Help:Cite errors/Cite error group refs without references

This page will help you to fix the cite error message:

• If you have read this help page and find something missing or confusing, please discuss it at the main talk page.
• Please reference this page and the page where you have the problem so we can understand your issues.
• For basic information on the footnotes system, see Referencing for beginners; for advanced help, see Footnotes.

Overview

Further information: Wikipedia:Manual of Style (footnotes) and WP:REFGROUP

When grouped references are defined, then the page must also have markup to show the reference list. The reference list is shown by including either of the following:

{{Reflist|group=groupname}}

or

<references group="groupname" />

Issues and resolution

The most obvious and simplest issue is when the reference list markup is missing. Simply add {{reflist|group=groupname}} to the end of the article under the section title "References", usually between "See also" and "External links". The $1 in the message shown above will be replaced with the groupname.

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

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This message may also show if there are <ref>...</ref> tags after the reference list markup. Ensure all <ref>...</ref> tags are properly placed. A template such as a navbox may have <ref>...</ref> tags.

Bugs

Tracked in Phabricator
Task T23798

• Template:Bug Misleading error message for omitted </ref> tag

Examples

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.<ref group="note">Reference 1</ref> Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

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.