Unreferenced

Unreferenced content refers to information that has no citations or verifiable sources attached. In scholarly and encyclopedic writing, citations enable readers to verify claims, assess reliability, and locate further information. Unreferenced statements may appear in drafts, in informal writing, or in published materials where sourcing was omitted or lost. In collaborative encyclopedias and wikis, unreferenced material is often flagged by editors or automated systems and may be marked with a citation-needed or unreferenced notice. Persistent lack of sourcing can raise questions about accuracy, potential bias, or outdated information, and can result in edits, removals, or requests for sourcing.

There are two common forms: an article that is entirely unreferenced, and an individual sentence or claim that is unreferenced within a larger article. Best practices encourage adding reliable, verifiable sources from neutral, reputable outlets, and avoiding original research or unsourced speculation. When adding citations, it is important to indicate the precise claim and ensure the source supports it. If no suitable sources exist, editors may rephrase or remove the claim.

Related concepts include verifiability, reliable sources, citations, and the citation-needed mechanism. The aim is to maintain accuracy, transparency of authorship, and accountability, while balancing neutral point of view and the availability of credible information.