The basic elements and content of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

1. BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON ENCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA/JOSEPH KUTIALO MWANZO
The encyclopaedia Britannica is a general encyclopaedia written in basic English, it is a reference
information source for all types of users and libraries.
PURPOSE OF ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA:
a) Provides general and specific information in the universe of knowledge.
b) It provides ready answers to diverse questions.
c) Provides information relating to persons material and activities.
d) Encyclopaedia Britannica removes misunderstanding as information given is reliable due its regular
revision.
e) It gives guidance and direction. Every article or detailed account has a list of readings at its end for
general reading and topic.
Encyclopaedia Britannica provides additional information regarding general knowledge under-
ADDENDA that illustrate additional information on various topics provided at the end of a document).
CONTENT AND USE OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
The new encyclopaedia Britannica is published in 32 volumes and consists of three parts namely:
• Ist Part-Micropaedia (Ready reference & Index) in 12 vol.
• Second Part-Macropaedia (Ready reference & Index) in 12 vol.
• Third Part-Propaedia (outline of Knowledge) in 1 vol. besides this, 2 volumes-30 and 31 are in form of
index A-K and L-Z.
PART I : MICROPAEDIA SPECIAL FEATURES
Part 1 Micropaedia provides the following information
a) In it 1 lakh entries are given
b) The information is given in brief form in which information about prominent persons, places ideas is
given.
c) In Micropaedia the following information is given
i. Addenda
ii. Introduction to statistical summaries.
iii. Comprehensive world statistical tables.
iv. Maps legend and glossary.
v. Great charters of the western world.
vi. Flags of the countries.
In micropaedia cross references are given:
E.g see also or q.v -quod vide for which see. World trade: see-trade international;
References are given with articles e.g.:
Addison’s prose style & Fame 1:84a
Advertising criticism 1:103h
Here, 1-volume; 84-page No.;
a: segment of the page.
(iii). addenda provides (additional information on various issues is provided at the end of a document)
Micropaedia footnotes are given:
In the world population and area.
…. No data available.
0 Less than 500
*Latest year available.

2. Has a glossary and list of abbreviation is also given:
Example: Abbrevation Names
• AFK Afrikans
• Alb Albania
• Ara
The Encyclopaedia Britannica has maps, pictorial, table & diagrams given according to need.
PART II: MACROPAEDIA
i. About 4207 articles are there which are descriptive
ii. Different aspects of knowledge are given in detail.
iii. The articles given are long and descriptive.
iv. Macropaedia contains knowledge in depth providing more extended treatments of fields of human
knowledge and major topic of human interest.
v. The mono graphic articles given are on detail topics covering 22000; Comprehensive statistical tables ;
World population; Major cities of the world: Population area; National economics; World transportation;
Communications; World education; Major world universities and colleges; Highest mountain of the
world; Principle national park and resources; Geographical extremes; and last but not least units of
measure.
vi. Maps
Legends for country: Political and physical maps in the micropaedia; Glossary for the maps; charters of
the western world; Magna carta; Bill of rights; The declarations of independence (1776) and constitution
of rights of man and of citizen etc.
In Encyclopaedia Britannica headings of articles are divided into subheading when and where necessary:
Alatto Alva (Heading)
Early work (Subheading)
Nature Style ,,
Assessment ,,
vii. Major work
PART II: MACROPAEDIA SPECIAL FEATURES
1. In macropaedia with each article bibliographs are given.
2. To highlight specific information special subheading are also given as required:
Examples
• Important early commission
• Experiments in furniture
3. At the end of each article brief name of author has been given e.g A.F.K A.S.K
PART III: PROPAEDIA SPECIAL FEATURES OF
In topics of propaedia according to need cross references are given which are attached to other parts of
sectional outlines given in propaedia for example:
Articles Article section other reference
KINSHIP 7.1556-155hl 5.31f-hl6:1127e-g
10:477-485 7.168g-172d 14:839d-f
In Encyclopaedia Britannica two Kinds of heading and the light face type to portion of related articles
covering the subject of entry are given e.g:
Black faced type
Action lord

3. Light faced type
Early training in historical research
ARRANGEMENT OF THE NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
a) Articles are arranged alphabetically word by word
Example: Aalto; Alvar; Aaron; Abbas I the great of Persia
b) The no. of year are also arranged in words
Example: 1812, Eighteen twelve, war of…
c) Addenda has alphabetical arrangement of information:
Glossary and Abbreviation:
Example:
AFK-Afrikaans
Alb-Albania
Flags of the world
Afghanistan
Albania Algiers
(d) World population and area
African, Algeria, Angola, Benin
America South: Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil.
(e) Major world universities and College
Africa: Algeria, Algiers: university of Constantine
India: Agra University etc.
(f) Highest Mountain of the world
Africa-Kilimanjaro-Tanzania; Kenya: Mt Kenya
(g) Longest Rivers of the world:
Nile, Amazon-Africa-Nile Congo Niger
America, North; America South, Asia, Europe
The Encyclopedia Britannica is revised yearly to include up to date information its physical format and
English language used in its documentation makes the new encyclopaedia Britannica a popular world
general encyclopaedia.
Thanks i hope this information will enable you to utilize the Encyclopedia Britannica exhaustively with
ease.
Feedback to :jmjmwanzo@gmail.com or jkutialo@yahoo.com