THE TOP 7 SIMILAR SITES TO WIKIPEDIA THAT WRITERS/FREELANCERS SHOULD KNOW
Wikipedia is a huge repository of knowledge. You can discover anything here, including current happenings and food recipes. Wikipedia almost makes the world seem like it is there. But are there any websites that compare to Wikipedia?
This post will highlight 7 Wikipedia substitutes that are worthwhile looking into, whether you are a writer, student, or freelancer today.
WHY WOULD YOU NEED AN ALTERNATIVE TO WIKIPEDIA FOR AND WHAT IS IT?
Finding websites similar to Wikipedia is a difficult process. Over 43 million people use Wikipedia, which includes over 6 million English-language entries. It's a great source of knowledge on just about any subject. In addition, it offers a ton of references and links that are intended to take the user to more resources.
But in recent times, academics have criticized Wikipedia for being unreliable. A Wikipedia entry can be changed by anyone, and hackers often and intentionally modify or even delete some entries.
Therefore, you might not always be able to tell if what you're reading is real or false. Here are 7 websites that are similar to Wikipedia if you're looking for more reliable information sources.
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
This is the chief competition for Wikipedia among traditional online encyclopedias. The most reputable and respected encyclopedia in the world is available online at Encyclopedia Britannica. It has been around for around 244 years, and it stopped producing printed copies in 2013.
Since 20 years ago, the business has provided online versions of its encyclopedia. The most recent edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica is jam-packed with multimedia features and convenient search options.
Each article in Britannica is written by a distinct and reliable author, and the majority of them have references. The length of the articles is edited with the intention of providing students and other scholars with sufficient basic knowledge without overwhelming them.
You can cite facts with a respectable amount of conviction, and the online edition is updated frequently by experts.
The only drawback to using Encyclopedia Britannica online is that it costs money. Users must purchase a subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online for $69.95 per year in order to access all of its features.
CITIZENDIUM
One of Wikipedia's founders, Larry Sanger, developed Citizendium primarily as a companion to Wiki. The primary distinction between the two websites is how superior Citizendium's review procedure is. Citizendium claims to have quotable certifications and disclaimers if an article hasn't yet undergone peer review, in contrast to websites like Wikipedia.
Before making editorial decisions, editors must submit their resumes and a list of their publications as proof that they are professionals in their disciplines. Instead of using usernames, contributors must register using their real names.
Citizendium makes an effort to make it challenging for users who have been banned from the site to return and cause vandalism or to do so while using a new account.
FACT MONSTER
Fact Monster, a free online encyclopedia made for kids, is a great alternative to Wikipedia. The website offers courses in math, physics, geography, world history, and more. It also includes additional practical things like:
- Dictionary
- Thesaurus
- Almanac
- Conversion
- Tools for Spellcheck
Wiki has information on almost any subject, but the search results are not kid-friendly at all. A group of educational resources for teachers and parents called Sandbox Learning includes the Fact Monster free online encyclopedia. Children may learn through entertainment by playing the many games, trivia games, and quizzes on Fact Monster.
The material is succinct and direct. FactMonster is also eager to remind out that all content is written and edited by specialists, guaranteeing the validity of the information.
BLUECONSERVAPEDIA
As an alternative to Wiki's purported left-wing bias, Conservapedia was created. It is a heavily the right-leaning, fervently conservative Wiki encyclopedia with Christian influences.
With the same open-source software that Wiki employs, Conservapedia has a recognizable "Wiki look." The beliefs of the religious right, conservatives, and creationists are largely favored in its entries.
Even bloggers compete to find the silliest entries. current kangaroos are descended from the two founding members of the current kangaroo baramin aboard Noah's Ark, according to a commonly used example. It has served as the punchline to countless jokes.
The website was founded in November 2006, and the US Christian right takes it very seriously.
UNCYCLOPEDIA
Without mentioning Uncyclopedia, no article about encyclopedia-like websites is complete. The website is entertaining, even though it is not quite "honorable" and most definitely not a Wiki substitute.
The term "The Content-Free Encyclopedia" is a play on Wikipedia's slogan "The Free Encyclopedia." In the name of humor, it makes fun of everyone and everything and is replete with falsehoods and lies.
The website offers advice on how to be amusing rather than just foolish. The legal minimum age for writers to create comedic material, false news reports, and original pieces is 13. No pornography, just a little mild profanity. Anyone can edit on sites like Wiki, but careful administrators manage the website and control user behavior.
The majority of Uncyclopedia articles have graphics that are connected to the corresponding Wikipedia entry. A characteristic description states, "For those without comedic tastes, the so-called experts at Wikipedia have an article about [subject in question]."
SCHOLARPEDIA
Scholarpedia is powered by MediaWiki and has a similar interface to Wikipedia. It is intended to be a trustworthy substitute for websites like Wikipedia. Both websites allow for visitor reviews and modifications, but only Scholarpedia has articles that have been peer-reviewed by specialists in various scientific fields.
Separate "encyclopedias" on topics including astrophysics, computational neuroscience, computational intelligence, dynamical systems, and physics contain content from Scholarpedia.
According to Scholarpedia, all articles are written by experts and are subjected to peer review. The editor in charge of each article decides whether revisions are appropriate for publishing.
All authors, curators, and editors who contributed to an article must be identified by their real names and organizations. Username use is absolutely forbidden.
INFOPLEASE
An atlas, encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesaurus, and movies can all be found on the free online encyclopedia Infoplease. Numerous almanacs packed with statistics, facts, and historical records are also available.
Fact Monster's owner and the world's largest distributor of educational books, Pearson Education, also owns Infoplease. All of the entries on the website are taken from trusted sources like the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia and the Random House Unabridged Dictionary. The entire website is updated frequently.
Infoplease is thorough and presents a variety of viewpoints on a wide range of issues. Unlike Wikipedia, which gives comprehensive articles, Infoplease delivers succinct, helpful topic summaries as a substitute for Wikipedia. Although noticeably shorter, the information is accurate and was revised by Infoplease staff members.
CONCLUSION
There is an adage that goes, "Trust, but verify." Since no source is entirely trustworthy, it is crucial to verify the accuracy of the information in multiple trustworthy sources.
Although there are rivals to Wikipedia, none are as well-known or significant. What kind of information you're looking for will largely determine which encyclopedia or research tool you should use.
You must admit that it is really uncommon to not be able to locate the information you're seeking, especially considering how frequently Google includes Wikipedia in SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). It would be challenging to find a more effective substitute for Wikipedia if you're looking for quick, free information.
Although there is no advertising on Wikipedia, the site does feature an online store where users may purchase branded goods. It is interesting to see how Wikipedia generates revenue. Definitely a distinctive business strategy!
Just in case you were ever curious, the term "Wikipedia" is a combination of the Hawaiian word "Wiki," which means "quick," and the word "encyclopedia." Wikipedia is a quick reference guide!