Title format (title format)

Title format is the agreed-upon convention for writing titles in catalogs, documents, and other texts. It defines which words are chosen, the order in which they are arranged, the use of uppercase and lowercase letters, punctuation marks, and whether to add additional clarification that distinguishes between two identical titles.

The primary purpose of this format is to make each title unique and searchable. When texts are numerous, adherence to a single format reduces title duplication, facilitates linking between documents, and allows computer systems to reliably distinguish them.

Components of a title

A standard title consists of two parts. The first part is the primary name that defines the subject. The second part, which is not always necessary, is a disambiguator (qualifier) typically placed in parentheses. The disambiguator is used only when the primary name refers to more than one item—for example, when the same word applies to both a geographical location and a person.

General rules

Rules commonly followed include: choosing the most commonly used name instead of a longer formal one; using the singular form of a word when it has a singular meaning; avoiding unnecessary punctuation; and keeping titles brief but accurate. Articles and words like 'of' or 'about' typically do not begin a title.

Language and Somali orthography

When writing in Somali, titles are affected by pronunciation and spelling conventions, which vary in several ways, particularly with borrowed names. For this reason, redirects (alternative title paths) are often created to link different spellings so that readers can reach the same article regardless of which variant they search for.