Svenonius (2000¹⁾) 認為主款目(main entry)的定義混亂而分歧，包含了以下三種不同的定義：

• 對文件的描述（這個意義已經不再被使用）
  A description of a document, in particular its full description (a meaning that is now obsolete);
• 最常被取用的文件屬性，或稱為主檢索點，通常是人名、團體名、題名
  The attribute of a document by which it is most often accessed, its so-called main access point, such as a person, corporate body, or title.
• 作品的正規化題名
  A work, which is designated either by a normalized name title or by a normalized title.

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