[DCRM-L] Full vs abbreviated language in notes

[Robert Maxwell]

I couldn't agree more, Deborah :) I say I agree, but I probably often use what I call "recipe-style" notes now that I think about it, leaving out articles and verbs. But I agree with you.

Robert L. Maxwell
Special Collections and Ancient Languages Catalog Librarian
Genre/Form Authorities Librarian
6728 Harold B. Lee Library
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
(801)422-5568

"We should set an example for all the world, rather than confine ourselves to the course which has been heretofore pursued"--Eliza R. Snow, 1842.

From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On Behalf Of Deborah J. Leslie
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 4:48 PM
To: DCRM Revision Group List
Subject: [DCRM-L] Full vs abbreviated language in notes

I apparently promised the DCRM(MS) group to look up some things and talk to some DCRM editors about the style of language in the note field, but figure a discussion in a wider forum would be more interesting.

The more time goes on, the readier I am to use full, normal sentences in notes, instead of the traditional abbreviated sentence structure that grew out of the space-saving milieu of the card. Not that I advocate verbosity or chattiness, but sentences with verbs and articles are so much easier to read and understand than those without. One also can't help but think that the RDA no-abbreviation approach will spread to the idea of not just abbreviating words, but sentences as well.

How about the rest of you? What style do you use when formulating notes?

Deborah J. Leslie, M.A., M.L.S. | Head of Cataloging, Folger Shakespeare Library | 201 East Capitol St., S.E. | Washington, D.C. 20003
djleslie at folger.edu<mailto:djleslie at folger.edu> | 202.675-0369 | http://www.folger.edu<http://www.folger.edu/>

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