To include a shortcut, pass a parameter: {{Historical|WP:SHORT}}.
To provide a last updated date, use the named parameter "last", i.e. {{Historical|last=1 January 2000}}
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}}
To provide an explanatory comment, use {{Historical|comment=explanatory text here}}
Pages using this template will be placed into Category:Inactive project pages unless the parameter category=no is given: {{Historical}} (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".