Monograph facts for kids

A monograph is a special written work. It focuses deeply on just one subject. Think of it like a super detailed book about one specific topic. Usually, one author or artist creates it.

Even if a few people write a monograph, it still feels like one complete piece. It's a deep academic work. It shares new research, ideas, and arguments. A monograph is different from a collection of articles. A collection has many separate writings by different authors. These are then put together into one book.

In libraries, "monograph" has a wider meaning. It means any publication that is complete in one or a set number of books. This is different from a magazine or newspaper, which come out regularly. So, in libraries, even novels are called monographs!

What is a Monograph?

The word "monograph" comes from old Greek words. "Mono-" means "single," and "-graph" means "something written." So, it's literally "something written about a single thing."

A monograph is not like a textbook. Textbooks give a general overview of a subject. The main goal of a monograph is to share new research. It presents original ideas in great detail. This makes it different from a short article. Because of this, writing a monograph is very important for many researchers. It helps them advance in their careers. Libraries often buy monographs. They are usually printed in small numbers.

In places like Britain and the U.S., a scholarly monograph is different from a regular book. It's written for readers who already know a lot about the subject. They also have a professional interest in the topic.

Monographs in Biology

In biology, a monograph is a full study of a taxon. A taxon is a group of living things, like a family of plants. These monographs look at all known species in a group. They also add any newly found species. They gather all information about where these species live. They also look at how they vary in shape and size.

The very first monograph about a plant group was written in 1672. It was by Robert Morison. It was about a group of plants called the Apiaceae.

Monograph in Art

Book publishers use the term "artist monograph." This means books that are all about one single artist. It's different from books that cover many artists or art subjects.

Monograph and the FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a U.S. agency. It makes sure foods and medicines are safe. In their work, monographs are like official rules. They set standards for how certain substances can be used.

For example, the FDA might create a monograph for sunscreen. This monograph would say what ingredients are safe and effective. Once a substance has an FDA monograph, its use is officially allowed. Sometimes, people even use "monograph" as a verb. They might say, "This substance has been monographed by the FDA." This means the FDA has set its official standards.

See also

• Compendium
• Compilation thesis
• Documentation
• Open access monograph
• Treatise