Help:Cite errors/Cite error references missing key
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This page will help you to fix the cite error message:
Cite error: A list-defined reference named "$1" is not used in the content (see the help page).
- If you have read this help page and find something missing or confusing, please discuss it at the main talk page.
- Please reference this page and the page where you have the problem so we can understand your issues.
- For basic information on the footnotes system, see Referencing for beginners; for advanced help, see Footnotes.
 | This help page is a how-to guide. It explains concepts or processes used by the Wikipedia community. It is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, and may reflect varying levels of consensus. |
Overview
A footnote used multiple times may be defined with a name:
<ref name="foo">content</ref>
To invoke a named footnote:
<ref name="foo" />
References may also be defined within the reference list:
{{#parsoid
List-defined references may be invoked by the standard markup or by use of {{r}}.
Issues and resolution
All references defined in the reference list must be invoked in prior content. Unused references must be removed or commented out, or stripped of their <ref>...</ref> tags and moved to another section, such as "Further reading".
Including more than one nested reference in List-defined references will cause a Cite error.
Misusing a template that was never intended as a citation template and placing it in <ref> tags may cause this issue.
A template that creates <ref> tags; known instances:
- {{Certification Cite Ref}}
- {{sfn}} and variants
- {{Single chart}}
A template that includes table markup; known instances:
