Knowledge (XXG)

:You do need to cite that the sky is blue - Knowledge (XXG)

Source 📝

155: 127: 147: 135: 35: 112: 502: 431: 322:
When a statement that you feel to be obvious is challenged, try to think of a person (such as a person in a foreign country) to whom the statement might not be obvious, or a situation in which your obvious statement might be wrong.
254:
The question is not whether readers can or can not be expected to have knowledge of a certain fact, but whether the fact in question is a relevant point of debate in the expert literature on the article topic.
169:
First of all, you do need citations in the "main" article, i.e., where the subject is the "obvious" statement or its major element. I.e., the statement "the sky is blue" must be footnoted in the article
399: 163: 426: 221:
The reason why the sky sometimes appears blue is technical, and requires an explanation that needs citing, if the technical discussion is at all relevant to the topic at hand.
452: 211:
Some editors may dispute apparently simple and obvious "facts". A statement that "the sky is blue" may be questioned because the sky frequently has a different colour—
184:
Readers come from different backgrounds and with different knowledges, cultures and experiences. It would be inappropriate to assume everyone's knowledge is the same.
582: 618: 416: 120:
Just because something appears obvious to you, doesn't mean it's obvious to everyone. Build articles from reliable, expert sources, and cite those sources.
232: 314:. And one can, of course, cite Rayleigh's paper, "On the scattering of light by small particles," Philosophical Magazine 41, 275: pp. 447–451. 50:
It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Knowledge (XXG) contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of
177:
Even the most obvious and simple assertion may need an explanation. The statement that the sky is blue needs explaining that it is due to
51: 421: 235:; in some cultures, the blue of the sky may be viewed, or at least spoken of, as a substantially different colour to that of ice or sea. 228:
and consider that people from other countries may not have the same perspective or common knowledge. Indeed, even the very concept of
527: 565: 485: 389:(commonly known as blue-yellow color blindness) may see the sky as green instead of blue due to absence of blue cones in their eyes. 411: 307: 405: 591: 461: 187:
Before making a statement, no matter how trivial or "obvious", make sure that it could not be misinterpreted or challenged.
166:", do not need citing. However, there are some reasons why you do need to cite the "obvious", such as that the sky is blue. 174:", especially in the section that discusses the color of the sky. Such references usually lead to more detailed knowledge. 382:
Blind people can't verify the color of the sky. If the respected source is present, the statement could be more trusted.
613: 326:
The sky actually appears to be blue less than half the time. Some conditions under which the sky may not appear blue:
341:
Clouds can obscure the color of the sky. With cloudy weather overhead, the sky can be whitish, grey, or even black.
225: 311: 282:
If it really is common knowledge, it really isn't that difficult to source. For example, this source supports
366:
notes that "At twilight, salmon reds, oranges, purples, white-yellows, and many shades of blue can be seen."
126: 344:
Natural disasters, such as forest fires, can lead to a haze over the sky, making it appear orange or red.
130:
The color of the sky will vary depending on time of day, local conditions, and perspective of the viewer.
