Journals: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used for personal daily record-keeping, usually of events, experiences, and feelings. It often contains a more personal tone.

• She writes in her diary every night before bed.
• His diary was full of secrets about his high school days.

Typically used to systematically record specific data, events, or activities, often in a professional or technical setting. It may have a formal tone.

• The ship's captain maintained a detailed log of the journey.
• The IT department keeps a log of server performance and issues.

Used for jotting down notes, ideas, sketches, and other informal information. It is less structured than a diary or journal.

• She always carries a notebook to capture her creative ideas.
• His notebook was filled with class notes and doodles.

Can also mean a personal diary where someone writes their daily thoughts and experiences.

• She kept detailed journals of her travels around the world.
• Writing in journals helped him cope with his emotions.

A broad term that can refer to any printed material distributed to the public, including books, reports, newspapers, journals, and magazines.

• Her latest publication received critical acclaim.
• The committee approved the publication of the annual report.

Refers to any publication that is issued at regular intervals. This term is common in libraries and academic settings.

• The library's periodical section includes great resources for research.
• He has been reading that periodical for years.

Typically refers to a publication with general interest content, often including articles, interviews, and advertisements. Magazines are usually aimed at a broader audience and are often glossy and colorful.

• She loves reading fashion magazines.
• The latest issue of the technology magazine features an interview with a famous innovator.