Help:Cite errors/Cite error refs without references

Overview
When a page is referenced with  tags, then the page must also have markup to show the reference list, else the error message will be displayed.

The reference list is shown by including either of the following:




 * or



shows a basic reference list, whereas may add formatting for font size and columns, depending on the skin and parameters used. This is normally placed in a References section near the end of the page.

Issues and resolution
The most obvious and simplest issue is when the reference list markup is missing. Simply add to the end of the article under the section title "References", usually between "See also" and "External links". The section reference list may use a name other than "References", such as "Notes", "Footnotes". "Works cited" or other name; see WQ:FNNR.

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

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

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

A template such as a navbox may have  tags. Template reference list may be used— see the documentation.

Redirect pages should have no content other than the redirect, a redirect template and possibly a category.

Perennial proposals
The have been several proposals to have the error message automatically add or. There are two issues:


 * The cite error message is always placed at the end of the article, thus any include reflist will be placed out of order at the end, after See also, External links and the like.
 * The software classes all error messages in bold red— a reference list generated by the error will inherit those attributes.

See for a proposal to have  add the reference list markup.

Example
The reflist template is missing:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Would appear in an article as:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.