Difference Between Volume and Issue

Volume and issue numbering helps in identifying individual issues within a journal’s series.

Since a volume covers a year’s publication, if a journal has three publications, the journal will have three issues in its yearly volume. This also means that a journal that has 12 issues within a year ( monthly publications) will have 12 issues in its yearly volume. This type of format is also applicable to trade publications, newspapers, magazines among other printed media. Volume and issue numbers are essential to researchers and scholars as they aid in making citations convenient and easy during material research. This article will try to explain further what separates these two common terms seen in many publications.

What is a Volume?

A volume can either be defined numerically or physically. On the physical aspect, a volume is simply pages bound together in form of a book. Whereas on the numerical aspect, is a series of full sets of issues that are bound together making a journals yearly volume publication.

What is an Issue?

On the other hand, an issue can be an act or a publication made from printed sheets bound together forming a book. When the term ‘issue’ is used as an act, it is the form of making a publication available or the official release of such a publication.

Differences Between Volume and Issue

1. Publication

A volume of a journal or any form of publication is numbered yearly while the issue can be published several times within the same year. This means that if the first volume of a publication was in 2011, in 2020 it will be in its 9th volume. However, issues number will vary depending on how many issues were being released within the given years for example, Bi-annually or quarterly, even monthly.

2. Characteristics and nature

A volume is composed of a series of issues within that publication year while an issue is a collection of printed sheets that form a book. A volume of a given publication can have from 1 to over 10 issues within the same year depending on the frequency of issue publications.

3. Usage

Most journals tend to use volume numbers. However, it is not often that issue numbers are used. Most journals tend to paginate their publications consecutively all through the year. For example, when a journal’s first publication of the year ends on the 25th page, the preceding publication of the next year will begin on the 26th page. Once a volume is complete, it is then paginated to form a book.

Volume Vs. Issue

Summary of Volume Vs. Issue

• Volume typically refers to the number of years the publication has been circulated.
• Issue refers to printed sheets bound together in a book form.
• Volumes is a series of issues of a given periodical.
• An Issue is the act of making a publication available.
• Most journals use volume numbers.
• Journals can go without issue numbers.
• Volumes are published yearly.
• There is no time frame for an issue publication and can be as many times within a year.
• Volumes and issues are important to scholars during the research process.

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