Wikipedia's first sentence called it “folklore genre consisting of the folklore of ghosts”. Today it says “body of traditional beliefs and folklore surrounding ghosts and hauntings”. The one-line description Wikipedia serves to search engines and AI systems read “Genre of folklore concerning ghosts Athenodorus in a haunted house”. It now reads “Genre of folklore concerning ghosts An illustration of Andrew Lang 's " Athenodorus confronts the Spectre"”.
Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.
Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in October 6, 2023
Genre of folklore concerning ghosts Athenodorus in a haunted house Ghostlore refers to the body of folklore and traditional beliefs surrounding ghosts and hauntings . These tales often feature spirits of the deceased who are believed to linger in the physical world , either to communicate with the living or to seek vengeance for past wrongs. Ghostlore is a widespread phenomenon , with stories of hauntings and ghostly encounters found in cultures around the world. The meaning of the term "ghost" varies widely across cultures, making it difficult to define precisely. Different societies have their own interpretations of ghosts, which can range from benevolent spirits to malevolent entities , and can depend on factors such as religious beliefs, folklore, and historical context. The origins of ghostlore can likely be traced back to ancient beliefs in the afterlife and the existence of spirits. Over time, these beliefs have evolved and taken on different forms in different cultures. Ghostlore often reflects the fears and anxieties of a particular society, as well as its cultural values and traditions . Today, ghostlore continues to captivate the imagination and remains a popular subject in literature, film, and other forms of media.1
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 1178943584.
The opening as it stood in 2020
Ghostlore , Ghost-Lore , or Ghost Lore is a folklore genre consisting of the folklore of ghosts . Ghostlore occurs throughout recorded history , including contemporary contexts. Jones observes the following in 1944: Ghostlore is still widespread and popular. While most of the actions thought to be common among ghosts (chain clanking, cemetery haunting, and so forth) can be found, they are by no means so widespread in the popular ghostlore as we have been led to expect. The ghost who is very like the living is far more common than any other. ... It might be expected that a rational age of science would destroy belief in the ability of the dead to return. I think it works the other way: in an age of scientific miracles anything seems possible.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 960200590.
The opening as it stood in 2025 9 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Genre of folklore concerning ghosts An illustration of Andrew Lang 's " Athenodorus confronts the Spectre" Ghostlore is an intricate web of traditional beliefs and folklore surrounding ghosts and hauntings .Ghostlore has ingrained itself in the cultural fabric of societies worldwide.Defined by narratives often featuring apparitions of the deceased, ghostlore stands as a universal phenomenon, with roots extending deeply into human history.The term "ghost" eludes a singular definition, its meaning has evolved across cultures, shaped by various interpretations rooted in religious beliefs, folklore, and historical context.From benevolent spirits to malevolent entities, these stories reflect the fears, values, and traditions of societies throughout time.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1297132067. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “folklore genre consisting of the folklore of ghosts”. Today it says “body of traditional beliefs and folklore surrounding ghosts and hauntings”. The one-line description Wikipedia serves to search engines and AI systems read “Genre of folklore concerning ghosts Athenodorus in a haunted house”. It now reads “Genre of folklore concerning ghosts An illustration of Andrew Lang 's " Athenodorus confronts the Spectre"”. Read the current article and compare.
2020
Oct '23
2025
Counts in the opening at each snapshot. Green: the word gained ground. Red: it was cut. Grey: no change.
What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2020, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
folklore genre consisting of the folklore of ghosts
Now
body of traditional beliefs and folklore surrounding ghosts and hauntings
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
