Wikipedia:Hatnote: Difference between revisions

Examples of improper use

Disambiguating article names that are not ambiguous

It is usually preferable not to have a hatnote when the name of the article is not ambiguous.

Water (Wu Xing)

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For other uses, see Water (disambiguation).

Water (Chinese: 水; pinyin: shuǐ), is the low point of the matter, or the matter's dying or hiding stage. Water is the fifth stage of Wu Xing. ...

Here, the hatnote can be removed. A reader who is following links within Wikipedia is unlikely to end up at Water (Wu Xing) if they were looking for other meanings of water, since water does not redirect there.

A hatnote may still be appropriate when even a more specific name is still ambiguous. For example, Tree (set theory) might still be confused with Tree (descriptive set theory).

The presence or absence of hatnotes in articles with disambiguated titles has been a contentious issue, and this guideline doesn't prescribe one way or the other. There are cases where some editors strongly believe that such hatnotes should be included, such as the various articles about treaties called Treaty of Paris.

A hatnote may be appropriate in an unambiguously named article when an ambiguous term redirects to it, as explained in § Ambiguous term that redirects to an unambiguously named article above.

Each additional link in the hatnote besides the ambiguous or confusable topic(s) makes it more difficult to find the desired target. For

WTIX (980 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format.

In this case, the link to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the hatnote leads to an article that is not ambiguous with the title. Linking only to the possible other destination (WIST (AM)) makes it easier to find the link.

External links

A previous version of the Hurricane Katrina article contained:

If you are trying to locate someone missing in Hurricane Katrina, or register yourself as found, you can use the site www.disastersearch.org [1]

Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall near New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 29, 2005, was one of the most destructive and expensive tropical cyclones to hit the United States. ...

The use of external help links in Wikipedia, though noble, cannot reasonably be maintained. In special cases, a link to an "External links" section may be appropriate, but POV favoritism can be obstructive. In this case, the hatnote was removed entirely.

Non-existent articles

Hatnotes should not contain red links to non-existent articles since hatnotes are intended to help users navigate to another article they may have intended to find. The exception is if one intends to create the linked article immediately. In that case, consider creating the new article first, before saving the addition of the hatnote.

Hatnote templates

Generic hatnote

{{Hatnote}} allows general text to be shown in hatnote format. It is appropriate when none of the other specific templates listed below includes the combination of parameters needed, or to combine several of them in a single hatnote.

• {{Hatnote|CUSTOM TEXT}} →
  CUSTOM TEXT

{{Hatnote|For other senses of this term, see [[etc…]]}} →

For other senses of this term, see etc…

• {{Selfref}} (a generic template for self-references to Wikipedia material)

Other uses of the same title ("For …, see …")

Per WP:NAMB, it is usually preferable not to have a hatnote when the name of the article is not ambiguous.

"This page is about … For other uses …"

{{About}} is the main template for noting other uses.

Note: When used in main namespace (aka mainspace), the word "page" in the following hatnotes is replaced by "article".

• {{About|USE1}} →
  This page is about USE1. For other uses, see Hatnote (disambiguation).
• {{About|USE1||PAGE2}} (When the disambiguation page has a different name – Note the empty second parameter) →
  This page is about USE1. For other uses, see PAGE2.
• {{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2}} (When there is only one other use) →
  This page is about USE1. For USE2, see PAGE2.
• {{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|and|PAGE3}} (Two pages for USE2) →
  This page is about USE1. For USE2, see PAGE2 and PAGE3.
• {{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2#SUBSECTION{{!}}PAGE2TITLE}} (Using the {{!}} magic word to give the link a different title) →
  This page is about USE1. For USE2, see PAGE2TITLE.
• {{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|other uses}} (When there are several standard other uses and also a disambiguation page with default name – Note that the last page name is not specified) →
  This page is about USE1. For USE2, see PAGE2. For other uses, see Hatnote (disambiguation).
• {{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|other uses|PAGE3}} (When there are several standard other uses and also a disambiguation page with non-default name) →
  This page is about USE1. For USE2, see PAGE2. For other uses, see PAGE3.
• {{About||USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3|other uses}} (When you don't need to state the focus of this article/page – Note the empty first parameter) →
  For USE2, see PAGE2. For USE3, see PAGE3. For other uses, see Hatnote (disambiguation).
• {{About|||PAGE1|and|PAGE2}} →
  For other uses, see PAGE1 and PAGE2.

Note: {{for||PAGE1|PAGE2}} produces the same result.

• {{About|USE1|section=yes}} →
  This section is about USE1. For other uses, see Hatnote (disambiguation).

Note: this hatnote says "section", instead of "article" or "page".

• {{About|USE1|text=TEXT}} →
  This page is about USE1. TEXT.

"This page is about … It is not to be confused with …"

{{About-distinguish}} is a template for noting other uses when there could be confusion with another topic.

• {{About-distinguish|USE1|PAGE1}} →
  This page is about USE1. Not to be confused with PAGE1.
• {{About-distinguish2|USE1|TEXT}} →
  This page is about USE1. Not to be confused with TEXT.

"For other uses, see …"

When such a wordy hatnote as {{About}} is not needed, {{Other uses}} is often useful.

• {{Other uses}} →
  For other uses, see Wikipedia:Hatnote (disambiguation).
• {{Other uses|PAGE1}} →
  For other uses, see PAGE1.
• {{Other uses|PAGE1|PAGE2}} →
  For other uses, see PAGE1 and PAGE2.

Variations

There are, historically, a whole family of "other uses" templates for specific cases. {{About}} is the standard hatnote for "other uses" and many of them can be specified using the {{About}} template. However, the individual templates may be easier to use in certain contexts.

Here are the variations and (when appropriate) the equivalents using the {{About}}, {{Other uses}} or {{For}} templates.

"For other uses of …, see …"

• {{Other uses of|TOPIC}} →
  For other uses of "TOPIC", see TOPIC (disambiguation).
• {{Other uses of|TOPIC|PAGE1}} →
  For other uses of "TOPIC", see PAGE1.

=

• {{Redirect|REDIRECT}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. For other uses, see REDIRECT (disambiguation).
• {{Redirect|REDIRECT||PAGE1}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. For other uses, see PAGE1.
• {{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. For USE1, see PAGE1.
• {{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2}} → {{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2}
• {{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1|and|PAGE2}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. For USE1, see PAGE1 and PAGE2.

Variations

• For two sources:
  • {{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2}} →
    "REDIRECT1" and "REDIRECT2" redirect here. For other uses, see REDIRECT1 (disambiguation).
  • {{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE}} →
    "REDIRECT1" and "REDIRECT2" redirect here. For USE, see REDIRECT1 (disambiguation).
  • {{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2||PAGE1}} →
    "REDIRECT1" and "REDIRECT2" redirect here. For other uses, see PAGE1.
  • {{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE|PAGE1}} →
    "REDIRECT1" and "REDIRECT2" redirect here. For USE, see PAGE1.
  • {{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2}} →
    "REDIRECT1" and "REDIRECT2" redirect here. For USE1, see PAGE1. For USE2, see PAGE2.
• For three or more sources:
  • {{Redirect-multi|2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2}} →
    "REDIRECT1" and "REDIRECT2" redirect here. For other uses, see REDIRECT1 (disambiguation) and REDIRECT2 (disambiguation).
  • {{Redirect-multi|3|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|REDIRECT3}} →
    "REDIRECT1", "REDIRECT2", and "REDIRECT3" redirect here. For other uses, see REDIRECT1 (disambiguation), REDIRECT2 (disambiguation), and REDIRECT3 (disambiguation).
  • {{Redirect-multi|2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE|PAGE}} →
    "REDIRECT1" and "REDIRECT2" redirect here. For USE, see PAGE.
  • {{Redirect-multi|2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2|and|PAGE3}} →
    "REDIRECT1" and "REDIRECT2" redirect here. For USE1, see PAGE1. For USE2, see PAGE2 and PAGE3.
  • {{Redirect-several|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|REDIRECT3}} →
    Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see REDIRECT1 (disambiguation), REDIRECT2 (disambiguation), and REDIRECT3 (disambiguation).
• To specify the text following "redirects here.":
  • {{Redirect|REDIRECT|text=TEXT}}→
    "REDIRECT" redirects here. TEXT.
  • {{Redirect-synonym|TERM|OTHER TOPIC}} →
    "TERM" redirects here. The term may also refer to OTHER TOPIC.