55: 146: 134: 65: 376: 370: 266:. If the relevant expert literature does not bother to address a point (e.g. because it falls under 335: 201: 178: 267: 263: 212: 154: 43: 271: 588: 562: 482: 458: 299: 274:
relevance), it is likely that the corresponding Knowledge (XXG) article shouldn't, either.
363: 17: 259: 242:
article. If a source about night mentions the sky's colour, that verifies its relevance.
294:
A field guide notes that "the blue sky is so commonplace that it is taken for granted".
218:
A cite to a reliable source reassures people, even when the statement appears obvious.
607: 303: 302:
says "while the blue sky bends above/You've got nearly all that matters". Songwriter
181:. Citing the sources that explain why it is blue would be valuable to some readers. 58:. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. 338:, the sky cannot be seen as blue, except in certain conditions when the moon is up. 277: 386: 432:
User:Guy Macon/On the Diameter of the Sewer cover in front of Greg L’s house
402:, the opposing essay, discussing when similar citations may not be necessary 356: 422:
User:Uncle G/On sources and content § There are no exceptions to everything
359:"When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red". 278:
It's easier to find a citation than to argue over why it is not needed
238:
The colour of the sky might not be important enough to mention in the
139: 245:
Be aware of the individual and unique nature of each of our readers.
352: 348: 331: 239: 153: 145: 133: 125: 197: 171: 106: 29: 334:, the sky appears black. Without light from the sun creating 270:, and its mere mention, if only to debunk it, would lend it 150:
A yellow sky sometimes appears before a severe thunderstorm.
400:
Knowledge (XXG):You don't need to cite that the sky is blue
208:
the sky to be blue that need explaining by expert sources.
162:
It is sometimes felt that "obvious" statements, such as "
158:
After sunset, the sky darkens to purple, and later black.
258:
If there is any doubt about the claim addressed in the
94: 87: 80: 73: 204:article, there are reasons and physical mechanisms 427:User:Greg L/Sewer cover in front of Greg L’s house 417:Knowledge (XXG):Why most sentences should be cited 373:wrote of "when the sky is a bright canary yellow." 290:that the blueness of the sky is common knowledge: 501:Roach, Franklin Evans; Gordon, Janet L. (1973) . 377:On other planets, the sky is almost never blue 547:The Bible, Matthew 16:2 (King James version). 8: 408:– An essay suggesting to cite every sentence 451:Schaefer, Vincent J.; Day, John A. (1998). 619:Knowledge (XXG) essays about verification 457:. Houghton Mifflin Field Guides. p. 155. 52:Knowledge (XXG)'s policies or guidelines 443: 298:One can go on to mention that the poet 213:challengeable statements need sourcing 233:varies between cultures and languages 7: 412:Knowledge (XXG):The Pope is Catholic 310:smiling at me," airmen fly into the 196:In certain contexts, such as in the 477:Service, Robert (1940). "Comfort". 406:Knowledge (XXG):Citation underkill 318:The "obvious" isn't always obvious 56:thoroughly vetted by the community 25: 507:. Springer Science & Business 479:Collected Poems of Robert Service 559:Light and Colour in the Outdoors 110: 33: 27:Essay on editing Knowledge (XXG) 454:A Field Guide to the Atmosphere 286:the idea that the sky is blue, 528:"What color is the night sky?" 481:. G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 67. 317: 1: 557:Minnaert, M. G. J. (1993) . 561:. Springer-Verlag. p. 295. 200:article itself, and in the 635: 504:The light of the night sky 63: 18:Knowledge (XXG):DOCITEBLUE 587:. Tectum Verlag. p. 42. 