articlesis

Articlesis is a term used in information science to describe a disciplined approach to producing article-length texts that are concise, neutral, and verifiably sourced, typically in encyclopedia or knowledge-base contexts. The concept treats article composition as a repeatable process with defined inputs, steps, and quality checks, rather than as a single instinctive act of writing.

Origin and meaning: The coinage combines the word article with the suffix -sis, indicating a process. It has been proposed to distinguish manual drafting from automated or assisted drafting that adheres to explicit standards for scope, tone, and citation.

Process and standards: An articlesis workflow starts with scoping and audience definition, followed by evidence gathering, an outline, drafting in a neutral voice, and line-item verification against credible sources; revisions ensure coherence and consistency with a house style. Automated tools may assist with bibliography management, template-based organization, and consistency checks.

Applications and implications: It is used in content management systems, collaborative encyclopedias, and scholarly databases to accelerate the production of neutral reference articles while preserving quality. It is not a guarantee of accuracy and must be complemented by human oversight.

Limitations and critique: Critics warn that reliance on templates or AI can obscure nuance, propagate biased sources, or misinterpret complex topics without careful handling.

See also: automated content generation, template-based writing, knowledge-base curation.