Micropædia: Britannica's 12-volume concise reference component of the 15th edition

History and edition changes

The Micropædia was introduced in 1974 as part of a major restructuring of the Britannica. At that time it appeared in ten volumes and contained roughly 102,214 short articles, each written to be under about 750 words. Subsequent editorial revisions produced the form used in the 15th edition: the Micropædia now appears in 12 volumes containing approximately 65,000 articles. The guideline limiting most entries to about 750 words remains broadly in effect, though a small number of topics receive longer treatments in later printings (for example, the entry on the Internet can occupy a full page in recent issues).

Purpose, style and organization

Entries in the Micropædia are intended primarily for quick reference and fact‑checking. Most articles are only one or two paragraphs long and, with notable exceptions, do not include bibliographies or named contributors. The Micropædia also serves as a practical index and signpost to the longer, more detailed essays found in the Macropædia (which contains roughly seven hundred extended articles).

• Format: 12 volumes in the current 15th‑edition arrangement.
• Article length: majority kept to one–two paragraphs; a rough 750‑word guideline applies.
• Content role: concise summaries for quick information and pointers to longer treatments.
• Attribution: most short articles lack individual bylines and detailed bibliographies.