Help:Talk pages - Wikipedia

Talk pages (also known as discussion pages) are administration pages where editors can discuss improvements to articles or other Wikipedia pages. The talk page associated with an article is named "Talk:Example", where "Example" is the name of the article. For example, the talk page for discussion of improvements to the article Australia is named Talk:Australia. The talk page associated with a page in another namespace is named by adding "talk" after the namespace label; for example, the talk page for Wikipedia:About is called Wikipedia talk:About.

When viewing an article (or any other non-talk page) on the desktop Wikipedia, a link to the corresponding talk page appears on the "Talk" tab at the top of the page. Click this tab to switch to the talk page. On the mobile Wikipedia, type "Talk:" and the article's name in the search bar. (There are plans to provide easier talk access on mobile.)

Video introduction

Where to find talk pages

When viewing an article (or any other non-talk page), a link to the corresponding talk page appears on the "Talk" tab at the top of the page. (Onmobile apps the link may be in a different location) Click this tab to switch to the talk page; you can then view the talk page and its history, and edit it if you want to add a question or comment.

If the "Talk" link is red, it means no talk page has been started yet. Click the red link to begin a talk page for that article and follow the instructions in Starting a new thread below. (It is also possible for a talk page to exist while the corresponding non-talk page is a red link; this often occurs in User space, when a user has received talk page messages but has not started a user page yet.)

To go back to the article page from its talk page, use the leftmost tab at the top of the page, labeled "article". For pages other than articles, this tab may say something different, like "user page" or "project page".

Identifying yourself

Generally, your comments will be automatically signed with your IP address (a number representing your internet connection)username and a link to your user talk page, along with the time you saved the page. The exception to this is when you are editing directly in source text mode, not using the reply toolornew topic tool. In that case, you should always sign and date your comment so other editors can follow the thread of the conversation. To do this easily, type four tildes (~~~~) at the end of your comment, or just click the signature button

on the row of buttons above the edit box. Once you publish the edit, this will be automatically converted into a user signature with a link to your user page, your user talk page, and the date and time that you save your edit. (You can change the form of your signature using your user preferences.)

If you choose to contribute without logging in, regardless of whether you have an account, you should still sign your posts. In this case your IP address will take the place of your username, and will link to your contributions history.

Code	Result
`~~~~`	Username (talk) 00:16, 3 June 2024 (UTC)

Starting a new thread

To discuss a topic that's not already covered on the article or user talk page, start a new topic.

A new section can also be started by editing the whole page or an existing section, going to a new line and typing == Heading ==, replacing "Heading" with a suitable title, but make sure to add new discussions at the bottom of the page. A new section automatically adds the heading to the "Contents" box on pages with at least four sections.

Replying to an existing thread

Indentation

Indentation is used to keep talk pages readable. Comments are indented using one or more initial colons (:), each colon representing one level of indentation. Each comment should be indented one more level than the comment it replies to, which may or may not be the preceding comment. For example:

Code	Result
== Header == The first comment in a section has no colons before it. ~~~~ :The reply to the first comment is indented one level. ~~~~ ::The reply to the second comment should be indented one more level. ~~~~ ::Another reply to the second comment is also indented one more level than the comment being replied to. ~~~~ :A subsequent reply to the first comment is indented one level. ~~~~	Header The first comment in a section has no colons before it. Editor 1 (talk) 10:44, 21 September 2016 (UTC) The reply to the first comment is indented one level. Editor 2 (talk) 16:40, 21 September 2016 (UTC) The reply to the second comment should be indented one more level. Editor 1 (talk) 16:57, 23 September 2016 (UTC) Another reply to the second comment is also indented one more level than the comment being replied to. Editor 4 (talk) 08:27, 25 September 2016 (UTC) A subsequent reply to the first comment is indented one level. Editor 3 (talk) 03:15, 24 September 2016 (UTC)

Some pages (deletion discussions, for example) use asterisks (*) rather than colons for indentation. Generally, colons and asterisks should not be mixed; if you see asterisks are being used in a page, use them as well. Complex discussions may mix them (and numbered lists, too); in such a case, avoid mangled list formatting with this simple rule of thumb:

Use the same indentation and list formatting as what you are replying to, plus one level at the end of the indent/list code. E.g., if you are replying to something in a complicated discussion that starts with #:::*, just copy-paste that and add a :, resulting in #:::*: in front of your reply (or use #:::** if you feel it is necessary for your reply to begin with a bullet point).

Additionally, to ensure clarity in a rapidly-moving or otherwise complex discussion, it is possible to use {{reply to}} to make clear to whom the comment is addressed. This also has the added feature of leaving the other editor a notification that you have replied to them.

Reply tool

Since March 2022 on desktop, and March 2023 on mobile, a [reply] link now appears at the end of every signed comment to facilitate posting quick responses to an existing discussion. Any logged-in user can opt out by going to Preferences and deselecting "Enable quick replying" under Discussion pages.

Getting started

Features

Limitations

To get help with a specific question you have about subscribing to conversations, please post it here: Talk:Talk pages project.

Notifications

Notifying other users

You can notify other editors in a discussion by linking to their user page in your post. To do this easily you can use the template {{Reply to|Username}}, which renders @Username: For example, to reply and notify Editor 1 you should use the following code:

Code	Result
`{{reply to\|Editor 1}} Message text. ~~~~`	@Editor 1: Message text. Username (talk) 10:44, 21 September 2016 (UTC)

You have new messages

You will be notified when someone else edits your user talk page or notifies you with the {{Reply to}} template. Since 30 April 2013, registered users have received this notification through the Wikipedia:Notifications system (see image right); unregistered users still receive notifications with the old-style Orange Bar. Registered users wishing to add back the functionality of the Orange Bar notification may do so through this script.

For users not editing with an account (unregistered users), the alert below is automatically displayed on all pages until you view your user talk page. If you click "new messages" it will direct you to the bottom of your talk page. If you click "last change" it will show you the last edit made to your talk page.

Advanced

Archiving

On talk pages that generate significant amounts of discussion, old discussions are often archived to keep the size of the talk page at a manageable level. This may be done either manually or with the help of a bot. An archive box with links to the discussion archives is normally placed at the top of the current talk page.

Assorted talk page boxes and graphics

Quotations

Sometimes it is necessary to display a sentence or paragraph from the article on the talk page so that other editors can easily understand what is being discussed. To quote something without starting a new paragraph, use the {{talk quote inline}} template, often abbreviated as {{tq}}. Use it {{tq|like this}} to produce quotes like this.

An easy way to produce block quotations is to use the {{Quote frame}}or{{Quote}} templates. Use {{Quote frame|Quoted passage from the article.}} to produce:

The {{Quote}} template produces an indented quotation with no box; use {{Quote |Quoted text |''Source''}} to produce:

Alternatively, use {{Quote|Quoted text |Author |''Source'', page XX}} to add an author and page number:

For directly quoting another user, the {{Talkquote}} template places quoted text inside a green box, as in: {{Talkquote |Quoted text |Example |ts=12:00, 01 January 2000 (UTC)}}, which produces:

References

To keep a list of accompanying references within a section, or directly after your comment (rather than at the end of the page), add the {{reflist-talk}} template below it.

Talk page graphics and icons

Code	Result
`{{tick}}`	Y
`{{done}}`	Done
`{{yellow tick}}`	Y
`{{ESp\|pd}}`	Partly done:
`{{ESp\|n}}`	Not done:
`{{ESp\|?}}`	Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format.
`{{ESp\|q}}`	Question:
`{{Not sure\| }}`
`{{Not sure}}`	Not sure
`{{Not sure\|Not sure what you mean.}}`	Not sure what you mean.
`{{fixed}}`	Fixed
`[[File:Information.svg\|25px\|alt=\|link=]]`
`[[File:Ambox warning pn.svg\|25px\|alt=Warning icon]]`
`{{Resolved}}`	Resolved
`{{cross}}`	N
`{{outdent}}`or`{{od}}`

Talk page search

See also

Inline talk templates

Template Shortcut Parameter? Example Output Notes

Thread level

{{Moved talk}}

{{Moved talk|Dresden}}

Moved: was at Talk:Dresden

Used at the thread's current location

{{Moved talk to}}

{{Moved talk to|Berlin}}

Moved to: Talk:Berlin

Used at the thread's former location

{{Thread retitled}}

{{Thread retitled|Old title}}

Thread retitled from "Old title".

Per Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines#Section headings

Opening

{{Summoned by bot}} {{sbb}} {{sbb}} (Summoned by bot) Can be used in requests for comment

{{Buttinsky}} {{Buttinsky}} ^{( Buttinsky)} A variation of {{Talk page stalker}}

{{Edit conflict}}

{{ec}}

(

)

{{ec}}

(edit conflict)

To indicate that you encountered an edit conflict

{{Interrupted}}

{{Interrupted|Username|00:16, 3 June 2024 (UTC)}}

— Username 00:16, 3 June 2024 (UTC) — continues after insertion below

Used to identify the contributor of the upper fragment(s) of a comment that was broken up by a different contributor's insertion of text

{{Non-admin comment}}

{{nacmt}}

(

)

{{nacmt}}

(Non-administrator comment)

Optional and only for own comments, see doc

{{Pinged}} {{Pinged}} (pinged) Indicates a notification was received

{{Responding to ping}} {{rtp}} {{rtp}} (responding to ping) Similar to {{pinged}}

{{Talk page stalker}}

{{tps}}

(

)

{{tps}}

(talk page stalker)

Cf. Wikipedia:Talk page stalker

{{Talk page watcher}}

{{tpw}}

(

)

{{tpw}}

(talk page watcher)

Ditto

Notifications

{{Hidden ping}}

{{hp}}

{{hp|Username}}

Invisible notification utilizing the zero-width space character

{{Ping group}}

{{pinggroup}}

{{pinggroup|Pinging collaborators|John Doe|Jane Doe|...}}

Pinging collaborators (John Doe—Jane Doe—...)

