Talk:Artificial intelligence/Citation format

Current citation format of Artificial intelligence

Simple citations use shortened citations with template {{sfnp}}.

Article text.{{sfnp|Smith|2007}} == Notes == {{notelist}} == Citations == {{reflist}} == Sources == * {{cite book | last=Smith | year=2007 | title=Smith's book}} * {{cite book | last=Jones | year=2011 | title=Jones's book}}	Article text. Notes Citations Sources Smith (2007). Smith's book. Jones (2011). Jones's book.

Multiple citations bundled by topic use {{Harvtxt}} in a bullet list in <ref> tags, with newlines after the first <ref> and before and after the closing </ref>.

Information covered by several sources.<ref> Topic of the information: * {{Harvtxt|Smith|2007}} * {{Harvtxt|Jones|2011}} </ref> == Citations == {{reflist}}	Information covered by several sources. Citations

Other bundled references use {{Harvtxt}} separate by colons inside <ref> tags, with similar newlines.

Information covered by several sources.<ref> {{Harvtxt|Smith|2007}}; {{Harvtxt|Jones|2011}} </ref> == Citations == {{reflist}}	Information covered by several sources. Citations

Quotes in secondary sources also use <ref> tags.

"Quote from a secondary source"<ref> {{Harvtxt|Smith|2007}}, quoted in {{Harvtxt|Jones|2011}}. </ref> == Citations == {{reflist}}	"Quote from a secondary source." Notes Citations

Verifying quotes use {{efn}}. (Use of {{sfnp}}'s |ps= parameter is discouraged.)

Some information.{{efn| Jullianne Smith wrote "This is how Smith explains the information"{{sfn|Smith|2007}} }} == Notes == {{notelist}} == Citations == {{reflist}}	Some information. Notes Citations

All other footnotes use {{efn}}

Some information.{{efn| More details. }} == Notes == {{notelist}}	Some information. Notes

Why

This citation format is designed to help with the following problems:

1. This article has a large number of references to different pages in the same sources (the leading AI textbooks and histories).
2. It is heavily referenced. (Because this article has problems with undue weight and relevance, so editors are encouraged to show that each sentence is an "essential" point).
3. It uses topical, bundled references (to establish that the topic is covered by most of the central sources).
4. A heavily referenced article needs help with "edit window clarity".
5. The shortened footnote form looks best in thin columns.

• Shortened citations help with (1) and (4).
• Using multi-line form inside <Ref>...</Ref> helps with (4).
• Bullet lists for topical bundled citations helps with (5).
• Separating citations (and footnotes that are essentially citations) from explanatory footnotes (and verifying quotes) helps with (5).