View source for Help:Referencing for beginners without using templates

{{Wikipedia how to|WP:REFBPLAIN}}
{{see also|Help:Introduction to referencing|Help:Referencing for beginners with citation templates}}

Here's a popular reference method which doesn't use [[Wikipedia:templates|templates]] so it speeds loading time. [[Cut, copy, and paste#Copy and paste|Copy and paste]] the following immediately after what you want to reference:

{{pre|<nowiki><ref>author, [article_link "article_name"], ''publisher'', publication_date. Retrieved retrieved_date.</ref></nowiki>}}

Put information between the reference markers. [[Cut, copy, and paste#Copy and paste|Copy and paste]] the author's name. Paste the publication name ''inside'' the apostrophes so it's ''italicized''. Paste the publication date. Inside the brackets {{code|[]}} paste the url first with the article title to the ''right'', and put both url and title ''inside'' the brackets. Remember to leave a blank space between url and title. For example, in editing mode if you type this

{{pre|<nowiki>This is the fact we're trying to reference about inflation being unlikely in 2010.<ref>Patricia Sabatini,[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09289/1005873-28.stm "Inflation unlikely to be a threat as economy emerges from recession"], ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', October 16, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref></nowiki>}}

You get this:

{{quotation|This is the fact we're trying to reference about inflation being unlikely in 2010.<ref> Patricia Sabatini, [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09289/1005873-28.stm "Inflation unlikely to be a threat as economy emerges from recession"], ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', October 16, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-21.</ref>}}

The reference appears in the "references" section automatically:

{{quotation|{{Reflist}}}}

The ''Retrieved'' date is when you fetched the reference; the ''publication date'' is when the article was published. The ''url'' is the line like <nowiki>''http://www.etc''</nowiki>; [[Cut, copy, and paste#Copy and paste|copy and paste]] the url in if available since it makes it easy for checking references. You can also put in the ISBN, co-author names, page numbers and such; see [[Wikipedia:Citing sources|citing sources]].

That's it! You're done. When editing, you'll see your reference next to the text; but after saving, readers will only see a reference number there; your reference should appear below. Good luck!

If you get a warning about a missing "References" section at the end of the page, just add it:

{{pre|<nowiki>== References ==
{{Reflist}}</nowiki>}}

Experiment on sandbox pages or your user talk page.

Remember many referencing styles are possible. Some editors prefer alternatives (see below). When possible, use the style others prefer. See [[Wikipedia:Citing sources#Citation templates and tools|Citing sources]] for further discussion.

{{Wikipedia referencing}}

[[Category:Wikipedia how-to|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Wikipedia quick introductions]]