supplement

This page is intended to offer guidance about when the include the subject's birth in a biographical article. It should generally be followed but interpreted with common sense, exceptions may apply but you should be prepared to explain why a given situation is an exception. Remember that the Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons policy applies to living and recently deceased subjects and supercedes this guidance.

General principles

• Just because a date of birth is reliably sourced does not mean it must be included. While there is consensus that if a single date (or single approximation, e.g. "circa 1704") consistently appears in reliable sources it should normally be included, there are occasional exceptions, some of which are detailed in this guidance.
• If the date cannot be reliably sourced, it cannot be included under any circumstances.
• If only part of the date can be reliably sourced (e.g., "1984"), then only that part can be included.
• If it is unclear whether the sourcing for a date of birth is reliable, omit the date until it is clear. No date of birth is better than an incorrect date of birth.
• Do not use a date more precise than given in reliable sources (e.g., "before 1704").
• If interpreting clues or other original research is required, it cannot be included (but see below for age on a given date).
• Sources that are specifically about the subject are generally more likely to be reliable than those which mention them incidentally.
• See below for situations where there are multiple reliably sourced dates and other complex cases.
• Do not reach out to the subject. This is original research and potentially highly intrusive.

If the subject is living and doesn't want their (full) birth date public

• If this is stated in reliable sources (including sources controlled by the subject), or
• The subject or their representative has contacted us requesting this (there should be a VRT ticket or note on the talk page from the WP:OFFICE if they have).

Respect their wishes unless:

• Their birth date or age is directly relevant to their notability (e.g., Category:Youngest record holders); or
• High-quality reliable sources that are (or can reasonably be presumed to be) aware of the subject's wishes publish (full) the date anyway.

If the subject is deceased and didn't want their (full) birth date public

• While the provisions of Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons#Recently dead or probably dead apply, follow the guidance for still-living subjects unless obituaries in third party reliable sources include the (full) birth date.
• Treat the request has having expired once the above provisions no longer apply.

If the subject has published their own date of birth

Include the date of birth if the subject has published it themselves in a source that is controlled by them or reliable for direct quotes.

• If the subject gives different dates in different places, include all the dates that are not clearly errors with an explanation.
• If the subject and third party sources give different dates, include both with an explanation. It should be clear which date is the one claimed by the subject.
• If third party reliable sources claim the date given by the subject is wrong but do not give a different date, include the date claimed by the subject. A mention of the dispute can be included also, if it is relevant and DUE (it will not always be).

If third party reliable sources give multiple dates

• Ignore outliers and obvious errors (e.g. if 5 sources give the same date and 1 gives a different one) and treat as a single date (if there is only one non-outlier/non-obvious error).
• If third party reliable sources report on the discrepancy, report the discrepancy cited to the third party sources.
• If sources agree on part of the date, include only that part.
• If the discrepancies are small, report the range or use "circa".
• In other cases:
  • If the subject's age or birth date are directly relevant to their notability, report all the dates that are very clearly reliably sourced and note the discrepancy.
  • If the subject's age or birth date are not relevant to their notability, omit the date.

Calculations

• Calculation based a reliably sourced age on given date is permitted where a date cannot be sourced directly. It is recommended to use {{Birth based on age as of date}}.
• Be aware that the interval between interview and publication may be significant and articles (including news reports) may be reprinted/reposted later without being updated.
• If there are multiple, equally reliable age and date combinations:
  • If the possible dates of birth overlap, give the period of overlap with circa, giving the sources and dates for the calculation in a footnote. e.g. Born 1972 or 1973 + Born 1973 or 1974 → Born circa 1973. Be careful not to be overprecise and under no circumstances should calculated dates more precise than one month be given.
  • If the possible ranges do not overlap: ignore outliers and obvious errors, double check for reprints/reposts and significant delays between interview and publication. If the ranges still do not overlap:
    • If the subject's birth date or age are directly relevant to their notability: give the narrowest range covering all remaining dates, including the sources and dates for the calculation in a footnote. e.g. Born 1970 or 1971 + born 1972 or 1973 → born circa 1970–1973 or born 1970–71 or 1972–73.
    • If the subject's birth date or age are not relevant to their notability, omit the date.

Combining sources

• If the birth day and birth year can only be sourced separately, both parts must be cited separately if included.
• Be very careful not to engage in original research.
• A source giving the whole date is generally going to be more reliable than those giving partial dates.
• If dates obtained in this way contradict other sources (e.g. age on a given date), then use the latter unless there is consensus it is less reliable than both sources used for the combination.