Sourcelike

Sourcelike is an adjective used to describe material that bears resemblance to a known source in content or form, especially when that resemblance helps indicate provenance, influence, or potential quotation. The term emphasizes similarity to a source rather than direct copying.

Origin and usage: The word is a neologism not yet standardized in academic or professional vocabularies; it appears in discussions across information science, digital humanities, and media studies. Its meaning and boundaries are still being debated, and different communities may apply it in slightly different ways.

Applications and examples: In data provenance, sourcelike records may preserve lineage cues that hint at an upstream origin without reproducing exact content. In text analysis, a passage described as sourcelike might imitate a source’s style or argumentative structure without containing a verbatim quotation. In software documentation, an interface or API description may be termed sourcelike if it mirrors the conceptual layout or conventions of a known upstream API.

Limitations and distinctions: Sourcelike differs from direct quotes or paraphrase; it signals resemblance of form or lineage rather than explicit attribution. It should not be used to obscure origin or to imply formal sourcing where none exists. When applied, transparency about connections to potential sources remains important.

See also: provenance, attribution, citation practices, data lineage.