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The term '''"accepted sources"''' as used in the ''Lexicanum'' describes the body of source material that an [[Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum:Editors|Editor]] is permitted to use when creating or editing articles in the ''Lexicanum'' wiki. These sources are sometimes also referred to as ''official'', ''legitimate'' or ''canon'' sources but the term that should be used with reference to any work within the Lexicanum is nevertheless ''accepted sources'' (see also further down).Only ''acepted sources'' can be used in the compulsory
==Why the term "Canon" or "Canonicity" is problematic==
''Wikipedia'' defines the concept of "Canon" in fiction as follows: ''"In fiction, canon is the material accepted as officially part of the story in the fictional universe of that story. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction. [...] Other times, the word can mean 'to be acknowledged by the creator(s)'."''
The passi ''"officially part of the story"'' and ''"acknowledged by the creator(s)"'' in a nutshell already highlights why using the term ''"Canon"'' in conjunction with [[Games Workshop]] is somewhat difficult. Some reasons for this are:
*the immense wealth of available publications stretching back to the 1980s across several editions of the [[Warhammer 40,000]] (and related) games
*[[Games Workshop]] almost never officially disowning any of the previously published material
*elements that by some are considered [[Wikipedia:Retroactive continuity|retcons]] or [[Reboot (fiction)|reboots]], although these terms strictly do not apply to [[Games Workshop]]'s modus operandi
*rewriting parts of older background
*dropping parts of older background (explicitly or implicitly)
*reintroducing parts of previously dropped background
*authors ignoring or being ignorant of previously published material on the subject they write about
*continuity errors
*the same names being used for different persons, places or events
*creation and disappearance of multiple [[Games Workshop]] subsidiaries that sometimes seemingly operated quite independently or at least not with a very strict supervision
*multiple license holders (former and present) ignoring or being ignorant of previously published material on the subject of their licensed product
*some [[Games Workshop]] publications publishing fan-submitted material that sometimes found their way later on into other publications
*rearrangement of the spatial or temporary fictional reference systems to allow the insertion of new races, events or products
*so-called "alternative" timelines
*fictional events as described by different protagonists from their "own" points of view
*often non-distinction between (fictional) "facts" and "legends/ mythology/ rumours" etc.
*and many other potential sources for confusion and contradictions
For more information on this topic, see [[Wikipedia:Canon (fiction)|"Canon" as a concept in fiction]].