Up to 10 usernames

{{Pong}}

{{pong|Username}}

Username:

In reply to a ping

{{Reply to}}

{{re}}/{{ping}}

{{re|Username}}/{{ping|Username}}

@Username:

Sends a notification; up to 50 names

{{To}}

{{To|Username}}

To editor Username:

Sends a notification

During

{{subst:Arbitrary break}} {{subst:Arbitrarybreak}} {{subst:Arbitrarybreak}} ======(arbitrary break)====== Requires substitution

{{subst:Bump}} {{subst:Bump}} Bumping thread ~~~~ Requires subst. A wrapper for {{do not archive until}}

{{FBDB}} {{FBDB}} ^[FBDB] Aninitialism for Friendly Banter – Don't Block

{{KISS}} {{KISS}} KISS References the KISS principle politely

{{No ping}}

{{np}}

{{np|Username}}

Username

Works like {{U}} but without triggering a notification

{{No ping2}}

{{np2}}

{{np2|Username}}

Username (talk · contribs)

Works like {{User}} but without triggering a notification

{{Notelist-talk}}

{{tnote}}

(

)

{{tnote}}

_{[not shown here]}

Creates a list of footnotes for a talk page discussion

{{Outdent}}

{{od}}

(

)

{{od|:::::}}

For out-denting a reply when indention gets too deep

{{Outdent2}}

{{od2}}

(

)

{{od2}}

(←)

Alternative out-denting

{{Reflist-talk}}

{{tref}}

(

)

{{tref}}

_{[not shown here]}

Creates a list of references for a talk page discussion

{{Relevant discussion}}

{{reldis}}

{{reldis|Talk:Berlin}}

Relevant discussion at

→ Talk:Berlin

Creates links to related discussions in a visually unique way

{{Sources-talk}} {{Sources-talk}} _{[not shown here]} A convenience wrapper around {{Reflist-talk}}

{{Talkfact}}

(

)

"Oranges are blue!"{{talkfact}}

"Oranges are blue!"^{[citation needed]}

Used to quickly ask an editor to back up their claims

{{Talk quote inline}}

{{tq}}

{{tq|"Oranges are blue!"}}

"Oranges are blue!"

To highlight a short excerpt of quoted material

{{Talk quote inline italic}}

{{tqi}}

{{tqi|"Oranges are blue!"}}

"Oranges are blue!"

{{Not talk quote inline}}

{{!tq}}

{{!tq|"Oranges are orange!"}}

"Oranges are orange!"

To highlight a short excerpt of quoted material someone didn't say but could have, or perhaps, should have

{{Not talk quote inline italic}}

{{!tqi}}

{{!tqi|"Oranges are orange!"}}

"Oranges are orange!"

{{Talk quote block}}

{{tqb}}

{{tqb|"Oranges are blue!"}}

"Oranges are blue!"

To highlight a longer excerpt of quoted material

{{Talk quote block minimalist}}}

{{tqbm}}

{{tqbm|Oranges are blue.}}

Oranges are blue.

A longer excerpt of quoted material, with less highlighting

End

{{Please sign inline}} {{Please sign inline}} (Please remember to sign your posts on talk pages by typing four keyboard tildes like this: ~~~~. Or, you can use the [ reply ] button, which automatically signs posts.)

{{subst:Please ping}}

(

)

{{Please ping}}

(please

mention me on reply)

Includes your username if substituted, but can be transcluded. Use {{Please ping|no}} to ask not to be pinged.

{{Not watching}} {{nw}} {{nw}} (I am not watching this page, so please ping me if you want my attention.)

{{subst:Notifyme}} {{subst:pingme}} {{subst:pingme}} If you reply here, please put {{reply|your username will show up here}} in front of your message so I get a notification. Thank you! Requires substitution. Will automatically add your username by substituting {{REVISIONUSER}} when you save.

{{subst:Request ping}}

{{subst:repi}}

{{subst:repi|Example}}

If you reply here, please ping me by adding {{u|Example}} to your message, and signing it.

Requires subst

{{Signote}}

{{sg}}

(

)

{{sg}}

_{Please leave me a note if you reply}

{{Watching}} {{Watching}} (I am watching this page, so please reply here.)

Closure

{{Sock vote}}

{{sockvote}}

{{sock vote|Example}}

(

Blocked sockpuppetofExample, see investigation)

To mark a vote/comment cast by sockpuppet. More parameters exist and can be viewed at the template documentation.

Humor disclosure

(See the list here.)

This introductory video covers:
What are talk pages How to post a new message Indentation Keys to a good discussion Watchlist	0:14 0:59 1:25 1:48 2:12