JOURNAL

Journal is the book of primary entry in which every transaction is recorded before being posted into the ledger. It is that book of account in which transactions are recorded in a chronological (day to day) order. In modern times, besides the main journal, specialized journals are maintained to record different types of transactions. The process of recording transactions in a journal is termed as journalising. A journal is generally kept in a columnar from.

 

SPECIMEN OF JOURNAL
Name of Item
Journal

Date (i) a – b	Particulars (ii)	L.F. (iii)	Debit Amount (`Rs.) (iv)		Credit Amount (`Rs.) (v)

 

(i) Date: The date on which the transaction has taken place is recorded here. The year is written at the top of the date column of each page of the journal. On the next line of the date column, the month & day of the first entry are written. Unless the month or year changes or until a new page is begun, neither the month nor the year is repeated on the page. Year and month are written in the under left hand sub-column and date is written is right hand smaller sub-column.

(ii) Particulars: The two aspects of a transaction are recorded in this column i.e. However, mostly there are no sub-column and year, month and date in one column of Date. the accounts which have to be debited and credited. The name of the account(s) to be debited is entered at the extreme left of the particulars column next to the date column. The abbreviation ‘Dr.’ is written at the right end of the particulars column on the same line of the account debited. The name of the account to be credited is entered in the next line with a prefix ‘To’. A brief explanation of the transaction known as narration is written below the account titles of the transaction. Finally, a thin line is drawn all through the particulars column to indicate that the entry of the transaction has been completed.

(iii) L.F. (Ledger Folio): This column records the page number in the ledger in which the accounts in the particulars column are posted.

(iv) Debit Amount (Debit): The debit amount is recorded in the debit amount column opposite to the title of the account being debited.

(v) Credit Amount (Credit): The credit amount is recorded in the credit amount column opposite to the title of the account being credited.