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.

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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

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—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".

Traditional English, use US English instead

✔ 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"

! 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".

—D—

✘ debarment

Do not use, Use "restriction".

✔ 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

! drop-down

Use "dropdown", not "drop-down".

—E—

—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)

Use with caution, Use "Serial issue"

Do not use to describe the action of loaning an item, Use "checkout".

✘ issue (verb)

Do not use, Use "check out".

✔ item

Use "item", not "document".

—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 acronymn.

✘ 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 "login" when referring to...

✔ login (noun)

Use "login" when referring to...

✘ logout

Do not use. Use "log out" to refer to the action of a user logging out of the system

✔ list

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

—M—

—N—

✔ notice

Use "notice", not "letter".

Use "slip" when a notice is to be 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 "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".

—T—

—U—

—V—

✔ vendor

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

✘ 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 zipcode/postcode address field.

ZIP is an acronymn.

See Also

Interface_patterns