international standard serial number
Low (Specialized Technical Term)Formal, Technical, Academic, Library Science
Definition
Meaning
The unique eight-digit identification code for a periodical publication, such as a journal or magazine.
A standardized code used internationally to uniquely and unambiguously identify a serial publication (e.g., journals, magazines, newspapers, ongoing series of books or reports), facilitating cataloging, ordering, and access in libraries and databases. Its structure, as defined by ISO 3297, includes a check digit at the end.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a term of art within library science, publishing, and academia. It is almost exclusively used as a noun, and its standard form is the abbreviated 'ISSN'. Users are very unlikely to say the full phrase; they will use the acronym and refer to the 'ISSN code' or 'ISSN number' (despite the tautology).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant linguistic differences in the term itself. The concept and application are identical worldwide. Both UK and US institutions use the same system.
Connotations
None beyond its technical, precise, and official function.
Frequency
Equally low and specialized in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Publication] has an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN).The ISSN for [Journal Name] is [XXXX-XXXX].To locate the article, you need the ISSN of the journal.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used by a publishing company's administrative or distribution department when dealing with libraries or abstracting services.
Academic
Common. Essential for researchers citing sources, librarians cataloging collections, and when submitting articles (journals often ask for their own ISSN and the ISSN of cited works).
Everyday
Virtually non-existent. An average speaker would not encounter or use this term.
Technical
Core term. Standard vocabulary in library science, information management, bibliometrics, and academic publishing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The journal was recently ISSNed.
- (Extremely rare and non-standard; 'assigned an ISSN' is correct.)
American English
- The journal was recently ISSNed.
- (Extremely rare and non-standard; 'assigned an ISSN' is correct.)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable)
American English
- (Not applicable)
adjective
British English
- ISSN data
- ISSN registration centre
- an ISSN-assigned publication
American English
- ISSN data
- ISSN registration center
- an ISSN-assigned publication
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (This term is far beyond A2 level. A2 students will not encounter it.)
- (This term is beyond typical B1 level. Unlikely to be needed.)
- For your research paper, you must include the ISSN of the journal in the reference.
- I need to find the ISSN for 'Nature' magazine to request it from the library.
- The application for an International Standard Serial Number is a prerequisite for the journal to be indexed in major academic databases.
- Bibliometric analysis often relies on ISSNs to accurately track citation patterns across serial publications.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ISSN = International Serial Standard Number. Think of it as a serial number (like for a product) but for a serial publication (a magazine that comes out serially, in parts).
Conceptual Metaphor
A DIGITAL FINGERPRINT or BARCODE FOR PUBLICATIONS. It is a unique, machine-readable identifier that distinguishes one item from all others in a global system.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct, word-for-word translation like 'международный стандартный серийный номер'. The official, established translation is 'международный стандартный серийный номер (ISSN)' or simply 'ISSN'. The acronym is universally recognized.
- Do not confuse with ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for books. In Russian, it's 'ISBN' for книг and 'ISSN' for периодики.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing the acronym 'ISSN' as individual letters (/aɪ ɛs ɛs ɛn/) is common, but some say /ˈɪsən/. The full phrase is almost never spoken.
- Misspelling as 'International Standard Series Number'. It's 'serial', not 'series'.
- Confusing ISSN (for periodicals) with ISBN (for books) or DOI (Digital Object Identifier for individual articles/chapters).
- Writing the number without the hyphen in the middle (e.g., 12345678 instead of the correct 1234-5678 format).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) identifies an entire ongoing serial publication (like a journal, magazine, or newspaper series). An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) identifies a specific, one-time publication (like a book or a specific edition of a book).
Yes. Serial publications, whether in print, online, or both, are eligible for an ISSN. A publication in multiple formats (e.g., print and online) may have two different ISSNs: one for the print version and one for the electronic version.
An ISSN is an 8-digit code, presented as two groups of four digits separated by a hyphen (e.g., 1234-5679). The final digit is a check digit calculated using a specific algorithm, which can sometimes be an 'X' representing the value 10.
It is typically printed on the copyright page of a journal issue, on the masthead (where publishing details are listed), or on the journal's website (often in the 'About' section). Library catalogues and academic databases like Ulrich's or the ISSN Portal also list them.