cutter number
C2Technical / Professional
Definition
Meaning
An alphanumeric classification code used in library cataloguing to arrange books by subject or author, typically following the Library of Congress Classification or Dewey Decimal System.
A system of book notation, often derived from the author's surname or the book's title, used to create a unique shelf mark for library organisation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a specific term of art in library science. The 'number' can contain letters and digits. It is part of a larger 'call number'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic difference. Usage is identical in professional contexts on both sides of the Atlantic.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no regional connotations.
Frequency
Exclusively used within library, archival, and bibliographic professions. Virtually unknown in general discourse in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [librarian] assigned [a cutter number] to [the new acquisition].Books are shelved according to their [cutter number].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in library and information science departments and related scholarly publishing.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core term in library cataloguing, archival description, and bibliographic databases.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- N/A
- N/A
- The librarian explained that the letters and numbers after the Dewey Decimal code are called a cutter number.
- To ensure consistent shelving, the cataloguer derived the cutter number from the main entry's standardized form using the Cutter-Sanborn Three-Figure Author Table.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a librarian using a paper cutter to trim a label, then writing a number on it. The 'cutter' trims the author's name down to a code.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANISATION IS A MAP / A cutter number is a coordinate on the library's map.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'номер резака' or 'число резца'. This is a false friend. The correct conceptual equivalent is 'кодовый знак Кеттера' or 'индекс Кеттера' in professional contexts, or simply 'шифр хранения' more generally.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'cutter number' with the full 'call number'. The cutter number is a part of the call number.
- Using it as a general term for any library code.
- Pronouncing 'Cutter' as if it means 'one who cuts' rather than the surname of Charles Ammi Cutter.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a cutter number?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often based on the author's surname, it can also be derived from the title, geographic name, or other main entry to create a unique identifier within a subject class.
It is named after Charles Ammi Cutter, an American librarian who created the Cutter Expansive Classification system in the late 19th century.
No, they are most commonly associated with the Library of Congress Classification and some applications of the Dewey Decimal System. Other classification schemes may use different methods.
Typically, a cutter number begins with a letter (often the first letter of the author's surname) and is followed by one or more numbers, sometimes with additional letters or decimals.