Writing & Editorial Guidelines

The standards that shape Aevum Encyclopedia. These guidelines ensure every article meets our commitment to accuracy, clarity, and global accessibility.

1. Core Editorial Principles

Every article on Aevum Encyclopedia is built upon six foundational principles. These are non-negotiable standards that distinguish our platform from open wikis and commercial aggregators.

  • Neutrality: Present all significant viewpoints fairly, proportionally, and without editorial bias. Avoid advocacy, promotional language, or unverified claims.
  • Accuracy: Every factual statement must be traceable to reliable, verifiable sources. Speculation, gossip, and unconfirmed rumors have no place here.
  • Accessibility: Write for a global audience. Assume readers have a high-school level education but no specialized background in your topic.
  • Inclusivity: Use culturally sensitive, gender-neutral, and regionally appropriate language. Acknowledge diverse contributions to any field.
  • Future-Proofing: Prioritize evergreen information. Time-sensitive data must be clearly dated and flagged for periodic review.
  • Transparency: Disclose conflicts of interest, funding sources, and the provenance of all claims. Hidden agendas undermine trust.
💡 Why It Matters

Knowledge is only valuable when it can be trusted. These principles exist to protect the integrity of Aevum Encyclopedia for researchers, students, and lifelong learners worldwide.

2. Article Structure & Formatting

Consistent structure improves readability and enables our AI systems to map knowledge effectively across disciplines.

Lead Section (Summary)

Begin every article with a 2–4 paragraph summary that defines the topic, establishes its significance, and provides high-level context. Avoid details, citations, or niche jargon here.

Headings & Hierarchy

Use a logical, descending hierarchy. Avoid skipping levels. Recommended structure:

  • H2 - Major sections (History, Theory, Applications, Criticism, See Also, References)
  • H3 - Subsections grouping related themes
  • H4 - Granular breakdowns (use sparingly)

Data & Media Integration

Infoboxes, tables, and charts should supplement text, not replace it. All media must be properly attributed, licensed for educational use, and include descriptive alt text for accessibility.

3. Tone, Voice & Style

Aevum Encyclopedia maintains a scholarly yet accessible voice. We value precision over flourish, but never at the expense of clarity.

  • Prefer active voice where possible, but use passive voice for objectivity or when the actor is unknown/irrelevant.
  • Define specialized terminology on first use. Provide etymology or historical context when it aids understanding.
  • Avoid absolutist language ("always," "never," "proven") unless referring to mathematical or universally accepted scientific laws.
  • Use present tense for established facts and theories, past tense for historical events, and future tense only for scheduled or highly probable developments.
⚠️ Common Pitfalls

Avoid first-person pronouns (I, we, our), rhetorical questions, and conversational fillers. This is an encyclopedia, not a blog or opinion piece.

4. Research, Citations & Verification

Our citation system is tiered, transparent, and designed to withstand academic scrutiny.

Source Hierarchy

  1. Primary Sources: Peer-reviewed journals, official archives, original manuscripts, government publications, patent filings.
  2. Secondary Sources: Reputable textbooks, academic books, major news agencies, institutional reports.
  3. Tertiary Sources: Established encyclopedias, verified educational platforms (used only for background, not as primary evidence).

Citation Standards

Use our standardized citation format. Every factual claim that isn't common knowledge requires an inline reference. Block quotes over 40 words must be indented and attributed.

✅ Best Practice

When in doubt, cite a peer-reviewed or institutional source over a personal website, social media post, or self-published material.

5. AI Integration & Originality Policy

Aevum Encyclopedia leverages AI to enhance structure, translation, and cross-referencing—but human expertise remains the final authority.

  • AI as an Assistant: Writers may use AI for drafting, outlining, grammar correction, or translation assistance.
  • Mandatory Verification: Every AI-generated fact, statistic, or claim must be manually verified against primary sources before submission.
  • Disclosure: If AI was used for structural generation or translation, indicate it in the article's metadata. This does not affect publication eligibility.
  • Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism: Copying content from other wikis, blogs, or commercial databases without attribution is grounds for permanent contributor ban.

Our editorial team runs all submissions through cross-reference and originality checks. We value speed, but never at the cost of integrity.

6. Submission & Review Workflow

Understanding our process ensures faster publication and higher quality standards.

  1. Draft Submission: Upload your article through the contributor portal. Include all references and media assets.
  2. AI Pre-Screen: Our system checks formatting, citation completeness, and flag potential conflicts or unsupported claims.
  3. Peer Review: Two verified contributors in the subject domain review for accuracy, tone, and structure.
  4. Expert Sign-Off: For specialized topics, a domain expert or academic advisor provides final validation.
  5. Publication & Monitoring: Once approved, the article goes live. It enters a 6-month review cycle for updates and corrections.
📬 Need Guidance?

Unsure if your topic meets notability standards? Have questions about citation formatting? Contact our editorial team at editorial@aevumenc.com or join our contributor Discord.