These aren’t random shorthand. They follow a specific, historic standard known as the . What is Index Medicus? Before we had the internet, we had Index Medicus . Launched in 1879 by the legendary physician John Shaw Billings, this was a massive monthly compilation of medical articles and journals. For over 120 years (until its final print edition in 2004), Index Medicus was the Google of medicine.

Bookmark the NLM Journals Database. It will save you hours of formatting headaches and ensure your next submission is accepted the first time. Do you have a favorite (or most confusing) journal abbreviation? Let us know in the comments below!

You might see N Engl J Med and know exactly what it stands for. But what about Zentralbl Gynakol ? Or Khirurgiia (Mosk) ?