"For technical reasons, … redirects here. …

• {{Technical reasons|REDIRECT}} →
• {{Technical reasons|REDIRECT|PAGE}} →
• {{Technical reasons|REDIRECT|DESCRIPTION|PAGE}} →
• {{Technical reasons|REDIRECT|DESCRIPTION1|PAGE1|DESCRIPTION2|PAGE2}} →

… redirects here. It is not to be confused with …

• {{Redirect-distinguish|REDIRECT|PAGE1}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. Not to be confused with PAGE1.
• {{Redirect-distinguish|REDIRECT|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. Not to be confused with PAGE1, PAGE2, or PAGE3.
• {{Redirect-distinguish2|REDIRECT|TEXT}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. Not to be confused with TEXT.

Similar proper names ("For other people named ...")

Other people

• {{Other people}} →
  For other people named Hatnote, see Hatnote (disambiguation).
• {{Other people|NAME}} →
  For other people named NAME, see NAME (disambiguation).
• {{Other people|NAME|PAGE}} →
  For other people named NAME, see PAGE.
• {{Other people||PAGE}} →
  For other people with the same name, see PAGE.
• {{Other people|NAME|PAGE|named=titled}} →
  For other people titled NAME, see PAGE.
• {{About other people|PERSON1}} →
  This page is about PERSON1. For other people with the same name, see Hatnote (disambiguation).
• {{About other people|PERSON1|NAME}} →
  This page is about PERSON1. For other people named NAME, see NAME (disambiguation).
• {{About other people|PERSON1|NAME|named=titled}} →
  This page is about PERSON1. For other people titled NAME, see NAME (disambiguation).
• {{About other people|PERSON1|NAME|PAGE}} →
  This page is about PERSON1. For other people named NAME, see PAGE.
• {{About other people|PERSON1||PAGE}} →
  This page is about PERSON1. For other people with the same name, see PAGE.
• {{About other people|PERSON1|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3}} →
  This page is about PERSON1. For other people with the same name, see PAGE1, PAGE2, and PAGE3.
• {{Similar names|NAME1|NAME2|NAME3|NAME4}} →
  For other people with similar names, see NAME1, NAME2, NAME3, and NAME4.

Note: defaults to "named" as in {{Other people}}, exists for options like "nicknamed", "known as", etc.

Other places/ships/hurricanes

• {{Other places}}, analogous to {{Other uses}} →
  For other places with the same name, see Wikipedia:Hatnote (disambiguation).
• {{Other places|PAGE}}, analogous to {{Other uses}} →
  For other places with the same name, see PAGE.
• {{Other ships|SHIP1}} →
  For other ships with the same name, see SHIP1.
• {{Other hurricanes|HURR}} →
  For other storms of the same name, see HURR.

Distinguish

"Not to be confused with …"

• {{Distinguish|PAGE1}} →
  Not to be confused with PAGE1.
• {{Distinguish|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3|PAGE4}} →
  Not to be confused with PAGE1, PAGE2, PAGE3, or PAGE4.
• {{Distinguish|text = TEXT}} →
  Not to be confused with TEXT.

"… redirects here. It is not to be confused with …"

• {{Redirect-distinguish|REDIRECT|PAGE1}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. Not to be confused with PAGE1.
• {{Redirect-distinguish|REDIRECT|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3|PAGE4}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. Not to be confused with PAGE1, PAGE2, PAGE3, or PAGE4.
• {{Redirect-distinguish2|REDIRECT|TEXT}} →
  "REDIRECT" redirects here. Not to be confused with TEXT.