118:This page in a nutshell: 614:Knowledge (XXG) essays 159: 151: 143: 131: 157: 149: 142:makes this sky green. 137: 129: 54:, as it has not been 336:Rayleigh scattering 260:relevant literature 202:Rayleigh scattering 179:Rayleigh scattering 160: 152: 144: 132: 371:Oscar Hammerstein 124: 123: 105: 104: 16:(Redirected from 626: 598: 597: 584:American Musical 578: 572: 571: 554: 548: 545: 539: 538: 532: 526:Shaw, Joseph A. 523: 517: 516: 514: 512: 498: 492: 491: 474: 468: 467: 448: 312:wild blue yonder 114: 113: 107: 97: 90: 83: 76: 37: 36: 30: 21: 634: 633: 629: 628: 627: 625: 624: 623: 604: 603: 602: 601: 594: 580: 579: 575: 568: 556: 555: 551: 546: 542: 535:optics4kids.com 530: 525: 524: 520: 510: 508: 500: 499: 495: 488: 476: 475: 471: 464: 450: 449: 445: 440: 396: 320: 280: 252: 193: 164:the sky is blue 111: 101: 100: 93: 86: 79: 72: 68: 60: 59: 34: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 632: 630: 622: 621: 616: 606: 605: 600: 599: 592: 573: 566: 549: 540: 518: 493: 486: 469: 462: 442: 441: 439: 436: 435: 434: 429: 424: 419: 414: 409: 403: 395: 392: 391: 390: 383: 380: 374: 367: 360: 345: 342: 339: 319: 316: 300:Robert Service 296: 295: 279: 276: 264:should cite it 251: 248: 247: 246: 243: 236: 222: 219: 216: 209: 192: 189: 122: 121: 115: 103: 102: 99: 98: 91: 84: 77: 69: 64: 61: 49: 48: 40: 38: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 631: 620: 617: 615: 612: 611: 609: 595: 590: 586: 585: 581:Bauch, Marc. 577: 574: 569: 567:0-387-97935-2 564: 560: 553: 550: 544: 541: 536: 529: 522: 519: 506: 505: 497: 494: 489: 487:0-399-15015-3 484: 480: 473: 470: 465: 460: 456: 455: 447: 444: 437: 433: 430: 428: 425: 423: 420: 418: 415: 413: 410: 407: 404: 401: 398: 397: 393: 388: 384: 381: 378: 375: 372: 368: 365: 361: 358: 354: 350: 346: 343: 340: 337: 333: 329: 328: 327: 324: 315: 313: 309: 305: 304:Irving Berlin 301: 293: 292: 291: 289: 285: 275: 273: 269: 265: 261: 256: 250:Expert debate 249: 244: 241: 237: 234: 231: 227: 226:systemic bias 223: 220: 217: 214: 210: 207: 203: 199: 195: 194: 190: 188: 185: 182: 180: 175: 173: 167: 165: 156: 148: 141: 136: 128: 119: 116: 109: 108: 96: 92: 89: 88:WP:NOTBLUESKY 85: 82: 81:WP:DOCITEBLUE 78: 75: 71: 70: 67: 62: 57: 53: 47: 45: 39: 32: 31: 19: 583: 576: 558: 552: 543: 534: 521: 509:. Retrieved 503: 496: 478: 472: 453: 446: 385:People with 355:says to the 325: 321: 297: 287: 283: 281: 257: 253: 229: 224:Be aware of 205: 186: 183: 176: 168: 161: 117: 41: 369:Songwriter 364:M. Minnaert 362:Naturalist 330:During the 42:This is an 608:Categories 593:382888458X 463:0395976316 438:References 387:tritanopia 308:Blue Skies 306:wrote of " 74:WP:NOTBLUE 357:Pharisees 268:WP:FRINGE 95:WP:REDSKY 66:Shortcuts 394:See also 272:WP:UNDUE 511:4 April 347:In the 206:causing 191:Reasons 262:, you 140:aurora 531:(PDF) 353:Jesus 349:Bible 332:night 240:night 44:essay 589:ISBN 563:ISBN 513:2011 483:ISBN 459:ISBN 284:both 230:blue 288:and 198:sky 172:Sky 138:An 610:: 533:. 351:, 596:. 570:. 537:. 515:. 490:. 466:. 379:. 215:. 170:" 46:. 20:)

Index

Knowledge (XXG):DOCITEBLUE
essay
Knowledge (XXG)'s policies or guidelines
thoroughly vetted by the community
Shortcuts
WP:NOTBLUE
WP:DOCITEBLUE
WP:NOTBLUESKY
WP:REDSKY


aurora

many stars in a dark purple sky, with silhouettes of a few trees on either side
the sky is blue
Sky
Rayleigh scattering
sky
Rayleigh scattering
challengeable statements need sourcing
systemic bias
varies between cultures and languages
night
relevant literature
should cite it
WP:FRINGE
WP:UNDUE
Robert Service
Irving Berlin
Blue Skies

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.