Template:Unknown
Documentation
This template is used to mark things that are unknown. It can be called in two different ways: following the text it is marking or containing that text. (See the examples below.)
Articles containing calls to this template are listed in Category:Articles containing specific unknowns so they can be checked by other editors and possibly replaced by "known facts" (i.e., from cited sources).
Usage
Some text.{{unknown}}Some text.{{unknown|scope=}}Some text.{{unknown|reason=}}{{unknown|text|reason=}}
The optional parameter reason can be used to completely override the default "tooltip" provided by the template (as seen in the examples below). When called with no input text, the parameter scope may be used to specify how much of the preceding text is being referred to. (It doesn't make sense to use it in the case where the text being marked is included in the template call.)
Note that if reason is used, scope will be ignored.
Examples
We just don't know.{{unknown}}
⇒ We just don't know. !We just don't know.{{unknown|scope=sentence}}
⇒ We just don't know. !We just don't know.{{uncertain|reason=Or do we?}}
⇒ We just don't know. !We {{unknown|just don't know|reason=Or do we?}}.
⇒ We just don't know.We {{unknown|just don't know}}.
⇒ We just don't know.
"Hover" on the underlined text or the litte icon to see the "tooltip" provided by the template. The first and last examples show the default wording, which differs depending on how the template is called.
See also
Full list of similar templates (including this one in bold): [edit this list]
{{assumption}}– for statements that contain assumptions{{inference}}– for statements that are inferences beyond known facts{{opinion}}– for statements that are opinions not cited to specific sources{{open question}}– for specific questions that are likely only answerable by Angelina herself, or by some other specific person{{uncertain}}– for statements that express uncertainty (that might be cleared up if additional research were done){{unknown}}– for statements pointing out specific unknowns (that might be revealed by additional research)
Admittedly, it's not always clear which of these templates is appropriate in a given situation. For the most part, you can just choose whichever one seems to make the most sense based on the wording of the statement you're marking (which is why there are so many of them in the first place). Be sure to check the wording of the "tooltip" provided by the template you have chosen, to see if it applies. (And see the template documentation for any available parameters that might help.)
