This template is not for use in articles or where there is an ongoing dispute.
Basics
To include a shortcut, pass a parameter: {{historical|WP:SHORT}}.
To provide a last-updated date, use the named parameter "last" or "date", i.e. {{historical|last=1 January 2000}}. This should only be used for substantive updates, not things like bot tweaks or typo fixes.
To provide a briefer form of the text, use {{historical|brief=yes}}
For a former policy, use {{historical|type=policy}}
For a former guideline, use {{historical|type=guideline}}
For a page closed down by explicit community consensus, use {{historical|type=woundup}}
To provide an explanatory comment, use {{historical|comment=explanatory text here}}. Aliases for |comment= are |reason= and |result=.
If you want to point to a successor page, use {{Superseded}} instead of {{historical}}.
Pages using this template will be placed into Category:Inactive project pages unless the parameter |category=no is given: {{historical|category=no}} (user and user talk pages are not categorized).
Please note that this template is not appropriate for portals, which exist for the purpose of informing readers on a given topic and, as such, can never truly be "inactive".