Why is it that encyclopedic/reference articles do not have in text citations or reference pages? Why are they exempt from having to follow that rule?
Thank you!

Question

anonymous · Answer

Typically they do not have a distinct or singular author.

anonymous · Answer

Often the research done for an encyclopedia is primary research (that is, they are written by experts, and/or the information is taken directly from the source.) Your history book, for example, is written by someone with an advanced degree in history, and probably shows you the primary sources (letters and other writings from the time being discussed) along with the generalized explanations of the events. You don't see inline citations in that case either, because the writer herself is the source.

anonymous · Answer

Perhaps so that it's harder to challenge contentious points and be transparent to criticism.