citation needed
Prove it, please
Citation needed is a phrase used to flag a claim that lacks supporting evidence, originating from Wikipedia's editorial notation.
Beyond encyclopedias, it serves as a skeptical interjection challenging dubious assertions: He says he ran a four-minute mile—citation needed.
The phrase gently calls bullshit while maintaining plausible deniability.
- sourcePoint of origin
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
- WikipediaFree collaborative online encyclopedia
- footnoteCitation at page bottom
- unverifiedNot yet proven true
fact or fiction · claim · according to whom · dubious · fact-check · brackets · editor · weasel words · disputed · evidence · proof · peer review · primary source · original research · link · academic · bibliography · unreliable
citation neededcited
Mentioned as evidence
referenced · documented · verified · substantiated · sourced
citation neededcommon knowledge
Widely shared information
proven · confirmed · undisputed · self-evident · well-established
citation, cite, cited, citing, citable, need, needed, needing, needs