SUBJECT HEADINGS Meaning and
Definition
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Subject headings are standardized terms or phrases used in libraries and databases to describe the content of books, articles, and other materials. They serve as labels or tags that help to organize and retrieve information efficiently. By using subject headings, users can quickly identify resources that are relevant to their research interests or information needs.
Subject headings are typically assigned by librarians or trained professionals using established controlled vocabularies such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) or the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). These controlled vocabularies ensure consistency and accuracy in describing the content of materials across different libraries and databases.
Subject headings are hierarchical in nature, with broader terms representing general concepts and more specific terms representing narrower subjects within those broader concepts. This hierarchical structure enables users to navigate through various levels of specificity to find the information they require.
In addition to their organizational function, subject headings also aid in retrieval through searching. By entering a subject heading into a library catalog or database search engine, users can generate a list of resources that are about or contain information related to that subject.
Overall, subject headings play a crucial role in the organization and retrieval of information in libraries and databases, providing a standardized way for users to find resources relevant to their research topics or interests.
Common Misspellings for SUBJECT HEADINGS
- aubject headings
- zubject headings
- xubject headings
- dubject headings
- eubject headings
- wubject headings
- sybject headings
- shbject headings
- sjbject headings
- sibject headings
- s8bject headings
- s7bject headings
- suvject headings
- sunject headings
- suhject headings
- sugject headings
- subhect headings
- subnect headings
- submect headings
- subkect headings
Etymology of SUBJECT HEADINGS
The word "subject" originated from the Latin word "subjectus", which means "lying beneath, or placed under". It evolved in Old French as "sujet" and eventually came into English in the 14th century.
The term "heading" originated from the Old English word "heafod" or "heved", which means "top, head, or chief". It came into Middle English as "heding" or "hedinge", referring to the act of leading or guiding, and later specifically denoting the title or label at the top of a written document.
When combined, "subject headings" refers to the titles or labels that guide or describe the content of a text, document, or topic. This term is predominantly used in libraries and information science to categorize and classify materials based on their subject matter.
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