Title: Having trouble fixing validation errors Last modified: August 18, 2016 --- # Having trouble fixing validation errors * [poponthe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/poponthe/) * (@poponthe) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/) * Below are examples of some of the validation errors I am getting for my site ( [http://www.popontherocks.net](http://www.popontherocks.net)) that I can’t figure out how to fix. I don’t even know where this is in the code… can someone help me figure it out? * ______ * Error Line 185 column 21: unclosed start-tag requires SHORTTAG YES. *
  • Blogs * Error Line 185 column 21: document type does not allow element “li” here; missing one of “ul”, “ol”, “menu”, “dir” start-tag. *
  • Blogs * The mentioned element is not allowed to appear in the context in which you’ve placed it; the other mentioned elements are the only ones that are both allowed there and can contain the element mentioned. This might mean that you need a containing element, or possibly that you’ve forgotten to close a previous element. * * Error Line 196 column 19: unclosed start-tag requires SHORTTAG YES. *
  • Books * Error Line 196 column 19: document type does not allow element “li” here; missing one of “ul”, “ol”, “menu”, “dir” start-tag. *
  • Books ________ Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) * [vkaryl](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vkaryl/) * (@vkaryl) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346192) * Well, that’s telling you that the list-item tag is problematic. There’s a couple of reasons that can happen: * 1. There is NO containing ul tag anywhere in your sidebar (not likely). * 2. The li tagset is for some reason missing its ending `
    • `. Which is what it really looks like, but to tell you the truth I don’t know how that could happen if you’re using any normal version of wp themes with normal link category setup. * [spencerp](https://wordpress.org/support/users/spencerp/) * (@spencerp) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346194) * Viewing your source, I see this: * `
  • Blogs
    • * First line isn’t right: `
  • Blogs` * Should be: `

  • Blogs

    ` * Unless I’m wrong….I dunno. =) I have been having space cadetish days lately lol! =) * spencerp * Thread Starter [poponthe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/poponthe/) * (@poponthe) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346217) * Thanks for your replies! I will try to add in the extra >, but a quick question… do you happen to have an idea of what file I would have to open to change it? That’s where I am getting a little confused. I’m pretty sure I can’t change it by simply using the Theme editor, because I’ve been through all of those files already. * [moshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/moshu/) * (@moshu) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346218) * Actually this line `
  • Blogs` id generated by WP, so if you have this kind of errors, it means there is something wrong with your install. * [spencerp](https://wordpress.org/support/users/spencerp/) * (@spencerp) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346219) * Edited* Oh ok..moshu. =) Thanks for pointing that out.. =) Scratch my theory or suggestion then O.P. =) * No problem, but are you sure your “ego1” theme doesn’t have the sidebar.php file? It should have one, unless it’s prolly in the index.php file or something odd like that..never know these days lmao! * spencerp * Thread Starter [poponthe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/poponthe/) * (@poponthe) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346233) * Thanks for replying. Yeah, that line of code isn’t in the sidebar…. so if it is generated by WordPress is there some way I can fix it? Do I have to reinstall everything? If so does that mean I have to start from scratch? * [vkaryl](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vkaryl/) * (@vkaryl) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346236) * Try changing back to the default theme, then run the validator again. See if you get the same errors. If yes: then you probably need to reinstall wp (AFTER you get a database dump!); if no: the theme itself is at fault. * Thread Starter [poponthe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/poponthe/) * (@poponthe) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346253) * Thanks for your reply. I tried setting the theme back to default, and the same validation errors came up. So how can I reinstall wordpress without losing everything I’ve done so far? * Also, I what is a database dump? * Thanks. * [moshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/moshu/) * (@moshu) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346259) * If you install the same version of WP, you don’t really have to worry about backup.( though it’s always good to have one!) Just download a fresh copy of WP, unzip and upload it. DEon’t run install or upgrade. Nothing. Of course, keep your wp- config file and your theme. * It should work. But ask back if anything is not clear. * Thread Starter [poponthe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/poponthe/) * (@poponthe) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346267) * Thanks. I will try that tomorrow. * Thread Starter [poponthe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/poponthe/) * (@poponthe) * [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346415) * Okay, so I tried to reinstall but the same validation errors keep coming up. Any thoughts? Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) The topic ‘Having trouble fixing validation errors’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [validation](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/validation/) * [xhtml](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/xhtml/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 11 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [poponthe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/poponthe/) * Last activity: [20 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/having-trouble-fixing-validation-errors/#post-346415) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics