Wikipedia:Ask an expert

This page was created as an off-shoot of Wikipedia's Third Opinion system.

Sometimes it is a good idea to get a third opinion from an expert rather than from an "anonymous passerby", especially when your dispute is academic in nature. In this case, try finding someone who everyone agrees is a subject-matter expert in the dispute and get their opinion.

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Ideally, a person uninvolved with the dispute should e-mail an expert that everyone agrees on. However, if a willing third-party volunteer cannot be found, one of the disputants can draft the e-mail and have the other disputant agree that it is a fair e-mail.

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The easiest way to find experts in the subject is to look for reliable sources. When you find a reliable source, chances are there will be a way to contact the person via e-mail. If you are having a dispute. Try to find an expert that both you and the person with whom you are having a dispute both agree is an expert on the subject. Even if this is not possible, you can e-mail an expert that you think is good enough and make your case for it on the discussion pages devoted to resolving the dispute.

==What to say to

In the body of the e-mail, explain that you are in a dispute with another writer on Wikipedia and would like to get their opinion on the dispute. Neutrally describe the dispute for them and ask what their opinion is. Try to be as concise and clear with your question as possible. Do not include a lot of links or diffs as some people may not have web access when reading their e-mail. Phrasing the question as clearly as possible, ideally as a "yes or no" is liable to get the best response to the expert.

Ask the expert for permission to post their responses to the discussion. Let them know that their valued input will be used only to help resolve the dispute and will not be used as a means to generate content directly as this would go against Wikipedia's rule against no original research.

Thank the expert and sign the e-mail with the appropriate valediction.

Post your response to the discussion page
If you receive a response, post it to the discussion page.