Terminology

This list of words and terms is intended to help create consistency, which also helps with translation.

The Koha project uses American English. Online dictionaries: Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, Merriam-Webster, Cambridge Dictionary, Dictionary.com

There are three categories of terms:

✔ = Preferred term

! = Use with caution

✘ = Do not use

Use italics for proposed changes and additions.

Characters 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

—Characters—

! & (ampersand): Only use "&" when part of a proper noun or a common abbreviation, such as Baker & Taylor or R&D. Otherwise, use "and".

—0–9—

—A—

✔ allowlist: Use "allowlist", not "whitelist".

✔ and: Use "and" instead of &, unless part of a proper noun or a common abbreviation. For example: Notices and slips, not Notices & slips; Baker & Taylor, R&D.

✔ anonymize: Use "anonymize" instead of "anonymise", default to American English spelling rules.

✘ anonymise: Use "anonymize" instead of "anonymise", default to American English spelling rules.

✘ authority: Do not use. Use "authority record", not "authority".

✔ authority record: Use "authority record", not "authority".

✔ authorized value: Use "authorized value", not "authorised value".

✘ authorised value: Do not use. Use "authorized value", not "authorised value", default to American English spelling rules.

✔ auto-renewal: Use "auto-renewal", not "auto renewal" or "autorenewal".

✘ auto renewal: Do not use. Use "auto-renewal", not "auto renewal".

✘ autorenewal: Do not use. Use "auto-renewal", not "autorenewal".

—B—

✘ biblio: Do not use. Use "bibliographic record".

✔ bibliographic record: Use "bibliographic record", not "biblio".

✘ blacklist: Do not use. Use "denylist".

✘ bookseller: Do not use. Use "vendor".

✘ branch: Do not use. Use "library", not "branch".

! budget: Use "budget" with caution, denotes a period of time a "fund" is valid. Do not use "budget period".

✘ budget period: Do not use. Use "budget".

—C—

! call number (noun): Use "call number", not "callnumber" or "call no." or "call no"

✔ catalog, cataloging: Use the American English spelling.

✘ catalogue, cataloguing: Use the American English spelling.

! charge (noun): Use the general term "charge" when referring to different types of fees (account creation fee, hold fee, overdue fine, lost item fee, etc.). Use "fine" only in the case of overdue fines.

! check-in (noun): Use "check-in", not "return".

! check in (verb): Use "check in", not "checkin" or "return".

! checkout (noun): Use "checkout", not "check out" or "issue".

! check out (verb): Use "check out", not "checkout" or "issue".

✔ create: Use "create" in user permission names (for example, suggestions_create).

—D—

✘ debarment: Do not use. Use "restriction".

✔ delete: Use "delete" in user permission names (for example, suggestions_delete).

✔ denylist: Use "denylist", not "blacklist".

✘ display/don't display: Do not use in system preference options, use "show/don't show".

✔ dropdown: Use dropdown as one word, not "drop-down" or "drop down".

! drop-down: Use "dropdown" as one word, not "drop-down" or "drop down".

—E—

✔ edit: Use "edit" in user permission names (for example, suggestions_edit).

—F—

! fine: Use "fine" only in the case of overdue fines. Use the general term "charge" when referring to different types of fees (account creation fee, hold fee, overdue fine, lost item fee, etc.).

✔ fund: Use "fund", not "budget".

—G—

✔ gender: Use "gender", not "sex".

—H—

✔ hold: Use "hold", not "reserve" or "request".

—I—

✘ intranet: Do not use. Use "staff interface", not "staff client", "staff intranet", or "intranet".

! issue (noun): For serials: Use with caution. Use "Serial issue".; For the action of loaning an item: Do not use. Use "checkout".

✘ issue (verb): Do not use. Use "check out".

✔ item: Use "item", not "document".

✔ item type (Koha item type): Use "item type" for interface elements and when referring to Koha item types, for example, in form labels, table column headings, hints, and text.; Do not use "itemtype" unless directly referencing the database "itemtype" field name, the same as you would do with any other database table or field name.

! itemtype (database field name): For the database field name: Use "itemtype" only when directly referencing the database field name, the same as you would do with any other database table or field name.; For interface elements (such as form labels, table column headings, hints, and text): Use "item type", not "itemtype".; Koha item types: Use "item type", not "itemtype" (as this is the database field name).

—J—

—K—

✔ Koha: Use "Koha", not "KOHA" or "koha" when referring to the Koha integrated library software and the Koha project.; Koha is not an abbreviation, initialism, or acronym.

✘ KOHA: Do not use. Use "Koha" when referring to the Koha integrated library software and the Koha project.

—L—

✔ library: Use "library", not "branch".

✔ list: Use "list", not "shelf" or "virtual shelf".

✔ log in (verb): Use "log in" when referring to the action of logging in to a system such as Koha. Example: To log in to Koha, enter your username and password.

✔ log out (verb): Use "log out", not "logout".

✔ login (noun): Use "login" when referring to the details or credentials (such as a username and password) used to log in to a system like Koha.

✘ logout: Do not use. Use "log out" to refer to the action of logging out of the system.

—M—

—N—

✔ notice: Use "notice", not "letter".; Use "slip" when a notice is printed on a receipt printer.

—O—

✔ OPAC: Use "OPAC", not "Opac" or "opac" when abbreviating online public access catalog(ue), including in system preference names.

—P—

✔ patron: Use "patron", not "user", "member", or "borrower".

✘ preference: Do not use when referring to Koha's system preferences. Use "system preference".

—Q—

—R—

✔ restriction: Use "restriction", not "debarment".

✘ request: Do not use. Use "hold".

✘ reserve: Do not use. Use "hold".

✘ return (noun): Do not use. Use "check-in".

✘ return (verb): Do not use. Use "check in".

—S—

✘ sex: Do not use. Use "gender", not "sex".

✘ shelf: Do not use. Use "list".

✔ show/don't show: Use "show/don't show" in system preference options, not "display/don't display".

✔ slip: Use "slip" to denote a "notice" that is intended to be printed by a receipt print.

✘ staff client: Do not use. Use "staff interface", not "staff client", "staff intranet", or "intranet".

✔ staff interface: Use "staff interface", not "staff client", "staff intranet", or "intranet".

✘ staff intranet: Do not use. Use "staff interface", not "staff client", "staff intranet", or "intranet".

✘ supplier: Do not use. Use "vendor".

✔ system preference: Use "system preference" when referring to Koha's system preferences, not "preference", "sys pref" or "system pref".

—T—

—U—

—V—

✔ vendor: Use "vendor", not "bookseller" or "supplier".

✔ view: Use "view" in user permission names (for example, suggestions_view).

✘ virtual shelf: Do not use. Use "list".

—W—

✘ whitelist: Do not use. Use "allowlist".

—X—

—Y—

—Z—

✔ ZIP: Use "ZIP", not "Zip" or "zip" when referring to the ZIP code/postcode address field.; ZIP is an acronym for "Zone Improvement Plan".

Terminology

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