rigin yes, reference works do have a level of integrity, tho' some more than others. And most reference work compilers say that there will be errors in their productions.

e.g. Grove is THE dictionary/encuclopedia of classical music, and a learned contributor still managed to slip in a hoax entry that was printed in the 20-volume effort.

i'm forever finding errors in the most learned reference books.

   And there have been 2 series on Beeb tv, called Balderdash and Piffle, in which people have been finding earlier first printings/documentation of words than the great Oxford English Dictionary had already.

So no surprises that Wikip., the internet, esteemed newspapers and government publications are all flawed. All have axes to gring, agendas too, and require their assumptions being uncovered.

it's a naughty world.




         Ivor