May I use 'pipe' and 'span' in citing sources?

Question

When I use Hiski as a reference, I have started using the following:

• <ref>[[#Hiski|Hiski]]:  ... </ref>
• <span id='Hiski'>Hiski: </span>[http://hiski.genealogia.fi/historia/indexe.htm  The Hiski Project] The Genealogical Society of Finland. Online database.

The result is as follows and I would like to know if it is acceptable.

Citations

1. ↑ SSHY: Kemi maaseurakunta > Birth Records, 1825-1852 > 135: 1841 accessed 21 Aug 2016
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} SSHY: Kemi maaseurakunta > Communion Book, 1875-1880 > 404: Wittaniem iJohan Erik accessed 21 Aug 2016
3. ↑ Hiski: Link to this event [3019331 ]: accessed 21 Aug 2016
4. ↑ SSHY: Kemi maaseurakunta > Marriage Records, 1826-1880 > 105: 1877 Maalis accessed 21 Aug 2016

Sources

• Hiski: The Hiski Project The Genealogical Society of Finland. Online database.

• SSHY-Hiski: Finland's Family History Association. Digital archive of Church records.

Comments

when i use | & span, I use #... i.e., instead of [[Hiski|Hiski]], it would be [[#Hiski|Hiski]]

do I need to?

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Yes. I use # also.  My bad.  I will correct the question.  Thank you Liz.

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just curious. I only found out recently you no longer needed to use quotes when naming a reference (e.g., old was <ref name="Hiski"> & <ref name="Hiski" /> ... I forgot the quotes once & then realized the named ref tags worked ok without them... <ref name=Hiski> & <ref name=Hiski />). Still need to add single quotes for span ids (I've found that both single & double work ok).

Someone let me know if the "no quote" ref names _don't_ work on some platforms.

Thanks!

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@Liz,

I think the "no quote ref name" is just a matter of correct syntax, as explained in Wikipedia:

The text of the name can be almost anything‍—‌apart from being totally numeric. If spaces are used in the text of the name, the text must be placed within double quotes. Placing all named references within double quotes may be helpful to future editors who do not know that rule. To help with page maintenance it is recommended that the text of the name have a connection to the inline citation or footnote, for example "author year page":<ref name="Smith 2005 p94">text of the citation</ref>.

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Jan - Thanks so much for that explanation. I love knowing the reason behind why things work the way they do.

Cheers, Liz

Answer 1

It is acceptable, see here. For the example you have given I think it is a useful technique.