Find out how an article becomes an Encyclopaedia Britannica article (2024)

Learn about Encyclopaedia Britannica's editorial process

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editorial team strives to make content clear, accurate, objective, and fair.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Transcript

SPEAKER: There's a lot of information on the internet, but how do you know what sources you can trust? One place you can trust is Encyclopedia Britannica. Why? Because we have skilled and experienced editors who put every article through a rigorous editorial process to make sure it's clear, accurate, objective, and fair.

Here's how it works. First, a new article comes into our offices. The author may be an editor at the Encyclopedia who knows that subject or a prominent scholar with specialized expertise in that field. The article is first reviewed by a fact checker, who uses a variety of sources to make sure the article is accurate and the facts are correct.

Once the article is approved by the fact checker, it moves to the subject editor. Subject editors are specialists with advanced degrees and expert knowledge in their field. They review the fact checker's work and revise the article where necessary. They also make sure it's readable, current, and grammatically correct. The article is then passed to a copy editor, whose job is to ensure that it's clear and optimized for the intended audience.

Meanwhile, media editors consult with subject editors to create the videos, maps, photos, infographics, and other multimedia that support the article and bring the words to life. The article with multimedia then goes to an information architect, a specialist who organizes and classifies the information so readers can easily access it. After all that, the article is published. And only then does it become part of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

But the work doesn't end there. Articles and multimedia are regularly revised and updated, ensuring they stay up to date. It's a rigorous, thorough process, but it's worth it. Our editorial methods are what make Britannica a digital source of knowledge and information you really can trust and enjoy.

Find out how an article becomes an Encyclopaedia Britannica article (2024)

FAQs

Find out how an article becomes an Encyclopaedia Britannica article? ›

The article is first reviewed by a fact checker, who uses a variety of sources to make sure the article is accurate and the facts are correct. Once the article is approved by the fact checker, it moves to the subject editor. Subject editors are specialists with advanced degrees and expert knowledge in their field.

Is Britannica an encyclopedia article? ›

As the Britannica is a general encyclopaedia, it does not seek to compete with specialized encyclopaedias such as the Encyclopaedia of Mathematics or the Dictionary of the Middle Ages, which can devote much more space to their chosen topics.

What are the 4 types of encyclopedias? ›

There are different types of encyclopedias. Mainly they are divided into four types, namely Dictionaries, Comprehensive Encyclopaedia or Vishwakosh, Encyclopaedic literature or Koshsadrush and Indexes.

Who writes articles for Encyclopedia Britannica? ›

Subject editors write new content and select, verify, and edit content received from contributors, and they collaborate with copy editors who help to ensure the accuracy of facts, the clarity of prose, and the consistency of style in new and revised content.

What type of source is the Encyclopedia Britannica? ›

🕯️ Is the Encyclopedia Britannica a primary source? No, the Encyclopedia Britannica is generally a tertiary source. An encyclopedia references information without any analysis or opinion; therefore, it is a tertiary source.

How do you cite a Britannica article? ›

Include the city of publication, a colon, the publisher, a comma, and the year of publication. End the citation with a period. If the article has no author, begin the citation with the encyclopedia/dictionary name. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 8th ed., s.v. “Internet.” Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2009.

What are the two best known legal encyclopedias? ›

The two major legal encyclopedias on US law are American Jurisprudence (Am. Jur.) 2d (available on NexisUni and Westlaw) and Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS) (available on Westlaw). Additionally, many (but not all) states have a legal encyclopedia focusing exclusively on the laws of that state.

What sorts of articles were in the encyclopedia? ›

Generally speaking, encyclopedia articles focus on factual information concerning the subject named in the article's title; this is unlike dictionary entries, which focus on linguistic information about words, such as their etymology, meaning, pronunciation, use, and grammatical forms.

What is an example of an encyclopaedia? ›

The English language Encyclopædia Britannica and German Brockhaus are general encyclopedias. Some are about specific topics. For example, there are encyclopedias of medicine or philosophy. Others include the Dictionary of National Biography, the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, and Black's Law Dictionary.

Can anyone edit a Britannica article? ›

Once returned to Britannica, the article, with any changes supplied by the author, may again be edited and reviewed by content and supervisory editors and by copy editors. The article will then be published, and the author's name will be associated with it in the article's history.

Who makes Britannica articles? ›

Britannica's editorial staff is made up of writers and editors who have extensive knowledge in their fields, which range from geography to botany to technology and beyond. Britannica commissions work from experts, including leading thinkers in academia and journalism.

Is Britannica free? ›

Britannica is a membership site, so only paid members and Free Trial participants are able to access the entire Britannica database and complete line of special features.

Can you trust Encyclopedia Britannica as a source? ›

With contributions from Nobel laureates, historians, curators, professors and other notable experts, Britannica Academic provides trusted information with balanced, global perspectives and insights that users will not find anywhere else.

How to use the Encyclopedia Britannica? ›

Just enter a word, phrase, or question, and click Go. You can use spell check to improve your results if you don't know the correct spelling of a word. You have the option to select which sources to include in your search results by checking the box next to one or more of the sources.

What are the features of the Encyclopedia Britannica? ›

The Encyclopedia Britannica contains carefully edited articles on all major topics. It fits the ideal purpose of a reference work as a place to get started, or to refer back to as you read and write. The articles in Britannica are written by expert authors who are both identifiable and credible.

How do I cite an encyclopedia? ›

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page - Last Page.

What type of web does Encyclopedia Britannica belong? ›

Examples of internet sites that are classified as Web 1.0 are Britannica Online, personal websites, and mp3.com. In general, these websites are static and have limited functionality and flexibility.

Is Britannica School an encyclopedia? ›

Britannica Online School Edition offers encyclopedias and related materials for students of all levels. Users can also take advantage of the Learning Materials, a collection of educational exercises, activities, and study guides. Type in a word or phrase and click Go.

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