The WP:FN guideline says that refs should follow punctuation with no space, and no space between successive refs. This javascript provides a link called "Fix reference marks" that will apply that style. The link is present in the toolbox (on the left-hand side of the page) while editing a page. The intention is to help clear up the inconsistent location of punctuation and ref marks that sometimes occurs in heavily-edited articles. (Some editors prefer spaces between successive refs, but if that style is used consistently it shouldn't be changed in articles.)
The tab also adjusts {{fact}}, {{citation needed}}, {{cn}}, {{citequote}}, {{verification needed}}, and {{verify source}}, as well as {{ref}}, {{ref_label}}, {{cref}}, {{rf}} and {{GR}} to some extent.
Installation
editThis javascript can be added to monobook.js with {{subst:js|User:Gimmetrow/fixRefs.js}}. This javascript creates a link called "Fix reference marks" visible while a page is being edited.
For more information about the monobook, see Wikipedia:Monobook and Help:Monobook. A user's monobook is located at User:(username)/monobook.js
Examples
editThe tab handles the following:
- This [1] , this [2] ; and this. [3] . [4] .
- This [5] , this [6] ; and this. [7] , [8] ?
- This [5] , this [6] : and this. [7] ? [8] !
- Fact tags [citation needed] [citation needed]; [citation needed] .
- Other tags [quote needs citation] , [verification needed]: [unreliable source?] ; [verification needed] .
- {{ref}} and {{GR}} a [b]
{{GR|2}}: and colons. - Works with tags inside refs [9] , named or not [10].
- A ref text containing the text "</refzzzzz>" [11]!
- Fixes floating ref marks
[5]after blockquotes
- Compresses multiple refs up to 5 in a row [5] [6] [7] [8] [12] .
- Also removes linebreaks.[5] [6][6]
- Also "quotes," [19] , and "quotes;" [5] .
- Single 'quotes,' [6] ; and 'closing smart-quotes,’ [7] !
- "Quotes"[6], "quotes"[6]; "quotes"[6].
- "Quotes."[6], "quotes."[6]; "quotes."[6].
- "Quotes?"[6], "quotes?"[6]; "quotes?"[6].
- "Quotes:"[6], "quotes;"[6]: "quotes:"[6]!
- "Quotes,"[6]! "quotes;"[6]! "quotes."[6]!
- "Quotes?"[6]! "quotes!?!"[6]? "quotes?"[6]!?!
- Does "some 'quotes within quotes,'" [5] ;[quote needs citation].
- Multiple punctuation is fixed after a ref [5] .;.,.
- Allows spaces in some templates, like {{ fact }} [citation needed] .
- Allows capitalization, like {{ Fact }} and <REF> [citation needed] [5].
- <references/> tag remains untouched.
Known issues to look out for
edit- Messes up abbreviations in "quotes, eg."[5], and not eg. [6];
- Messes up ellipsis in "quotes..."[5], and without quotes [6] ...
- If there is no following punctuation, the ref/abbreviation/ellipsis is unchanged
- Refs with dashes and parenthesis not addressed
- Comments can obscure matches <ref>like so</ref><!-- comment -->.
- Refs within comments are adjusted too <!-- <ref>like so</ref> -->
- Removes spaces before trailing > in named refs, as in <ref name="a b c"/ >.
- This forces <ref name="abc"/ > to be the same as <ref name="abc"/>.
- This is only an issue for ref names ending in / outside quotes
- Ref may parse the above differently after spaces are removed - ideally avoid this
- Compare <ref name="abc"/ > Stuff.<ref name="cde/" >text</ref>