Family names

Further information: Category:Hatnote templates for names

Family names can also be clarified using inline footnotes, such as with {{Efn Chinese name}}.

For use in sections

"Main article: …"

{{Main}} is used to make summary style explicit, when used in a summary section for which there is also a separate article on the subject:

• {{Main|Main Article}} →
  Main article: Main Article
• {{Main|Main Article|Article2}} →
  Main articles: Main Article and Article2
• {{Main list|Article1}} →
  For a more comprehensive list, see Article1.

"Further information: …"

{{Further}} can supplement {{Main}} in summary sections, or can indicate more details in nonsummary sections:

• {{Further|PAGE}} →
  Further information: PAGE
• {{Further|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3}} →
  Further information: PAGE1, PAGE2, and PAGE3
• {{Further|topic=TOPIC|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3}} →
  Further information on TOPIC: PAGE1, PAGE2, and PAGE3
• {{Further2|[[PAGE1]], [[PAGE2]], and other text}} →
  Further information: PAGE1, PAGE2, and other text

"See also …"

{{See also}} can be used at the head of a section.

• {{See also|TOPIC PAGE|OTHER TOPIC PAGE}} →
  See also: TOPIC PAGE and OTHER TOPIC PAGE

Note: use only when OTHER TOPIC PAGE is related to current article and contains a self-explanatory parenthetical.

• {{See also2|[[OTHER TOPIC]]|[[OTHER TOPIC2]]|[[OTHER TOPIC3]] and other text}} →
  See also: OTHER TOPIC, OTHER TOPIC2, and OTHER TOPIC3 and other text

Article or section transclusions

• {{Transcluding article|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3...}} (used when transcluding 1 or more entire articles into a target article) →
• {{Transcluded section|PAGE}} (used when selectively transcluding a section from one article into a section of the target article) →
• {{Transcluded section|PAGE|part=yes}} (used when selectively transcluding a section into part of a section on the target page) →

For category pages

See also: Category:Hatnote templates for category pages

Category-specific templates:

• {{Category see also|THIS|THAT|THE OTHER}} →
  See also the categories THIS, THAT, and THE OTHER

This is a template for linking categories horizontally. Horizontal linkage is often the right solution when vertical linkage (i.e., as sub-category and parent category) is not appropriate. In most cases, this template should be used on both categories to create reciprocal linkage between the two categories.

• {{Cat main|MAIN ARTICLE}} →
  The main article for this category is MAIN ARTICLE.
• {{Category explanation|colourless green ideas}} →
  This category is for colourless green ideas.
• {{Category pair|TOPIC1|TOPIC2}} →
• {{Preceding category|OTHER TOPIC}} →
• {{Succeeding category|OTHER TOPIC}} →
• {{Contrast|OTHERCAT1|OTHERCAT2}} →
  This category is often contrasted with OTHERCAT1 or OTHERCAT2.
• {{Contrast|OTHERCAT1|OTHERCAT2|plural=yes}} →
  This category are often contrasted with OTHERCAT1 or OTHERCAT2.

Lists

Further information: Category:Hatnote templates for lists

What to do before editing or creating a template

These templates are used in literally thousands of articles; therefore, changing the syntax could break thousands of articles. If you wish to create or edit a disambiguation or redirection template, first ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is there already a template that will do this job? Since many disambiguation and redirection templates have already been created, first check: Category:Hatnote templates.
2. Do I really need a new template for this? Will it likely be used on any other articles or should I just use {{Hatnote}} instead? Before creating a new template, see the template namespace guideline.
3. If I change the parameters around on an existing template, do I know what the result will be? Will it break existing uses of the template and if so, can I fix all of the errors? Before making any changes, see Wikipedia:Template sandbox and test cases.

See also

• Wikipedia:Hatnotes are cheap
• {{Inline cleanup tags}}