general ledger should be named journal

[Glen Ditchfield]

On October 6, 2003 10:12 am, Dale Alspach wrote:
> I think this may be a problem related to differences in terminology and
> practice in the US and elsewhere. I looked at many US sites ...

General ledger		A ledger containing accounts in which are classified in
detail or in summary all the transactions of a business enterprise or other
accounting unit.

Journal	1. Any book of original entry.  2. The book of original entry in
which are recorded transactions not provided for in specialized journals.

Book of original entry	A record book, recognized by law or custom, in which
transactions are recorded, and which is the source of postings to ledgers;
a journal.  Books of original entry include general and special journals,
such as cashbooks and registers of sales and purchases.  Memorandum books,
cheque stubs, files of duplicate sales invoices, and the like, wherein
first or prior notations may already have been made, are known as business
papers or supporting records and are not books of original entry in the
usual meaning of the term unless they are used as posting sources.

-- "Accounting Simplified for Non-Accountants", Catherine Lund B.A., M.
Com., C.G.A., Coles Publishing Company Limited, 1973.  (Yes, the Coles
Notes of accounting!)