An invoice consists of a header (customer, addres, date) and details (a list of purchased products). I am looking for a single English word meaning a single element from the list of purchased products on an invoice. "invoice_line" or "invoice_position" are not good because they are two words. "line", "position" or "element" are very general and can mean anything, not related to invoice. I'd like a person who sees this single word to have an idea what it means without also seeing the word "invoice".
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1'Item' does dual purpose, as the referent of article in the set in question, and its written representation. > item > > 1: a distinct part in an enumeration, account, or series [Merriam-Webster.– Edwin AshworthMay 22, 2020 at 11:26
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2By far, the most common term for this is line item. That's a "single word" inasmuch as it's a distinct noun that has its own dictionary definition. It's a single word in the same sense that hot dog and ice cream are single words. But if you're looking for a "single word" that has no space in it, there is nothing I know of that is even close to that specific meaning.– Jason BassfordMay 22, 2020 at 13:33
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Row or entry if more meaning the line in the invoice than what it describes?– sykkorMay 23, 2020 at 9:42
2 Answers
In my line of work, we call it a line item. I don't know for sure if this is good for you.
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"Line item" means the same, here, as "item" alone. Why should 'customer, address, date' and what, be a lumped into a "header"? No single English word means "single line of details on an invoice" nor much like it, more than the simple "item." What reason is there to make "item" exclude any details; not even, truly, price, however obvious that seems to most of us a separate element in the list or invoice. Much of the problem seems to be seeing "invoice_line" or "invoice_position" or "line", "position" or "element" as the same. How could anyone not be thinking in terms of invoices? Jun 2, 2020 at 1:04
How about purchase? Is not an invoice a list of purchases, one per line with, e.g., a product descriptor, number of units purchased, unit cost, and total cost? A person who sees this single word -- purchase -- would definitely have an idea what it means without also seeing the word invoice.