Help:Cite errors/Cite error refs without references

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Overview

When a page contains references enclosed in <ref>...</ref> tags, the page must also have markup to actually show the reference list; otherwise the error message will be displayed.

The reference list is shown by including reference list markup: <references /> used for a basic rendering, <references>...</references> used with the template {{reflist}}, which will support columns and other features. Reference list markup is generally placed in its own section near the end of the page and may have a section heading titled "References", "Notes", "Footnotes", "Works cited" or some other name.

Issues and resolution

Since the most common issue is missing reference list markup, simply add the markup:

==References==
<references />

Or;

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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Sometimes the reference list markup exists, but the message is shown because the <ref> tag immediately before the reference list markup does not have a closing </ref> or it is malformed, thus "eating" the rest of the text including the reference list. If this is the case, find the last <ref> tag and ensure it is properly closed with </ref>.

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Similarly the reference list markup may be "eaten" by an unclosed HTML comment or HTML tag such as <nowiki> or <gallery>.

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This message may also show if there are <ref>...</ref> tags after the reference list markup. Ensure all <ref>...</ref> tags are properly placed.

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A template such as a navbox may have <ref>...</ref> tags.

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Multiple uses of {{reflist}} require that it be closed for each use. See Template:Reflist#Multiple uses.

Technical

Pages with this error message are placed into Pages with missing references list. The system message page is at Cite error refs without references.