Wiki143:Template index/Cleanup

Template messages (maintenance tags, cleanup tags, cleanup messages) may be added to articles needing cleanup. Their purposes are to foster improvement of the encyclopedia by alerting editors to changes that need to be made. Cleanup tags are meant to be temporary notices that lead to an effort to fix the problem, not a permanent badge of shame to show that you disagree with an article, or a method of warning readers about an article.

Unless otherwise noted, cleanup messages should be placed at the top of the page, before other templates, images, or infoboxes, but after hatnotes (see Template:Section link). Cleanup messages should be placed directly on the article or file, not on its talk page. Certain tags can be placed at the beginning of an individual section, and others can be placed within the text itself (inline).

A date parameter is added by a bot, or you can add it yourself with |date=December 2025.

Before you tag an article, please remember the following:

Don't tag an article if you can easily and confidently fix the problem.

The goal is an improved article, not a tagged article.

Do some research to attempt to solve the problem before tagging.

Don't put the burden of doing so on another editor if you are capable of fixing the problem yourself with a simple search or consulting a reference work.

Don't do "drive-by" tagging.

Tags must be accompanied by either a comment on the article's talk page explaining the problem and beginning a discussion on how to fix it or, for simpler and more obvious problems, a remark using the reason parameter (available in all templates, regardless of whether it appears in the documentation) as shown below. At the very least, tagging editors must be willing to follow through with substantive discussion.

Don't do "drive-by" de-tagging.

Likewise, please provide a similar rationale for removing a template, unless your preceding edits have clearly fixed the announced problem. See also when not to remove a template.

Don't insert tags that are similar or redundant.

For example, most articles that read like essays have an inappropriate tone, and in fact they end up being automatically grouped in the same category, so it is unnecessary to tag with both Template:Tl and Template:Tl.

If an article has many problems, tag only the highest priority issues.

A lengthy list is often less helpful than a shorter one. Template:Crossreference

If multiple tags are necessary, consider using the Template:Tl template.

This will help to avoid cluttering the article with tags and eclipsing the article's content.

Don't add tags for trivial or minor problems, especially if an article needs a lot of work.

For example, there is little point in noting grammatical problems for a section that needs to be completely re-written to comply with content policies. Focus on the biggest one, two, or three problems.

Does the article meet inclusion requirements?

Before placing templates on a page it is worthwhile to cast a critical eye over the page to determine whether indeed it should be included in Wikipedia. Some articles can be tagged for speedy deletion or nominated for a deletion discussion at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion.

Best practices

In obscure or unpopular articles

On pages that have received little attention from editors or readers, cleanup templates can be used as a way to call attention to problems that need to be addressed by editors. Editors who want to help address these problems should look through the various cleanup categories such as maintenance and articles with content issues and try to address the problems so that the templates can be removed. Editors who frequently tag articles should also address the backlogs.

In heavily monitored articles

On pages that are being edited by a number of users, cleanup templates are used to inform readers and editors of ongoing discussions and attempts to fix the problems on the page. Such templates can be used to attract uninvolved users to discussions and cleanup efforts, and they can also serve as a warning to casual readers that the article may have problems and be subject to noticeable changes. In general, an editor who places a template message to indicate a problem like this should explain their rationale fully on the talk page of the article. If the consensus of the other editors is that there is a problem or an editorial dispute that deserves such a clean-up template, then the editors should work to fix the problem as quickly and cleanly as possible so the template message can be removed. If the consensus is that there is no problem, then the message can be removed immediately. For heavily monitored articles, please do not add or remove template messages of this sort without using the talk page.

Use in sections

Many of these cleanup tags require you to place |article as the first parameter when you use the tag at the top of an article. When you want the template to refer to just one section, however, you replace |article with |section (where the | is a pipe key Template:Key press found on most keyboards as a shift-backslash Template:Key press. See the specific template below to determine if such "section use" is supported and appropriate.

Cleanup

Overarching copyright issues

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Copypaste

Combined message boxes

Do not use this as the Template:Em message box on the article or section; it should be used with at least two other message boxes sandwiched inside it.

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes) — multiple issues (top of article)
Template:Tlp	Template:Multiple issues

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes) — multiple issues (section)
Template:Tlp	Template:Multiple issues

General cleanup

Use one of these general tags when none of the more specific tags fits.

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup This applies to general problems not addressed by other tags. Please consider using specific cleanup tags first, as specific tags help other editors to easily identify problems in an article. Use the reason parameter: cleanup|reason= to specify issues identified (it may be a link to comments on the talk page).
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Use this tag where an AFD discussion closes with a consensus of "keep and cleanup."
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Use this tag where the whole article needs extensive revision.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Section rewrite Use this tag where a section needs extensive revision. (This is the same cleanup rewrite tag with section parameter enabled)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup section Use this tag where the remaining sections of an article need cleanup.

Copy editing

Some articles just need someone with a good grasp of editing technique to give them a once-over.

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Copy edit section
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Verify spelling

Inline with article text

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Copy edit inline This template tags a statement for basic copyediting, and should be placed after the statement.

Cleanup of specific subjects

These templates are all "general cleanup" templates, but tie into a specific subject matter or WikiProjects.

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Ambox
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Ambox
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup film
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup higher education
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Game guide
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Game trivia
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Localist
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Metricate
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:USRD-wrongdir

Fiction

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:All plot
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	This is not for factual or accuracy disputes.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	See template documentation for list of topic-specific sub-templates.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:More plot
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:No plot

Inline with article text

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Needs IPA

Style of writing

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup press release
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup tense
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Excessive examples
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Obituary
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Pro and con list
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Research paper
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Travel guide
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/

Structure, formatting and sections

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup reorganize
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Duplication
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Importance section
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Organize section
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Overcolored
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Overcoloured
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Summarize section
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Too many sections
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Too many see alsos
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/

Introduction

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Lead extra info
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Lead missing
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Lead rewrite
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Lead too short

Potentially unwanted content

Message boxes

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:AI-generated
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For use in articles or sections where potentially unwanted lists need to be salvaged before being deleted
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup red links
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Close paraphrasing
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Copypaste
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Criticism section
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Further reading cleanup
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:In popular culture
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:MOS
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Non-free
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Overlinked
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Schedule
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/

Inline with article text

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Peacock inline See also: WP:PEACOCK
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Spam link
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/

Context, statistics and detail

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Human-centric
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Overly detailed
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Too many charts
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Specific
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Time-context
Template:Tl Template:Lts/	Template:Fringe theories

Off-topic

Articles occasionally contain content which is otherwise valid, but appears unrelated to the nominal topic of the article.

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Also takes "other article" parameter

Expand and add

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Biblio
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	When calling this template, you may pass it a parameter. A template call like Template:Tlx generates: "This section requires expansion with: examples and additional citations."
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Formula missing descriptions
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Kmposts Place above road junction lists that do not contain kilometreposts.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Lacking ISBN Place Template:Tlx at the head of the relevant section(s). Remember that books published before 1974 may not have ISBNs (though more recent editions should).
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Lacking overview
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Ambox Place above road junction lists that do not contain mileposts.
Template:Tl Template:Lts/	Template:Missing information When calling this template, you must pass it a parameter. A template call like Template:Tlx generates "This article is missing information about why bananas are yellow."
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Expand language Typically used as one of 170 language-specific templates such as Template:Tlx

Expert needed

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Before adding this template, start a section on the article discussion page describing what you wish the expert to address, and put the section name in the Template:Para parameter. Template:Tl may be used on the talk page for this purpose.

Time-sensitive

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Time-context
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tlx category

Inline with article text

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For tagging WP:DATED problems Template:Clarify timeframe
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For facts that likely will need updating at a specific future date
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For facts that need updating now Template:Update inline
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Used within prose to attribute a specific time to information that may quickly become dated, such as population statistics. Template:As of

Major edits

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Mbox
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Mbox
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/

Contradiction and confusion

Note: Templates relevant for when articles are confusing or hard to understand due specifically to translation issues can be found at Wikipedia:Template index/Translation.

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Use this tag in articles that need broad cleanup to eliminate confusion and discrepancies.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Contradicts others Use these tags in articles that appear to contradict themselves or each other.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Incomprehensible
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Misleading Use this tag when the article is not factually wrong, but leads the reader to draw incorrect conclusions.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Unclear date
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Unfocused Use this tag when the writing is clear, but the article as a whole doesn't concentrate on a single theme.

Inline with article text

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Contradictory inline Use this for specific sentences which contradict themselves or a nearby sentence.
Template:Tl Template:Lts/	Template:Expand acronym Use this to mark acronyms and abbreviations that are not written in full at first occurrence.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Inconsistent Use this to mark statements that are inconsistent with other parts of the article.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Vague Use this for specific sentences needing clarification.

Content forks

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Bad summary
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Duplication

Importance and notability

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl Template:Lts/	Template:Importance inline inline version of Template:Tlp
Template:Tl Template:Lts/	Template:Importance section
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	An optional parameter can be added to specify the applicable guideline; e.g.: Template:Tlp, Template:Tlp. See the template documentation for a list of supported values.

Neutrality and factual accuracy

Message boxes

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cherry-picked
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Coatrack
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:COI
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Geographical imbalance
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Political POV
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Undisclosed paid
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Undue weight
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/

Inline with superimposed text

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For weasel words ("It was said..." It was thought...") Template:According to whom
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Do not use without first taking some steps to research the apparent problem Template:Clarify
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Contentious label inline
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Editorializing
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For abuse of citations, per Wikipedia:Citation overkill. Template:Excessive citations inline
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Undue weight inline
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For ambiguous or vague time references of various kinds. Template:When
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For weasel words ("Many say..." Some people think...")

Categories

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Improve categories
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Recategorize
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Place this at the bottom of an uncategorized article/category if you are unsure of which categories apply.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Unreferenced category

Images and other media

For tips on requesting images see: Wikipedia:Requested pictures.

• For template messages related to the clean up of images, see: Wikipedia:Template index/File namespace#Format and quality.

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Audio requested
Template:Tl Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup gallery
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Improve images
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Check talk wpTemplate:Tmbox This template should be used on talk pages.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup image captions
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Image requested This template should be used on talk pages. Please add one or more subject categories into the template. Use of= to add detailed information on the request. Use in= to define locations.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Check talk wpTemplate:Tmbox This template should be used on talk pages.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Too many photos

Lists

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	For use in non-list articles or sections where potentially unwanted lists need to be salvaged before being deleted
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Create list Use this tag where an article needs to be changed into list format.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Disputed list To identify a list on Wikipedia that has content whose truth, factual nature, and/or relevance to the topic is in dispute.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Excessive examples For use in non-list articles where too much of the content is composed of "examples", "references in popular culture", and the like.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Famous For use in articles with unclear criteria for a list of "famous" or "notable" persons.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Fiction trivia For use in fiction-specific articles that have way too many trivial examples. (Ex.: For an article specifically about famous fictional horses that mentions the fact that Sesame Street once told kids how to spell "horse", or that one of the animals you can kill in an online game is a horse.)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:In popular culture For use when a nonfiction article has become overcrowded with too many references to fiction or other pop culture. (Ex.: Article on horses having a long section of TV shows, movies, video games, etc. that have "horse" in the name or feature horses in some way.)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:List entry too long For use when a list item is excessively large due to indiscriminate trivia or a need to merge or split
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:List scope To identify a list on Wikipedia that has entries that may be out of scope.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:List to table For use where lists could be better presented as tables.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Unsorted list Use this tag where a list of works is in reverse-chronological order or otherwise contravenes the Wikipedia:Manual of Style (lists of works).
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Prose Use this tag where a list needs cleanup.

Wiki tech

Most of these issues are covered in the main Manual of Style.

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup HTML If the article needs HTML changed into wiki-markup
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Cleanup lang If the article has non-English text but lacks Template:Tl, Template:Tl or other multilingual support templates.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Dablinks Use this on a page that links to a large number of disambiguation pages. This template is sometimes placed automatically by Template:Noping.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Dead end Use this to mark articles or sections that completely lack internal links. Use this for disambiguation pages not written according to the style in Wikipedia:Manual of Style (disambiguation pages). Replace Template:Tl with this.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Incoming links Use this on a page with general links that should be more specific.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Orphan Use this for articles that aren't linked to from any other pages.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Place this at the bottom of an uncategorized article/category if you are unsure of which categories apply.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Underlinked Use this to mark articles or sections with too few internal links.

Infobox needed

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Infobox requested This template should be used on talk pages. Also has functionality to indicate that only a section in a page needs one. See the template page for more info.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Check talk wpTemplate:Tmbox This template should be used on talk pages.
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/	Template:Check talk wp This template should be used on talk pages.

Infobox cleanup needed

Tag	Text that will be shown (and usage notes)
Template:Tl category Template:Lts/

Other article tags

There are also tags available for:

• merging articles;
• moving articles;
• splitting articles; and
• translation of articles.

Open tasks

Template:Divhide Wikipedia:Backlog lists tasks that should be done to improve Wikipedia (assuming the cleanup templates were placed correctly). Helping reduce backlogs is an important issue, so please feel free to help out. Template:Backlog status Template:Divhide

See also

• Wikipedia:Responsible tagging
• Wikipedia:Tagging pages for problems
• Wikipedia:Twinkle
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Stub sorting/Stub types