TS 191 ISO 4

TS 191 ISO 4 is a standard in information and documentation that deals with rules for abbreviating words in titles and the titles of publications. It provides a controlled way to shorten publication names so they can be used consistently in bibliographic records, catalogues, and citation practices.

What title abbreviation rules are for

The scope of this standard covers serial titles in languages using the Latin, Cyrillic, and Greek alphabets, and, where appropriate, non-serial publication titles. The central idea is to preserve the identity of a title while expressing it in a shorter, standardised form. This is especially important for long journal titles, where consistency matters across indexing, cataloguing, and reference lists.

In general technical context, title abbreviation supports bibliographic control and information retrieval. When the same publication appears in different databases or catalogues with varying short forms, searching becomes less reliable. A shared abbreviation rule helps keep records aligned while remaining readable, so users can trace a publication under a consistent and recognisable title form.

• It establishes common rules for abbreviating publication titles.
• It applies to languages using the Latin, Cyrillic, and Greek alphabets.
• Its main focus is serial publications, with non-serial titles included where appropriate.
• Its purpose is consistent bibliographic and indexing practice.