Wikipedia vs Encyclopedia
Both Wikipedia and Encyclopedia serve the purpose of distributing knowledge to people, but they have some notable differences. While the internet offers a vast array of information for free, encyclopedias were once a go-to source of knowledge for many. With the rise of the internet, many websites attempted to emulate encyclopedias, but none succeeded to the extent that Wikipedia has. Let’s see how Wikipedia compares to an encyclopedia.
What is Encyclopedia?
An encyclopedia is a book or a set of books that offer information about various subjects or different aspects of the same subject. The information is arranged in alphabetical order. One of the most well-known encyclopedias is Britannica, compiled in 1911 and still regarded as final, authoritative, and unmatched in terms of the knowledge it imparts.
What is Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is a nonprofit organization that relies on contributions from readers, who create the content on the website. All information on Wikipedia is accessible to everyone, and people have the freedom to edit and update any webpage on the site. Wikipedia claims that editors verify the submitted information, ensuring its accuracy.
What is the difference between Wikipedia and Encyclopedia?
• Wikipedia’s content is contributed by readers from around the world and grows constantly.
• Encyclopedias are definitive and authoritative, a quality that cannot be guaranteed with Wikipedia. In academia, encyclopedias are generally accepted as sources, while Wikipedia is often viewed as unreliable.
• Wikipedia is easily accessible and editable by anyone, whereas encyclopedias are not.
• Although Britannica has attempted to compete with Wikipedia by offering online versions and CDs/DVDs, it is clear that Wikipedia is more popular.
• Wikipedia is free, while using an encyclopedia often requires purchasing a physical copy or paying for an online subscription.
• Wikipedia exists only as an internet encyclopedia, while other encyclopedias can be found in both hard copies and online sources.
Key Takeaways
- Wikipedia is a constantly growing, user-contributed source of information, while encyclopedias are definitive, authoritative works.
- Encyclopedias are often accepted as reliable sources in academia, while Wikipedia is not.
- Wikipedia is free and easily accessible, while using an encyclopedia typically requires purchasing a physical copy or paying for an online subscription.
