The criteria for the inclusion of events in this list have been developed after lengthy discussions on the list's talk page. They should not be altered unless further discussion establishes a consensus for any change.
- Inclusion Criteria
- Inclusion in this list is based solely on evidence in multiple reliable sources that a name including the word "massacre" is one of the accepted names* for that event. A reliable source which merely describes the event as being a massacre does not qualify the event for inclusion in this list. The word massacre must appear in the source as part of an accepted name* for the event.
- Where there is dispute over this, discussion should be centralised. If it is discussed on the talkpage of the article concerned, a link should be posted on the talk page of this list; if the discussion is on the talk page of this list, a link should be posted at the article's talk page.
- Notes
- Any name for the event which is established by use of reliable sources as being one of the accepted names* would usually also be included in the article on that event.
- Inclusion in this list does not of itself justify inclusion in the article, and nor does use of the name in an article justify inclusion in this list, because wikipedia is not a reliable source. Both uses must be based directly on explicit references to the sources, which should be cited in footnotes. However, it is hard to envisage any situation where a name including "massacre" could be included in this list but not mentioned in an article on the event (or vice versa); if that situation should arise, both the uses should be carefully examined.
- Examples
These fictitious examples illustrate how the test of an "accepted name" is applied to the text used in reliable sources
| Text in the source |
Include? |
Explanation |
| "The village's mayor called the bombing 'a brutal massacre'". |
 No |
The term "massacre" is used here as a description, not a name |
| "The Smalltown Massacre was the latest in a series of atrocities in the north of the country" |
 Maybe |
The text calls the event a massacre, but does not assert that "Smalltown Massacre" is an accepted name for the event. However, multiple references such as this may be used as evidence that the name is sufficiently widely used in reliable sources to be regarded as "an accepted name". The number of such references required will depend on the nature of the sources, with more weight being attached to widely-read sources |
| "The killing of the students was described by local media as the 'High School massacre'" |
 Yes |
The text asserts that 'High School massacre' is an accepted name for the event |
| "When the army's operation was debated in the National Assembly, the Prime Minister angrily attacked the widespread anti-government protests for calling Operation Clearout 'the Newtown massacre'" |
Yes |
The text asserts that while official sources call the event "Operation Clearout", the name 'Newtown massacre' is an accepted name amongst opponents |
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