What are preferred and on-preferred terms?
At all levels, LGCL provides one ‘preferred’ term and any number of ‘non-preferred terms’. Non-preferred terms are classified by type, including: • synonyms – equivalent terms • acronyms – abbreviations • misspellings • search terms – terms which are not directly equivalent to the preferred term but might be equivalent when compounded with another term. As such these terms might support a search engine Search terms may appear as non-preferred terms for one or more concepts. All other types of non-preferred term apply to only one concept (and hence relate to only one preferred term). Non-preferred terms allow different terminologies to be used in citizen interfaces whilst allowing all terminologies to be referenced against a common vocabulary. Local authorities will be able to select which term they prefer to use, thereby switching between preferred and equivalent terms for local purposes.
